Pumpkin Carving

There is something about having children that seems to make the holidays more fun and exciting. Halloween is no exception. Even though Nick and I always carved pumpkins each Halloween before having children, now that we have kids, this activity is an absolute necessity. It all begins with the annual trip to the pumpkin patch, followed by extensive research into pumpkin templates and patterns, a family vote, and then of course, the actual act of cutting and carving. In years past, the children have always wanted to make pumpkins with silly faces. This year, however, we managed to sway the vote in the direction of something a little different. Something that would allow Nick to attenuate his need for surgical perfection. The haunted house template we chose wasn't really that difficult, but it provided a sufficient challenge and Nick seemed pleased with his results.

Now, while some of you all can manage to carve several pumpkins for your Halloween display, we seem to only be able to manage one large master work. Perhaps this is because our very small children genuinely do so much of the work. The process goes something like this:

First, cleaning the outside of the pumpkin removing all dirt and imperfections.

Second, removing the top of the pumpkin. Nick generally draws the lines on the pumpkin and lets each child make some of the cuts. This is the only part of the carving the rest of us can take part in.



Third, allowing ample time to explore the pumpkin's mysterious insides. This exploration always begins with the youngest of our children first. It is quite entertaining to see their reaction as they feel the stringy, gooey center of this large, orange orb. It generally begins with only timid touching, but gradually gives way to more intense squishing and eventually scooping. At our house, the job of cleaning out the pumpkin belongs entirely to the little ones.



Once the stringy seeds are removed from the pumpkin, and a few are washed and set aside for roasting, then Nick and I take back over momentarily to thin out the pumpkin's fleshy walls. This is a recent addition to our pumpkin carving process, but after discovering several recipes that call for fresh pumpkin, we just can't let any of the delicious orange matter go to waste.

After the pumpkin is carefully scooped out, then the actual carving takes place, an activity, as I indicated above, performed principally by Dr. Hoskins. (Carving the pumpkin and the Thanksgiving turkey are about as close as he gets to performing surgery these days!)

When the carving is complete, we turn out the lights, place a single candle inside the pumpkin, and let the kids watch the little dancing flames until one of them gives in to the temptation to blow it out. That usually signals the beginning of baths and bedtime, and the close of one of my favorite nights of the year.

Here are the kids sitting on the porch with this years finished product. Way to go Nick! The pumpkin turned out great!