Since our planned pumpkin patch day was cancelled due to rain and an inhospitable cold front, Dad and Janice decided to host a Pumpkin Day at the Farm. Terry’s mother was feeling a little under the weather this morning so I rode to Gallatin with Roy, Leah and the kids with plans of Terry joining us later in the day. We arrived at the Farm to a platter of delicious sausage biscuits and fresh bakery doughnuts. Jill picked up an assortment of regular and chocolate glazed doughnuts this morning and then decorated the chocolate ones with spooky spider webs.
After a breakfast that just hit the spot, Janice and Jill gave the kids their Halloween goody bags which they completely loved. They oohed and aahed and giggled at all the fun treats: chewy eyeball gummies, long, crooked witches fingers, pumpkin suckers and other confectionary vehicles for tooth decay.
The kiddos love their bag of treats.
Leah and Jill planned two special activities for the kids. For the first project, Leah made green rice krispie treats and cut them into large squares. Gathering the kids in the sunroom, they proceeded to make Frankenstein heads…aaaargh! They dipped the tops in chocolate for the hair, used squeezable gel food coloring for eyes, mouth, and a horrific scar and pretzels and mini-marshmallows for the neck bolts. Not only were they frighteningly cute but delicious to boot.
Chris, Amy, Carson, and Curtis arrived to participate in all the days festivities just as the Frankenstein’s were being revealed.
Franken-scary!
The next project was popcorn balls. Jill wanted to pay homage to PaPa who made these every Fall. So she pulled out the Stir Crazy popper and got to work. Once the popcorn was popped it was onto the caramel which once finished was drizzled over the popcorn and mixed thoroughly. The giant mixing bowl was moved into the sunroom, we buttered the kids hands and let them dig in and form the popcorn into sticky caramel balls.
Homemade caramelly popcorn balls.
While a fire roared in the fireplace and SEC football reigned on the TV, a crockpot full of homemade chili beckoned. It was the perfect lunch for a cold, drizzly, overcast day.
Later in the afternoon, after Terry arrived it was time for pumpkin carving. We made our way outside to select our pumpkins and then the slaughter began. There were pumpkin guts everywhere as we all piled into the sunroom to work on our gourd masterpieces.
Pumpkin carving in the sunroom.
As day turned into night, it was time to head outside into a blustery, bone chilling evening and huddle in front of a blazing bonfire. It was glorious…hot, crackling and popping sending sparks into the stratosphere. With coat hangers and skewers in hand, we roasted hot dogs and made sticky, melty s’mores. Yum!
Levi warms up with a cup of hot chocolate while Lily enjoys a gooey s’more.
When the little kids had had enough, the big kids followed them inside. While the tikes watched “Monster House” in the living room and had a blast chasing and crawling all over each other, the boys were in the sunroom watching football and carving a few more pumpkins just for grins.
Even after eating all day, we managed to enjoy a slice or two of Jill’s super cute pumpkin shaped cake. It was so moist and so delicious. Oh, did I mention Leah made her famous cheese ball that we devoured and I tried my hand at making homemade Butterfinger candy bars. At best they turned out to be more like gnarly, arthritic, Butterknuckles.
What can I say…it was just a marvelous day. I look back at the photos and giggle to myself and relish in the fact that we all had so much fun. It is pure joy to watch the little ones run and play and is certainly a privilege to be part of something so wonderful.
Click on images below to enlarge.
