More treats than tricks!

 Schaeffer was the 'counter' at school during circle time

 some of Schaeffer's friends from school

 patiently waiting for games to begin

 the beautiful girls of CLS 4 year old class

 all the kids of Mrs. Kern & Mrs. Kableman's class

 did someone say candy?!?

 the jack o'lantern the kids carved

 Schaeffer tearing it up in the bean bag toss

Rapunzel turned into sleeping beauty

 Great Grandma Jean & Schaeffer Jo

 GG reading SJ her Halloween card

Griffin & Schaeffer leaving for trick-or-treating in the neighborhood

It took Schaeffer many hours of deliberation to decide what she would dress as for Halloween. After much back-and-forth, she finally landed on her beloved Rapunzel (which was convenient for me, as we already had a Rapunzel costume in our dress up bin!). 

As you can tell, Schaeffer's teachers--against their better judgment--allowed me back into their classroom, and into close proximity to small children. Small children with limited sight lines due to large masks, and with significant issues walking due to the floor length hem line required to be a princess. 

Alas, if you hop me up on enough skittles, laffy taffy and nerds, even 4-year old Halloween games can be enjoyable. Or almost. 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

 Schaeffer Jo cleaning out 'her' pumpkin

from Papa Doug's patch

 separating the 'guts' from the seeds

 it's a job for the daddy/daughter duo

 all clean & ready to carve

 Schaeffer Jo draws the face & Griffin carves

 dangly 'guts' from Griffin's pumpkin

 snap! off with the stem

our three little pumpkins-cute as can be

this is the verse that came home on a jack o'lantern Schaeffer Jo made at school this week:

I am a Jack O'Lantern

My lights will shine so bright

For I'm a Christian pumpkin

My symbols tell what's right.

The story starts at Christmas

My eyes are like the star

That shone on baby Jesus

and wise men from far.

My nose is like the cross

On which our Savior died

To set us free from sin

We need no longer hide. 

My mouth is like a fish

The whole wide world to show

That Christians live in this house

and love their Savior so.

My color, it is orange

Just like the big bright sun

That rose on Easter Day

Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween

Let's set our pumpkins out

And tell the trick or treaters

What God's love is about. 

Friday Fun-day!

We are more than excited to have a weekend full of fall time festivities! We'll be busy with carving the pumpkins we picked from Papa Doug's patch, roasting pumpkin seeds, trick-or-treating downtown Saint Joe, and eating homemade doughnuts with hot apple cider.

I'm thrilled to have found a new twist on carving pumpkins--one that utilizes everyday household items like cookie cutters and a rubber mallet. 

So if you own the only porch in the neighborhood without smiling pumpkins, fear not! Here's a step-by-step guide for the coolest jack-o-lanterns around.