Pumpkins in the Sun (and a Giveaway!)

Last weekend we had the most amazing sunny fall day, so I decided it was the perfect time for some outdoor (less mess for me) family pumpkin carving! I was lucky enough to be sent this awesome pumpkin carving package from Pumpkin Masters. The whole kit is valued at $35 and if you make it all the way to the end of this post (you can do it!), you can win one too!

 

We have used Pumpkin Masters products for carving in the past and have always had great success (as great as it gets with limited artistic skill), but this kit included some tools that none of us had ever used before. They also included some flashing LED lights to put in our carved pumpkins, a much easier (and safer) alternative to a candle.

My dad went with the basic carving kit that we have all used in the past and was pretty proud of his ghost.

 

I used the pumpkin shaving technique, which was harder than I imagined. I figured it out about halfway through the design, unfortunately, that left me with a slightly wonky owl. I will definitely do this one again now that I have the technique down. This is a good option for carving pumpkins early because you don’t hollow it out and it should last longer before becoming a squishy putrid mess.

 

Mila had a great time chasing bugs and eating leaves. When I say “no! yucky!” she laughs and puts them in her mouth. Awesome.

My mom unknowingly chose the hardest kit, which uses punches to cut holes into the pumpkin in various designs. This process would work best on a pumpkin with a thinner shell (not sure how you can tell that before carving). She got about halfway through her design and the side caved in! She also had trouble getting the chunks of pumpkin out of the punches. Once she decided to freehand her design and space the holes further apart, the pumpkin held up and I think her design turned out to be one of the best despite a frustrating start.

 

Ryan and Lily used the kid’s carving kit and ended up with the winner of the evening in their creepy cat. It was fun because even at 3, Lily could really help. Unlike the other kits that use tools to poke holes in the pumpkin to mark your pattern, the kid’s kit uses a crayon, so she could do it herself! She really liked participating in the actual cutting (with Ryan’s help) and thought the insides were “stinky”.

 

We had so much fun carving together and I know each year will be more exciting as the girls get older and more creative with their pumpkin designs. We will definitely be using our Pumpkin Masters kits year after year. 

 

If you use a Pumpkin Masters Kit this Halloween, you can also enter the Pumpkin Masters Carving Contest! Share a pic of your carving via Instagram or Twitter with #PumpkinMasters2013, submit via the Facebook app, or send via email to: social@pumpkinmasters.com to enter for the chance to win one of six prizes, including $5,000 for the Best Pumpkin. The contest is on now and runs through October 31st! 

 

Use the rafflecoptor entry form below (it is super easy, you can sign in with facebook!) to enter to win the exact kit we used! Giveaway runs through Sunday night (10/13) at midnight! If you don’t win, all these products are available at your local grocery, drug, and craft stores, and nationwide at Target and Walmart! Happy carving!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Apparently We Don't Yell Enough

I have so much blogging to catch up on. Life has been fun lately, despite the fact that for the last week Lily has decided to wake up every night and take 2+ hours and a cup of milk to get back to sleep. Oh the humanity. Please tell me this is a phase.

On a happier note, my beautiful niece got married! Yes, when your husband is the second youngest of 7 kids, you have nieces that are only 5 years younger than you. She isn't even the oldest!

 {Isn't she pretty?}

 {I seriously told Ryan I want to have another wedding solely so I can wear a Mantilla veil. I'm not entirely sure he understood that I was not joking.
I was not.}

 {He never took his eyes off her once. Oh to be young and in love! Oh wait, does 29 still count as young? If so I am totally there.}

Then came the tradition of the wedding skit. Please see further examples at my wedding and my sister-in-law's wedding. This skit involved Ryan yelling loudly as he came through the door. That caused this to happen...

{Maybe we should yell more often? She did not know what to do. This went on for a good 10 min in which I completely missed the entire skit while hiding out in the garage.}

 {My hopefully future sister-in-law, my neice and I. Cropped for modesty's sake. Cross those legs in short dresses girls!}

 {Despite appearances we were not "forcing" this cake on her.}

 {See? Please ignore my creeper eyeball.}

 {My loves. Yes, before you ask, those are guns on that wall. I love my father-in-law, guns and all.}

 {Lily says "Let the wild rumpus begin!"}

 {She did not want to leave the dance floor.}

{No DNA test needed here, that is my kid.}

Much more to come as I push through my sleep-deprived zombification to document all that is wonderful in our world. 

Or some of it at least.

