Pumpkins without the Pumpkin Patch

Every October, we take the boys to a pumpkin patch to explore, go on hayrides, and, of course, bring home some pumpkins! This year, we planned two different trips to pumpkin patches and we didn't make it to either one because of rain and a sick boy.

Not wanting to miss out on the pumpkin fun, I sent Gene and Henry to the store yesterday for our weekly groceries AND pumpkins! Henry had very clear instructions from Will to come home with the tallest, skinniest pumpkin he could find.
The boys got to work cleaning out the pumpkin (and saving the seeds to roast)
and carving scary Jack-o'-lantern faces. Will's tall, kind-of-skinny pumpkin
Goofy face -- I told him to think of pumpkin pie and this is what he came up with!
Henry's short, fat pumpkinThe pumpkin carving team with their masterpiecesPicking out pumpkins at Kroger may not be quite as fun as getting them from a pumpkin patch... but a relaxed day at home with some pumpkin-carving action was exactly what the doctor ordered for my recovering boy.