tradition

(picture above is from last year)
for the second year, rich, ry, and i hosted a pumpkin carving party for our families. both sides come together, we carve, heckle each other a bit, the kids run in and out playing and screaming, and we laugh alot. then after carving we stop for some dinner. usually we have to kill a little time so that the sun can set so we get into some good discussion like politics (the election to be specific :O) or hunting (boy topic). not long after that we dive into some dessert. inevitably everyone ends up outside while the boys throw the football in the street. the kids love it. (and so do all the cars trying to get by) as soon as the sun has disappeared over the houses, we light up all the pumpkins. i think that part is everyone's favorite because it's where we get to see all our creations come to life! we had lot's of different pumpkins. some with funny faces, some with spiders, flowers, owls...and a few i'm still trying to figure out. my parents went all out and bought a drummel this year and some how a competition began between all the adult males to outdo one another. all in all, it was just as wonderful as we'd hoped.
i'd share all the adorable pictures, but our camera has pooped out. SO you will have to visit my sisterinlaw's blogs to see them. (hint hint girls. get those pics up :O)
click on their links down below. jen, beth, or nicole.
so a special thank you to all of my wonderful extended family. you are all amazing, special, fantastic people and you make all occassions wonderful! rich and i feel soooo blessed to have not only godly, giving, loyal family members, but great friends. there is no one in the world we'd rather spend time with than you all!
our only regret is that megan, ben, matt, and cole could not be with us. some day you all have to fly in for it :O)
so thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making it a perfect evening! LOVE YOU