One of the traditions I have enjoyed with my grandchildren is the carving of Jack-0-Lanterns at Halloween. It has offered unexpected scope for creativity as we study many possibilities for decorating those pumpkins.
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| 2015 |
Of course, I did have some prior experience with Jack-0-Lanterns, having raised two boys. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of those. I wasn't planning ahead for my future career as family historian.
We first started making Jack-0-Lanterns together when Henry was about four and Harper about two, so of course they couldn't actually handle any of the carving tools, but they did have opinions about what the finished product should look like. Our first effort was a pretty standard carving option--a scary face.
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| 2016 |
Our next effort in 2016, was similar, but perhaps a little more scary.
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| 2017 |
By the next year, in 2017, we graduated to doing three pumpkins and became a little more daring in our designs. One for Grammie (the cat), One for Henry (the bat or possibly an owl), and one for Harper (the three eyes). By this year, the kids could help cut the design with Grammie and Daddy's help, drawing the design on the pumpkin first. We had a selection of patterns that we found on the internet to help us make choices.
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| 2018 Wonder Woman |
In 2018, we again did three pumpkins, one for each carver, again branching out in our styles.
Harper went with a Wonder Woman theme, since that was her costume that year.
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| Wonder Woman Harper |
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| 2018 |
Grammie tried a more elaborate bat theme, while Henry went with a rather surprised and somewhat disappointed looking jack, an interesting emotional combination.
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| 2018 |
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| 2019 |
By 2019, Henry was carving his own pumpkin. Not sure what that design was, but I’m sure Henry was trying out a new and creative technique. Harper seemed very pleased with her evilly smiling Jack, which seemed even more evil in the dark!
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| 2019 |
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| 2020 |
In 2020, we did three pumpkins again. Grammie went with a mandala style, which is one of her favorite art forms. Henry went with a pac-man theme and Harper did a big claw. They all looked great out in front of the house.
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| 2021 |
In 2021, Henry went with a more gory look.
Grammie and Harper explored an Angry Bird theme.
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| 2022 |
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| 2022 |
We weren't able to carve pumpkins last year because of Grammie's unavailability, but I look forward to continuing our quest for the ultimate jack-0-lantern this year.
What sweet memories you've left with them.
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