Long Time No See

It feels strange to have not posted here for almost a week. I have been sick and working full time this week so I have been going to bed shortly after Lily every night.

Friday afternoon my beautiful grandmother passed away at the age of 97. Even though she lived a long full life, that doesn't make things any less sad for those of us who have loved her. It is hard seeing my dad lose his mom. No matter how well you are prepared for the loss, it is still your mom. I can't even imagine.

We will be traveling to Colorado in a couple of weekends for the service. My first airplane ride without Lily since she was born. I am so thankful for my husband who doesn't hesitate to stay home with a 19 month old alone for the weekend. They are each others' biggest fans, they will have a blast.

My sister and I are going to be pall bearers at the funeral. My dad thinks Grandma would like that little nudge for womens' equality. I am so lucky to have known her for 29 years and to have had such a strong female role model (amongst many others) in my life.

Today also marks the second anniversary of the loss of Ryan's mom, Donita. It is such a tragedy that Lily will never know these two amazing women apart from the strong legacies they have passed down through their children.

Sorry if this is a bit of a melancholy post, but I am just in a sort of a strange place today. A lot of reflection, a lot of celebrating life and mourning loss. 

Thankful for those I love and those that love me back.

I'll be back soon.

Dancing Baby Attack

My parents were out of town for several days and when they got home Tuesday night they stopped by to see Lily before bed. She was so excited to see them that she turned into a crazy dancing fool! Please excuse me unsuccessfully trying to suppress my laughter.

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: A Funky Monkey Weekend

{We had a great weekend... Monkey earned her nickname with a new favorite pastime}

{There was some naked reading}

{and some iPhone stealing}

{All in all I'd call it a success}

{I hope your weekend was lovely}

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with The Paper Mama, A Little King and I, 5 Minutes for Mom, Parenting By Dummies, Project Alicia, Supermom, And Then She Snapped, Live and Love Out Loud, and Jenni from the Blog.

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Good Day Sunshine

{A summertime walk with Nani and Papa}

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with The Paper Mama, A Little King and I, 5 Minutes for Mom, Parenting By Dummies, Project Alicia, Supermom, And Then She Snapped, Live and Love Out Loud, and Jenni from the Blog.

My Week in iPhone Pics: Sunshine and Frolicking Ruffle Butts

1. Blue skies over our house 2. Gaga for Gaga 3. Where is your belly button? 4. I stole the carrot from Dad
5. Ruffle butt! 6. Watching the Blue Angels from my boss's boat, no big deal 7. Walking = DRESSES! More to come. 8. Big time snuggles for Auntie Em
9. Sqwoosh 10. Walking baby attack! 11. Frolicking 12. Tiny sailors

Baby girl is 15 months old today, I can't believe it! I'll do an update on her new adventures soon. I hope you all have a great weekend!

My week in iPhone Pics: Separation Anxiety

1. Snuggling with Papa after a rough night 2. Moving too quickly for a photo 3. I'm sleepy, but I insist on wearing these shoes with my pjs 4. Hiding behind the couch trying to pull Nani's hair 5. Cheeseball grin 6. Too big jammies 7. Mesmerized by SYTYCD...she IS my child! 8. Already stealing Dad's credit cards 9. Swinging shadow 10. I am guessing this is what she looked like in my belly. She was a bit smaller then...only a bit 11. Daddy Rambo 12. Healthy breakfast at the Super 8 McCall, ID

A lot happened this last week. Now that the OTHER baby has gone home, Lily has stopped wanting to be awake for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night (yippee). Ryan and I had a successful first weekend away from the peanut. She did really well for her Nani and Papa during the day, but did want to be awake to hang out in the middle of the night...sorry Mom and Dad! She seems to have developed a bit of separation anxiety with me this past week. Probably springing another child on her for two weeks then immediately leaving town without her for the weekend wasn't the best idea. I do enjoy the extra snuggles, but not the massive tears that stream down her sweet cheeks any time I try to leave the room. It is nice to be loved.

She is so close to walking. She stands without touching things for a long time and takes a couple of steps here and there, but nothing that we would count as her "first steps"...yet.

Her words are coming slowly but surely. As of right now I'm pretty sure she says all of the following: Mama, Dada, baby, hi, please, cheese (please and cheese may be the same word), up, possibly sock. Anyway, it's cute.

Also...SO MANY KISSES. Anytime someone shows up or leaves, she blows them a kiss. Or if she just feels like it randomly...kisses. Sometimes she is just trotting by and decides you deserve to be blown a couple of kisses, with the noise and everything. Heart.