Pumpkin Carving!

Halloween night we carved a pumpkin for our Family Home Evening Activity. We meant to do it several days before Halloween but weren't able to find the time for it. Christina really wanted to bake the pumpkin seeds, so her job was to clean the seeds off. She was going to help out with more of the carving, but got busy with a little guy that was hungry then didn't want to sleep.

The finished product!

The family picture

Fun Halloween Weekend!

Christina and I took advantage of having my mom in town by taking a few hours to go for a date. We went out to lunch to a crepe place that we like. After that we played some mini-golf at a cool place owned by some local church members (unfortunately we don't know them well enough to get a discount). 

That afternoon my mom headed back to Washington and we got ready for the ward Halloween party. Christina made a little cow outfit for Jackson. 

 Complete with Halloween socks.

The hat was a little big and would come down over his eyes sometimes.

Mommy and Daddy also dressed up--as the farmer and his wife. Jackson just would not wake up for this photo.

Ghosts, Goblins, and Pumpkins...Oh My!

Fall has come and Halloween is on its way!  As such, Jordan and I decided to have ourselves a Fall themed date.  We began by venturing to Half Moon Beach for their annual Pumpkin Festival.  The road trip there should have taken 41 minutes, but traffic was crazy!  So...it took us about an hour and a half (I think).  

On the way there we saw many pumpkin patches.  Now, growing up in the rural town of Poulsbo, I expected a to find pumpkins growing on vines and vast fields dotted with orange.  However, in California (and it may just be coincidence or normal in most other places) their pumpkin patches were more like piles of picked pumpkins and blow-up play areas for kids. Still fun, but quite a different experience. 

After driving through the pumpkin picking areas, we finally arrived at the Art & Pumpkin Festival! 

The main street was lined with booths displaying various crafts.  Some were home decor, others were seasonal arts (such as decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).  We both agreed that the most popular purchase of the day were carved baby pumpkins on a stick.  They bobbed up throughout the crowds all over.  However, the most interesting booth was probably a wax hand building booth.  At this booth people had their hands dunked multiple times in a wax solution. 

Then the workers at the booth pry off the wax.  I'm not exactly sure how it's done because the wax just seems to slip from their hand, yet keep shape.  And voila, you have a wax hand!

 Near the end of our excursion at the festival, we came across the annual Pumpkin Weigh Off Winners.  Each year Safeway has a competition for who can grow the heaviest pumpkin.  Behind us are the three winners from this year.  I thought they looked a bit deflated, haha. 

That evening we completed our date by watching a Halloween movie - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  I know what you're probably thinking, "That's not scary!"  But I assure you it can't get anymore Halloweenish than this...there are witches, wizards, flying brooms, wands, magic, bats, and werewolves.  Who could ask for a more fun-filled date than that!
Thanks Jordan, you're AMAZING!!!