pumpkin carving

I debated whether or not to carve a pumpkin with Ava this year. I wondered if she would be interested. I wondered if we had time, but she really wanted to do it, so we bought our pumpkin at whole foods--picked it out in the drizzle together, climbing the built-in hay stacks to make sure we picked the best one, and I lugged this ridiculously heavy pumpkin up the stairs. Ava insisted on a scary face pumpkin and waited SO patiently while I cute the top open. She was interested in what it looked like inside, but when she found out it was goopy and slimey she wouldn't touch it. Such a dainty little girl, my gosh! I told her, as I scooped out mounds of pumpkin flesh and seeds that this was my favorite part as a kid. Brad heard me saying that and proceeded to shove his hand in and take goop out, saying "me too!, try Ava!" But she wouldn't. 

 She took a good look inside though

 And then decided that she would try to touch it...."daddy! are you weady? come see me. I'm gonna touch it!" we gathered around her and this is what she did: With the tip of her finger she touched a seed! (I had her re-inact for the photo). Again, can you say dainty?! :)

 But we sure did carve a cute (I mean scary) jack-o-lantern! 

 It was so fun to watch her in awe of it. How did a plain old pumpkin change to this in a half hour? Spooooooky!

I'm so glad we carved the pumpkin. It made life feel normal and calm, when right now it feels full and chaotic. I think I'm going to stop putting off making my pumpkin pie too. I'm gonna make time to make it because what would fall be without pumpkin pie? And after all, that is my nickname that my mom calls me, and she dug through her recipes to send me just the one she always makes for me, so it's settled.