Make a Sad Pumpkin, Daddy!

Belle's pumpkins... They could only be hers. The little one she picked out at a pumpkin patch with her grandmom and grandad. We did that one first, she asked for spider eyes, a triangle nose, and a smile. Then she wanted a ladybug tooth and a fly on the nose. The big pumpkin was Quinn's from the pumpkin patch, but we let Belle design that one too. Again, she asked for spider eyes and a triangle nose. Then she said "It needs to be sad. It's a sad pumpkin." So Daddy carved a sad mouth. Then she asked, "Where are the tears? It's crying." So Daddy made tears. Mommy was glad pumpkin-carving was a single parent task this year. It was our first "crying" pumpkin, and we're not sure if she'll be able to top that next year. However, let it be known here and now, Mommy will be carving Quinn's pumpkin, and Daddy will be responsible for Belle's.

Belle turned into a dragonfly on Halloween, and if anyone suggested she was a butterfly or caterpiller she made sure they knew she was definitely a dragonfly. Quinn was a koala, but is going through a very non-koala stage right now, and had to be chased down several times. We strapped her in the stroller for trick-or-treating. Princess Snow White (or Ava, as we know her) joined us at the church festival, where they played lots of games and got butterflies painted on their faces. Ava is one of Belle's favorite playmates, and they are so cute to watch together. After the festival, we headed out with Grandad to haul in some more candy. Belle loved trick-or-treating, and it was fun for us to see her excitement. We have to work on her candy selection skills, though. We ended up with a lot of Tootsie pops and suckers. Luckily, Quinn's selection was handled by someone with more discretion(me), and we did get a couple of full-size treats. Next year, Belle's costume is not going to cause her mom stress, broken needles, or pricked fingers. At least, I hope not. Okay, no promises or pledges. But maybe next year she'll want to be something simple. Who am I kidding? The child with a crying pumpkin? Next year she'll probably want to be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and I know just the nut who'll take up the task...