Pumpkin Carving

The kids were very exciting to do their pumpkin carving.  We decided to do it simple and not get too crazy this year.  There are so many cool patterns and ideas but we told the kids to just draw what they wanted and they were more than excited about creating their very own pumpkin.

They all got right to work!

As you can see there was no way that Max was going to miss out. 

Aunt Molly was visiting so she got to join in on the fun.  Emma was quick to ask her to help her with hers.  I love her giving heart!

Shane got right to work and knew exactly what he wanted to draw!

Eric got to work ... he had a few pumpkins to carve.

It was time to dig in and clean out the pumpkins.

The girls didn't mind one bit digging in and getting dirty.

Shane on the other hand was totally grossed out!

I love all of his expressions.

Max became very possessive of his pumpkin and didn't want anyone to touch it. He wanted to do it himself.  He would push Eric away when he got too close.

He wasn't a fan of getting his hands dirty .... 

using a spoon was more his style.

Love this picture of the our crew! The table is full .... so thankful this season for our 4th little blessing!  

Alexa was very excited about her heart eyes!

Shane decided to go with the geometric shapes!

Max squealed with delight when he saw his face on his pumpkin.  Have you noticed we hear a lot of squealing at our house.

Alexa with her masterpiece.

Shane was very proud of his!

Molly and Emma decided to carve a cross instead!

Max saw the kids grab their pumpkins and bring them to the front door.  There was no way he was going to miss out and and no way anyone was going to carry his pumpkin for him.

His look says it all.  He was very excited about his little pumpkin and took a seat and settled in right beside it with his little legs wiggling with excitement and a big grin.  He kept touching and when we said we needed to go in he kept saying "no!" He wasn't about to leave his pumpkin behind.  We coaxed him inside by having him tell his pumpkin night, night! 

This is just the start of seeing life through the eyes of Max this holiday season! I can't wait to experience it all through his little eyes this year.  This time last year we were so close to bringing him home.  There were so many thoughts and wonder about what life would look like this year and here we are experiencing it! I can't wait to experience this season through the eyes of our little Max this year.

Our Attempt At Cake Pops

The kids thought it would be fun to attempt to make some cake pops.  It sounded fairly straight forward and easy as I scanned the recipe.  

All three of the kids love to cook and bake.  Every Sunday they each beg to help daddy make our lunch or typically brunch.  All three of them are actually better at cracking eggs than their mom.  I typically find myself fishing a little piece of a shell out.  You would think I would figure it out by now.  I guess I need to go to daddy's "Cracking Eggs" school too.  The kids picked out a Funfetti Cake mix and we mixed it up and put it in the oven to bake.  

The took the cake piece by piece and smashed it into crumb size pieces.  We then added 3/4 of a can of store bought frosting and mixed it all together.  That is where the fun began.

The kids dug in and rolled the cake into balls therefor forming cake balls.

The cake balls were placed on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and then put in the freezer for about an hour.  

We put chocolate and white candy melts into glass bowls above bowling pots of water to create our own hot pots.  Soon they were melted so we added orange food coloring to make our pumpkins ... that was our thought anyway.

The kids pushed their stick in the frozen cake ball .....

and rolled it around in the bowl.

It was a little steamy as you can see.

The sprinkles were ready and waiting.

The kids did such a great job working together, taking turns and helping each others as some held while others got to decorate.

They took their decorating serious. 

Shane was concentrating pretty hard here. 

Adding the finishing touches.

The kids were very proud of their finished cake pops.  I have to say they did everything from start to finish with very little help from me.  They thought their finished product was pretty yummy! I would add we are not going into the cake pop making business anytime soon.  It was quite the process from start to finish.  I am not sure how all those people have those perfect looking cake pops that they make into all kinds of things.  I guess we have some practicing to do. 

Falling Leaves

Our new house offers plenty of fall fun! As you can see we have a few leaves.

Once again it was fun to see another first for Max.  The loved the feel of leaves and all the crunching that went along with it. 

Max loved throwing leaves up and letting them fall on his face.

I love watching Alexa play with Max in the leaves.  I am thankful that as she gets old she still finds the excitement and wonder in things like falling leaves.  

My blue-eyed girl enjoying this beautiful fall day.

Alexa was trying to show Max how to throw leaves up and let them fall on his head. 

Max was trying to throw leaves up but instead decided just to put leaves on his head.  

I love this picture of Emma, bike helmet and all. She was trying to push all the leaves from the cul de sac into a pile.

The other 3 were enjoying the bed of leaves that Emma had created.

I love that sweet little hand! 

It is raining leaves!

Fun in the leaves is never complete without a good old fashion leave fight! 

Fall, with all your beauty, please linger for just a little longer this year.  We are enjoying you and all you have to offer!