Pumpkin Patch, Pumpkin Carving, the Monkey and the Fire Chief

So maybe, just maybe, this post has something to do with Halloween.

Pumpkin Patch

A few weekends back, we took our Saturday morning and headed over to a pumpkin patch. Usually we make our way up to Valley Center, CA to Bates Nut Farm, but this year we just ran out of time to get up there. The pumpkin patch right over near the Del Mar Fairgrounds had to suffice.

The boys quickly picked out a wagon and Andrew and Noah had a bunch of fun pulling it around the stacks of pumpkins. Andrew preferred to be in charge of the wagon and Noah preferred to sit and go along for the ride. While they hit a few bumps along the way, it was fun to watch.




We met up with a friend of Andrew's from school - Tobias Starling and his brother Gabriel (Noah's age) at the pumpkin patch (along with their parents, Ron and Maia Starling). The boys went on several carnival type rides together. For the most part, they had a good time. Noah got a little tired of the rides just about the time we got the camera out to take a picture of the boys all going on the train together.

The best part of the day, however, was sitting the boys down with some pumpkins and trying to get a good picture of the two of them. All told, we took about 150 pictures. But we got a true winner with the below.

Pumpkin Carving

The Saturday night before Halloween, we set up the two pumpkins we had purchased the weekend before for seed removal (for roasting) and carving. Since we are not yet comfortable with the boys using knives to carve the pumpkins, we let them have at the seed removal portion. They actually did a pretty good job and they had great fun in the process.

Then Robin and I set to the task of trying to carve the pumpkins. To fully appreciate this, you have to understand that Robin and I are severely artistically challenged. But we carved these two pumpkins and we love them. Robin carved the bat and I carved the scary face. Our pumpkins are even better than the ones we carved last year!!

The Monkey and the Fire Chief

Noah, the Monkey, and Andrew, the Fire Chief of Susanville, were both so excited for Halloween this year. Their fantastic costumes arrived in the mail several days before Halloween. Their Nana, Charmy Ann Sorem, really outdid herself this year. The monkey costume is a work of art (complete with sewn in bellybutton). The fire chief costume is embroidered with Andrew's name, came with its very own fire hose tucked into a secret pocket and has reflective stripes that illuminate wonderfully. Here are the boys in their lovely costumes. Thank you Nana!!!

Noah the Monkey

Andrew the Fire Chief

On Halloween night, we went over to Brigitte & Mayank Patel's home (just like last year). Their lovely daughters, Annika and Lena, were a Butterfly Princess and Tinkerbell, respectively.

The Monkey and the Fire Chief Getting Ready to Trick or Treat

As we traveled around the neighborhood knocking on doors and picking up candy, the boys got a ton of wonderful compliments on their costumes; it was great.

Noah, in addition to being an expert candy collector, decided that when people open the door to their home, that can mean only one thing, he is welcome to enter. At each house, after the residents would open the door and give him candy, Noah would then try to make his way inside. Since he was so cute in his costume, he managed to get away with it at most every house. High comedy!

Lena, Noah, Andrew and Annika (The Resident Has Just Opened the Door)

Noah Taking His First Step Into This Nice Man's House!

Another highlight of the evening was Noah's effort to communicate with some illuminated skulls along a driveway leading up to one of the houses we visited. Noah got right down to the level of the lighted skulls and kept saying "Hi" "Hi" "Hi" as if the skull might respond. We somehow managed to compose ourselves and get a picture of him in action.

"Hi Skull, How Are You Doing This Evening?"

Andrew and Annika were darling together. Annika raced through the trick or treating process and our Andrew was more lackadaisical. (He stops to smell the roses everywhere he goes.)After each house, Andrew would call out, "Where is Annika?" Rest assured, she was moving forward to the next house to collect more loot. We did manage to get a few adorable pictures of the two of them together.

Andrew and Annika Before Trick or Treating (Annika Drew the Picture on the Pumpkin (Annika would proclaim "Three Eyes, Three Teeth, One Nose and One Mouth") and Brigitte Carved it for Her)

Too Cute - Andrew and Annika Sharing a Hug (See Their Loot!)

We wonder what next year will bring. Stay tuned...