The boys have been looking forward to "patching" their pumpkins for a week now. We decided tonight would be the perfect evening for it, being three nights before Halloween, a non-soccer night, and the #1 reason, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is on T.V. Has a year ever gone by that you have missed this classic? Me neither... Even in college, when I could not afford cable, the rabbit ears worked just fine to pick up a fuzzy but tolerable viewing. And, we were not going to miss it this year.. So, I planned the perfect evening set to culminate with all of us gathered around the flat screen watching Linus pull an all-nighter in the pumpkin patch, only to be disappointed that the "Great Pumpkin", again, doesn't show. Have you ever tried to plan the perfect evening for 4-year-olds?
We cut the tops off H&Ns pumpkins so they could begin cleaning them. Nelson pulls out two seeds and says he's done... Henry is convinced there are spiders in his (because I might have jokingly mentioned something about that, just trying to get in the spirit), and he is done. This leaves Clark and I with 4 pumpkins, one rotten, to clean and carve by the 7:00 showtime. Clark, if you recall from a previous post, picked out a lovely large pumpkin. It has been displayed so stately outfront of our house, towering over the three other little pumpkins. We were completely unaware that the thing was rotting from the inside, out. I think it was saved just in time, with only the top half and all of its seeds being lost.
During our carving session I baked an apple-pear crisp. I had planned to top it with homemade whipped cream, which would be served during the first commercial break. The air was filled with a lovely aroma of baking apples and cinnamon with a hint of nutmeg... Sounds delightful, right? It would have been, had I not overcooked the oat topping, and had someone not left the refrigerator door open turning my whipped cream back into cream. Henry wouldn't touch it, Nelson loved it, and Clark didn't complain... Nonethelsess we did enjoy the show. I hope to roast up some pumpkin seeds tomorrow. And, I look forward to the coming holiday season when we can break out the Christmas decorations, simmer some cider and watch Charlie Brown's Christmas (which is personally my favorite).
5 comments:
Love the face of the "rotten" pumpkin. Harrison is very impressed of the "umkin" his Papa carved for him...I look forward to the day he too, can attempt to carve his very own.
I loved this story. It smacks of the reality of life, and when things go absolutely in another direction than what we plan it's just an awesome reminder that we're alive and making memories. It wouldn't be as much fun if we all lived in a re-run of Leave it to Beaver, would it? By the way, I was right there, engulfed in your story, right down to the aroma in the air. :) Thanks for this.
Thanks for the comments... I really did try for the Cleaver moment, to no avail. I even left out the part of Nelson smacking Henry in the face and him retaliating until they were both bawling their little heads off, with me up to my elbows in pumpkin guts, unable to diffuse the situation before it escalated entirely out-of-control, which it did.
Ah yes, we are alive and kicking!
Oh Paula, what a great story! I totally feel for you - trying so hard to make it a fun, perfect, night. I completely understand the part where it all falls apart. It usually does around here!
I think all your planning and attention to detail is so cute. "The crisp to be served at the first commercial." I love that!
Your pictures capture the night perfectly. Thanks for the funny, totally adorable story.
I am tuning in late but enjoyed this night with you all too, I have only just begun to plan fun times but I remember as a kid when the best laid plans didn't go quite right, alas. The pumpkins are(were) beautiful.
Post a Comment