Carving Pumpkins

I have noticed that we aren't much celebrators of holidays. Hunny likes to think we are but he also says that children bring holidays to life. I agree that holidays are better with children; their wonder and joy is magical and we adults live each holiday vicariously through them. Without children some holidays don't/can't mean as much. So we decided to steal some other people's kids this Halloween! Not really. But we did take the opportunity to visit a friend's home and their three children, ages 5, 3 and 1. We brought two tiny pumpkins for them to paint and one big one for us adults to carve. The two husbands went to work carving the pumpkin we brought and since it gets a little crowded with more than two carving a pumpkin I helped the children paint as their mom made delicious cookies! Honestly, she makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies I have EVER had and NEED the recipe before they leave next month. :`(

 The big pumpkin was destined before we went to their house to be an adorable owl. My favorite! And slightly ironic since I didn't get to work on it. And the two children's pumpkins were absolute precious! I can't wait to have kids and celebrate with them and see what they will create. I hope to be as open and allowing as their mother is. I love to see the love and interaction she has with them. I am grateful for their friendship and the times we have shared together.

Thanks to Hunny's imposing nature we were afforded a second opportunity to carve pumpkins with another family whose friendship we treasure. :) We enjoyed a Sunday dinner with them the Sunday before Halloween. After dinner their three children each designed and carved a pumpkin. Their youngest, age 5, was too young to carve by himself and since I missed the chance to carve my pumpkin his mom offered me the opportunity to help little Sam carve out his design. :) I was thrilled to. I think it was the first pumpkin carving I have ever carved. We made a pretty rockin Batman symbol.

After everyone was done they lit them up and took pictures. They looked great. It was interesting to see the different personalities and ideas the children used.

Carving pumpkins might be a simple thing but I decided you can really tell about a child by his or her pumpkin.  And I learned a lot about everyone, those that carved and those that didn't. I learned a lot about wives, mothers, children, and family. I am grateful for the simple pleasures and the joy and happiness children bring and that I got to participate all of it this Halloween even though Hunny and I do not have children of our own. I am grateful for the families that invited us to share in the joy with them. It might have seemed a small thing to them but every act of kindness and friendship is appreciated and cherished. Bless the children, remember what is truly important, and share that love.