Pumpkin Carving

To top off an already busy weekend we carved pumpkins today. Unfortunately my pumpkin was already soft so I did not get to carve one this year. I attempted to draw on a face, but it looked dorky. If I get a chance this week perhaps I'll go get another pumpkin and Paige and I can carve it. Below are Scott's and Paige's pumpkins.

Carving pumpkins is messy. Note the pumpkin seed in Paige's hair.

Scott's pumpkin during the day.
Scott's pumpkin at night.
Paige's pumpkin during the day.

Paige's pumpkin at night.

Birthday Party #2

Well we survived 10 little girls and one little boy for Paige's birthday party with her friends. Paige wanted them to all come dressed up in their Halloween costumes. We had several princesses, Mulan, a pirate, Tinkerbell, and the Statue of Liberty. Everyone seemed to have a good time. The craft was arranging silk leaves, pumpkins, and acorns in a basket. It made a cute fall table centerpiece. Next we set up a couple of games around the room for the kids to play, then we cleared that out and played musical chairs. After some cupcakes and Dibs the kids played freely about the house. We decided to follow the latest trend and wait to open presents until after the party. She has opened everything and played with each toy/craft already. Her real birthday (Tuesday) will seem like a let down. She still has a few presents to open then and we are going to go see High School Musical 3 with a friend. I think we've had enough goodies though so we'll probably just have a few left over dibs instead of another cake.

Below are the pictures from the festivities.

Amy

Paige wanted mommy to get dressed up too. My sister Kim made the dress.

Craft time.

Playing musical chairs.

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

Group shot of the kids.

Extended Birthday

In the Fravil Family it is a tradition to make the birthday celebrations last at least a week, two if at all possible. Paige began her birthday celebration on Saturday, a full week and a half before her actual birthday. Last Saturday we celebrated with Scott's family with pizza, cake, ice cream, and presents. We topped off the day watching my nephew play football and watching our eldest niece twirl her baton for her last halftime show. She is a senior and this was the last performance of the football season.

Paige asked for a baby doll for her birthday so on Tuesday Grandma and Grandpa Harris, Paige, and I went shopping to find just the right doll. We went to a wonderful place called the Doll Hospital and Toy Soldier Shop. They let the Paige touch, feel, and hold the dolls, they put each of the outfits Paige picked out on the doll she choose to be sure they fit, and let her walk out the door with the doll in her arms. I could not have asked for a better experience! I did not have enough hands to take pictures at the store, but below are a few from the fashion show we had once we got home. She decided to name her doll "Dolly".

The celebrations will continue this Saturday as we have 11 children over for games, crafts, cupcakes, and Dibs (chocolate covered ice cream bites). The finally next Tuesday is her actual birthday and we are going with a friend to see a matinee of High School Musical 3. Phew! I'll need a vacation after all this partying.

Below are some pictures of the first of the two celebrations.

Amy

Blowing out the candles on cake #1

Cool gifts from the family.

Dolly modeling her Christmas dress.

Dolly modeling Pajamas

Dolly all ready for bed

A Fun filled weekend

We've had an action packed weekend and the tired child (and parents) to prove it! Saturday we had our Families with Children from China Autumn Moon Festival. It was scheduled three weeks ago but got rained out by the remnants of Hurricane Ike. Before hand we killed some time at Michaels, a local craft store. I had some trouble with the kids as you'll see below. At the festival Paige painted a paper lantern, made a mask, played games with her friend Sophia, and after dark did a lantern parade with all the kids’ lanterns lit with glow sticks. She was asleep 15 minutes after being put in the car.

Today the park next door had their annual Harvest Happenings. We went on a hay ride, did crafts, and had cider and doughnuts. Paige went on some kid inflatable things, went through a gymnastics obstacle course set up by her gymnastics academy, and rode a cute pony named Mouse. The event gets bigger every year and is really a great community event. We saw many of our friends and neighbors while we were there.

Below are some pictures of our weekend.

Amy

Are those kids sword fighting in the store? Where are their parents?

Don't believe the smile, believe the horns.
Here are the lanterns drying. Paige's is the one on the lower left.
A group shot of the festivities. Paige is in the dark pink coat on the left.

Harvest Happenings Photos

Here are the pictures from Harvest Happenings.

Paige riding a pony named Mouse.

Sliding down the inflatable slide.
Fire girl Paige driving to the scene of the fire.
I love powdered doughnuts!
I can make it through the straw maze by myself.