Pumpkin Carving

The last time we carved pumpkins was when Danielle was a baby, so that was about four years ago. I remember it well. I had not carved pumpkins with children before, and I was excited to have them carve their own and make it a great happy family event. Taneal was four and Camie was two. How wrong I was. It ended up I held the crying baby and Evan carved the pumkins impatiently while Taneal and Camie went off and played because they wouldn't touch the yucky stuff inside and they were too young to use a knife.

This year was a little different. Evan wasn't home, but tried to talk me out of carving with the kids. I felt they were older and maybe more capable. I bought four pumpkin carving kits ($1 each at Walmart) and hoped that the knives/saws in the kits would be safer. I was right with that part. Basically, Camie and I carved the pumpkins. Taneal thought it was too hard and Danielle and Spencer didn't even give it a try. Taneal did cut a lid and partially clean out her pumpkin, but lost interest quickly. Camie stuck to it and even gave her pumpkin whiskers. For those of you who know Camie, that she stuck with it is not at all surprising. She loves to outdo her sister and to do grown up sort of things and this was perfect for accomplishing all of the above.