Annual Pumpkin Carving Celebration

Long before there was an Emmanuel or a Reese, there was James IV, Michael, Mia, Joshua, and Connor.  And every year, the Reese kids and Connor meet together to carve pumpkins, eat a big meal, and run around the house.  Since we live a hop, skip, and a jump away, the Foster children are now able to participate in this grand event.  

The kids all love being together and the parents love that it isn't their place that's getting all messy!  Emmanuel has been inundated with pumpkins this year, so he was really excited to get yet another pumpkin to go on the outside of our house.  

James, Michael, and Mia decided to carve their pumpkins while Joshua, Connor, and Emmanuel chose to paint their pumpkins.

There is one very important thing about Emmanuel that one must know before viewing the rest of the pictures:  he hates having anything on his hands.  When we are eating, he always has a wipe, and once he uses it, he promptly throws it in the trash.  He doesn't mind dirt on his face or clothes, but he's got serious issues when it comes to having anything on his hands.  

Notice the amount of wipes in his hands! 

All of the other kids were using their hands to pull out the seeds.  Emmanuel decided to use an ice cream scoop so that he wouldn't get the pumpkin guts on his hands!

Eventually, he had to grin and bear it.

Reese was in cling-to-my-mama-because-this-looks-like- chaos mode!

Joshua wanted to show Emmanuel that his hands were dirty, too.  I thought maybe that would help E not use the whole packet of wipes.

But, he quickly figured out that he could get his face, shirt, and pants dirty, too...and that, my friends, brought this little boy so much joy!

I have learned from my brother's kids that when they have "hard-to-get-out-stains" that they send those clothes to my mom's house to get washed.  I didn't even attempt to wash the clothes that Emmanuel was wearing.  I just left them with my mom (I always keep a change of clothes handy in my van just in case).  

Here is a pic of Mia with the finished carved pumpkins.

Emmanuel got his camera time, too.  Notice his hands are clean (this is pre-bath).

And, Reese...he was content as long as I was holding him.  I would love to get into his mind to find out what he thinks about all of this family craziness.

One thing is for sure...as long as we can get pumpkins for $2.00 right before Halloween and as long as everybody is within 20 minutes of the other, the kids will gather for the pumpkin carving craziness...I mean, pumpkin carving celebration!