jack-o-lanterns 2016

Even though we went to the pumpkin patch earlier in the month, we opted to wait to carve our pumpkins, mainly because we have jerks here in our neighborhood who think it's funny to smash jack-o-lanterns before the actual day. We'd originally planned to have a carving party for Family Home Evening on the Monday before Halloween, but our schedule that week became hectic, so we weren't able to do it until Saturday (the 29th).

Here's the family, working so hard.

As usual, we're down a kid since Ryan was out and about with friends. I won't lie, it was a bit disheartening for me knowing he wasn't there, but I acknowledge the fact that he's now in that point in his life that his friends are important to him and he'd rather hang out with them.

We did have a bit of difficulty picking out our designs...well, most of us. Being the laid-back, go-with-flow kid that she is, Vanessa opted to paint her pumpkin. Any guess as to what she painted?

Yep, a Pokemon.

I can't remember which one exactly, but it's definitely a Pokemon.

Jeff had to take multiple breaks because his friends were outside playing, but he finally got it done. And Ethan chose a design that was a bit more intensive, so he took awhile, too. I get jittery around knives so I did a really easy one, while Scott was being a show-off. Okay, not really, but his design was right up there with Ethan's.

Eventually we finished and stored the jack-o-lanterns on our back patio until Halloween, away from any potential smashers. I'll reveal the designs on Halloween.

Happy carving!