Pumpkin Gathering
So way back in October we went to this great farm to get our pumpkins with the Murrays. It as a bit of a drive but it was a fun place and we all had a great time. It was a gorgeous bright, fairly warm Saturday morning.
We went on a wagon ride through the orchards to get to the big open pumpkin patch. This was a highlight for the kids!
Me, Jaden and Haylie.
Ash, Wes and Chloe.
So off we went in search of our pumpkins. Of course none of the kids wanted to stop and let me take pictures, but I miraculously got a few of them actually looking at the camera. 
Annie kept kicking the pumpkins like a soccer ball and then kept trying to hoist them up with her huge muscles.
Like I said, it was a BRIGHT sunny day. I couldn’t see without my sunglasses.
Anyway, it was a fun trip, with Annie’s meltdowns and all. We got our pumpkins and also bought some fresh apples and apple juice–SO GOOD.
Oh, those were such yummy apples. I miss them. We ate them all really quickly.
Jaden was nominated for the cutting and sawing and gut-scooping portion of the project. I nominated myself as the photographer and documenter.
Yum.
Later that night we lit the candles and put them on the porch. Oooooohhh!!
Brandon’s scary dog, with the ears and a little tongue on the bottom right side. They looked awesomely spooky on the porch at night.
Like I said, it was a BRIGHT sunny day. I couldn’t see without my sunglasses.
Anyway, it was a fun trip, with Annie’s meltdowns and all. We got our pumpkins and also bought some fresh apples and apple juice–SO GOOD.
Oh, those were such yummy apples. I miss them. We ate them all really quickly.Pumpking Carving
Next came the traditional carving of the pumpkins. We had barely set the pumpkins on the table when Brandon and Annie attacked them with the markers and branded the poor things with their names and various random shapes and designs.
Brandon wanted his to be a dog, like last year. Annie wanted hers to be a witch.
Jaden was nominated for the cutting and sawing and gut-scooping portion of the project. I nominated myself as the photographer and documenter.
Haylie had a grand old time helping me oversee the activities!
Yum.
Later that night we lit the candles and put them on the porch. Oooooohhh!!
Annie’s witch.
Brandon’s scary dog, with the ears and a little tongue on the bottom right side. They looked awesomely spooky on the porch at night.However, the poor little pumpkins barely lasted until Halloween. By the time the trick or treaters came, the pumpkins looked like 100-year old versions of themselves, with wrinkles and caving in mouths. They looked like they had taken out their dentures and were just gumming it. You should ask me some time to show you my imitation of what they looked like. It’s a real treat.
You should ask me some time to show you my imitation of what they looked like. It’s a real treat.***************************************
I wasn’t kidding when I said I hoped to post Halloween stuff before Thanksgiving. I might barely make it as I still have one more post to do. But that’s okay, because it’s my very own blog.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
So, that place where you went (I won’t give away the exact location) was one of the first places I audited when I became the dreaded auditor so many years ago. It is still one of my favorite places to stop by when I’m down that way…have you ever tried their cherry salsa? Delicious.
Fun pumpkins…
CUte kids, cute pumpkins, cute you and Jaden…what else is there to say?? Looks like the typical Kemp family. I’ve heard that if your pumpkins start to get dried out and wrinkly you can soak them in water and it will revive them.
I found your blog through GG digital designs. I must say that you are amazingly talented. I loved your pictures at the beginning of your post (all of them too) with your kids in the pumpking patch. How did you get your depth of field like that, they are so clear, and the pumpkins in the background are kind of blurred. I love it! I would love if you could share some of your photography tips sometime. I am just learning.
Love the pumpkins! Your happy and crappy post was also priceless! I agree. I need to also remind myself that the good things outweigh the bad! I just seem to get wrapped up in the crappy stuff sometimes!
Your kids are just adorable!
-Brooke
It still doesn’t feel like it can possibly already be Thanksgiving to me, so the Halloween post is fitting! What a fun pumpkin place, we’ll have to check it out next year.
PS We missed you so much on our trip. Seriously. You up for Black Friday???
I love that picture of Haylie in the purple striped shirt. She always has the most expressive smiles.
i love halloween so much! this post is making me so sad that it is over! don’t get me wrong, i love christmas, but the store gets so busy i feel like i can’t enjoy it as much!
Super cute Haylie picture with great catchlights. I notice them everywhere. I heard that if you put vaseline (I know it sounds weird) on the parts that are cut, it helps keep them from drying out and they will last longer. Your favorite lens is on my Christmas list.
Hey Brooke! So, when I saw you this morning you should have told me you had baby number three!! I just can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve seen you and taught Brandon!
What a little Man he is!! I still love his beautiful smile!! He’s so grown up now!! He’s not that little three year old I knew!!
And Annie! She was just a little one learning how to walk!!! OH! How time flies!!!
Haylie sure is a cutie too!!
I am so glad I ran into you!!!
You’ll have to tell B I said “Hello” and see if he remembers who I am!!!!
Kaydee Fondaco
such cute pics as always!! I love the one of Haylie with her big smile in the purple shirt!!
I am Lara Herway’s sister. I love your pics. Lara said you take pics on the side…Wondering what your availability is and what you charge and all that jazz (I need a cute Christmas card pic). Will you contact me? amyeagleston@gmail.com