punkins

Ever since I was a child, one of the most important Halloween traditions was carving pumpkins.  I remember going to the pumpkin patch, picking out the perfect size to carve the perfect pumpkin.  After taking it home, laying out newspaper in the garage, and picking out the best design for the year, then came the best part...gutting the pumpkin!  Don't you love that slimy feel in between your fingers?!  Then, it would be time to carve.  After abandoning those cheap, plastic, store-bought knife sets, I'd end up grabbing a huge kitchen knife to really do the job.  I'm surprised I still have all my fingers!  Oh, those were some fun times.

This year, Katie decided to try my commitment to that tradition by continually suggesting that we take a much different approach for decorations (and much thanks to pinterest for that).  No, it wasn't to make them bigger and brighter, nor was it to make them more frightening and terrifying.  She wanted to paint them.

What?!  No gutting?  No slime?  No carving?  I admit, I was hesitant for quite some time.  Anytime we were out running errands, she would always ask if we could go get pumpkins.  I wasn't sure if I could come to grips with painting pumpkins!  I finally came up with a clever response to combat her pleadings.  I told her, "Only one pumpkin is allowed in our house, and that's you!"  (Cheesy, I know.  But we are still newlyweds!)

I eventually caved.  But I must confess, it was a blast!  We had a lot of fun together.  And if you ask me, I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

I largely worked in the argyle one.  I'm pretty proud of it!  Last minute, we thought the pumpkins would look better if they were raised a bit.  Katie got the idea to use a box we just got and paint it.  I had recently thrown it away but I went dumpster diving for it and recovered it!  I think it definitely adds, especially with Katie's already cute wreath she made a couple months ago.

Happy Halloween everyone :)   BOO!

Have yourself a bluebell country day!

Provo just got a little bit better.  There is a little shop in Provo now serving blue bell ice cream, exclusively.  Blue bell is one of the things I missed the most about Texas when I left.  There are a few restaurants in the area (outback and cracker barrel) that serve blue bell with their desserts.  But they only have vanilla and if you want to buy it you have to get it in the 3 gallon size.  Eve, a fellow Texan and great friend, was kind enough to buy us one of those very large containers of blue bell for a housewarming gift.

It lasted us several months, but I've been deprived since, and definitely needing some other flavors.  Then, last week, Eve made me aware of the new place in Provo.  It's called "I Like Ike's Cream," and since they opened on conference weekend, the girls got 1/2 off during priesthood session (the boys also got 1/2 off if they came in a shirt and tie afterward).  Since Grant was in Salt Lake for most of the day translating, a few of my old roommates and I went during priesthood session and had a little girl's night.  

Yes, my ice cream was way bigger than theirs.  Don't judge me :) Needless to say, I was very excited!  I can't wait to take Grant there!  Who cares if it's freezing outside and already snowing?  I'm sure we'll be making another visit soon :)

P.S.  I got a new present!!!!

It's been great to be able to come home and sit at the piano.  I've missed that a lot.  I'm also going to be playing the piano for our school choir, so now I can practice!