Pumpkin Carving with the Kids

Today I helped the three kiddies get their pumpkins carved just in time for this years Halloween. Holly made three pumpkins this year. Two of them she used the stick on plastic features and the third one I helped her carve a simple face and then she painted it with acrylic paints. We must have spent about an hour and half doing her pumpkins and she absolutely loved it.

 

Once the boys returned from their Cubs camp they saw Holly's pumpkins and wanted to crack on with their own ones. Josh did pretty amazing this year and for the first year ever he pretty much carved the whole pumpkin himself. He found a design that he wanted to carve and asked me to draw it on the pumpkin for him, then he did all the carving on his own. Brandon needed a bit more help with his carving. His one was made harder as he had picked an albino type of pumpkin which had a much tougher texture than the conventional orange ones.

 

The problem now is that I have spent all the time helping the kids and they have used up all the pumpkins meaning I haven't carved one myself this year (yet!).

 

Not sure how safe this is letting Holly loose with a knife and a pumpkin!

 

Holly scooping out a load of guts from a pumpkin.

Holly's first pumpkin creation using stick on plastic facial features.

This is her second pumpkin although it looks more like a marrow. I love this one.

For Holly's smaller third pumpkin I helped her carve the face and then she set t work painting it.

Holly really enjoyed using the acrylic paints.

Looking at how thick that paint is, I would say this could take a while to dry.

Joshua sets to work scooping out the guts of his pumpkin.



Brandon scooping out a rather unusual albino type of pumpkin.

I drew the pattern on Joshua's pumpkin, but he did all the carving on his own and did a fab job.

Joshua's cat pumpkin starting to take shape.

Joshua's finished work of art.

The pumpkin cat looks amazing when lit up.

Brandon trying his best but needing some help as this was a tough pumpkin to carve.

Brandon tried his hardest.



The end result came out OK. Looks a bit like Jigsaw if you ask me.

And here is Brandon's pumpkin all lit up and looking spooky.

Cubs Thriftwood Spooky Activity Day

Today we had a rare Saturday with a surprising amount of time on our hands. Holly had no dancing today as it is half term and both the boys were at Thriftwood for a Spooky activity day. So after I finished coaching football we headed in to town with Holly to pick up a few bits for Halloween. Whilst we was in town Holly was treated to a little carousel ride, an ice cream and then she bumped in to her idol Peppa Pig outside Santander.

 

The boys were at activity day from 10 until 4:15 and when they finished I asked them what they had been up to all day and got very little feedback other than they enjoyed the day. Then the Cubs leader posts loads of pictures on Facebook from today and it looks like they had an amazing day and got loads of new and interesting activities to keep them occupied.

 



Holly's little treat in town today to have a ride on a carousel.

Then she met Peppa Pig outside Santander.

Joshua sitting next to Leo on the Cubs activity day. He doesn't look too happy hear.

Brandon playing a game of inflatable wrecking ball.

Brandon on the climbing wall.

Great action shot of Joshua on the climbing wall.

Brandon on the go-karts overtaking a back marker.

Joshua leading out in front on his go-kart race.

Brandon having a go on what looks like a wooden sledge slide - looks great fun.

Joshua got stuck at the top on his go and trails behind at the back.

Junior Blues Meet Southend United

For Xmas last year Uncle Michael and Auntie Lea bought the two boys memberships to be a Junior Blue for Southend United. During this half term they got to benefit from this membership with an invite to watch the 1st team training at Roots Hall, meet a greet all the players and get their autograph on a team picture, meet Shrimpy the mascot and even got to have some lunch afterwards. Even Holly managed to get in on the action despite not being a Junior Blue (yet!). Anyway they seemed to enjoy the day out and it was quite a unique experience for them to participate in during half term.

 

Tina and the kiddies sitting in Roots Hall watching the Southend United team training.

Cheeky Holly and Joshua.

All three of our little Junior Blues.

The players start their warm up routines.

Unfortunately the boys didn't come back with any good drills we can use back at Forest Glade!

Armed with their team photo's they head out to the pitch to collect autographs.

The boys with Anton Ferdinand. I think Holly is trying to find him on her picture.

Getting an autograph from Marc-Antoine Fortune (I think)!

I think its a fab idea for the players to interact with the kids on occasions like this.

I may have some players names wrong, but I think Holly is looking up at Ryan Leonard.

The kiddies picture with No.1 Goal Keeper Mark Oxley.

No idea who this player is.

I think this is the No.10 striker Simon Cox.

Now I am really struggling to name the players, is this Michael Knightly?



Joshua Wright and Jason Demetriou.

Why do they all have flicked back hair and a short beard - its making it very hard for me to identify the players post the event!

I am guessing this is defender No.6 Michael Turner - all looks like its getting very stressful for Holly.

Pumpkin Patch 2017

This afternoon we had a lovely walk over the Pumpkin Patch to pick out our pumpkins for 2017 Halloween. This year there was such a variety of different pumpkins it was amazing. There were types there that I have never seen before and had no idea even existed. The kids all picked their own pumpkin for 2017 Halloween plus they also had a play in the sweet corn maze and pulled off some corn on the cobs. It was a little chilly over the farm due to the winds but it was still a fun and pleasant way to spend the Sunday afternoon. The kids enjoyed playing in the wheel barrow and also climbing  the hay bales.

 

The giant pumpkin at Barleylands which apparently weighs 300lb's.

Our 2017 visit to the Pumpkin Patch.

Holly getting stuck in and looking for her pumpkin.

This was my favourite type of pumpkin which was aptly named "Turk Turban".

We thought they had finally picked their 3 pumpkins but they changed their minds about 10 times.

I had no idea there was so many different varieties of pumpkins!!!!!

My 3 little pumpkins.

That's some scary pumpkin faces.



The pumpkin patch is such a great idea and the kiddies love it.

Joshua and Holly in the corn maze being photo bombed by a cheeky Brandon.

Now that's what I call a full wheel barrow and a strongman test of strength for me to lift them.

Brandon pushing our shopping cart wheel barrow.

A nice colourful selection in our wheel barrow.

Brandon is over 4 pumpkins tall.

Joshua just slightly over 5 pumpkins tall.

And Holly is 3 years old and nearly 3 pumpkins tall.

Brandon trying to climb a hay bale.

Ha Ha Holly trying to push the wheel barrow.

The boys up high on some hay stacks.

With the car loaded Tina returns our wheel barrow and tries to leave a little Holly in there!

I think we ended up with a good variety and some interesting colours there. Bring on Halloween.