
<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149117024_d76b07c5ff_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="November 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149117024_9c8e5528e8_t.jpg" alt="November 2013"/>
</a>

The big event this month has been our trip to the US to visit my family for Thanksgiving. It was our first time flying with both offspring. Both of them behaved very well. Ian was enchanting flight attendants and fellow passengers left and right, and Nora was content to be pacified by the same television marathon and mindless snacking that keeps the adult passengers docile. A couple times Ian had to be walked up and down the aisles, but overall, the long flight from Munich to Charlotte was pretty easy. Of course we did have to travel 24 hours late after our initial flight was cancelled due to a lightning bolt striking the aircraft the night before. However, that delay allowed us to insure having the bassinet, which makes [_all the difference_](/2010/11/22/airline-security-and-underpants-bombs/) when traveling with a small child.  When we came last year for Thanksgiving, Nora missed the [_Magosta_ festival](http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magosto), an autumnal chestnut roasting festival local to northern Spain, at her school, but this year Thanksgiving fell late enough in the month that she was able to attend on her last day. I think it was the very first time I've eaten a roasted chestnut, which I greatly enjoyed. All the kids dressed up in pastoral garb and there was dancing and general merriment.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149051205_ef0ff914db_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="November 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149051205_65d63c6793_z.jpg" alt="November 2013"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149108634_4a38867131_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="November 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149108634_3e6635df70.jpg" alt="November 2013"/>
</a>

Like last year, Nora's angel of a teacher, with very little notice, prepared a present for her, with specific instructions to open it "when the plane is above the clouds". This had the desired effect, and Nora kept the present by her side until we got into the plane, and then repeatedly asked if we were flying yet. The present was a little doll family of bears (their school year is ursine themed), consisting of a mommy bear, a daddy bear, and a little girl bear, plus a separate add-on package of a little baby bear in a swing, creating the perfect analog for our nuclear family.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149103174_cc970cb6e4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="November 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149103174_9594c140fc.jpg" alt="November 2013"/>
</a>

Airline selfie.

Upon arrival, Nora immediately picked right back up with her grandparents, reeling off the long list of activities she had planned for them, including treasure hunts, Unoâ„¢, feeding the 14-year-old Westie (the only dog Nora doesn't find threatening), and dominoes.

After doing some research into walkers and suspended bouncers and discovering that Science's opinion this week is that they are actually detrimental to a child's physical and intellectual development, my parents discovered that "activity centers" are said to be very good for children to play with. So they bought one.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149100654_a04366465c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="November 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149100654_7f447de3b5_z.jpg" alt="November 2013"/>
</a>

Ian has never experienced this much toy joy. He _loves_ it! ...you know, until he wants to be picked up and carried again.

The state of the offspring is strong!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149117024_d76b07c5ff_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="November 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2013/11149117024_9c8e5528e8_z.jpg" alt="November 2013"/>
</a>


State of the Offspring Address - November 2013


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992585614_0ebc2de442_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Pedreña Putting Green">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992585614_872b84ebe2_t.jpg" alt="Pedreña Putting Green"/>
</a>

My token answer for the often asked question is that, what I miss most about the United States, apart from my family, is the relatively easy access to golf. In Spain, I'm lucky if I get to play once or twice a year, and with the burdens joys of fatherhood, even less. As if to taunt me, one of the closest golf courses to my house is the super private [_Real Golf de Pedreña_](http://www.realgolfdepedrena.com/), probably the most famous course in northern Spain, and the home stomping grounds of Spain's golf legend, Severiano Ballesteros.  I do, however, out of sheer luck, know a couple of members, but they have never invited me to play, and I haven't pushed the idea upon them. When I heard that a golf outing was being arranged for October 25, 2013, _and_ that that day was a holiday in the Basque Country, which meant that my in-laws were planning on visiting, I jumped at the idea of playing golf on the legendary course.

I met the other four golfers at 7:00 at a motorway-side hotel lobby for coffee and a pastry, and we all followed the guy who knew how to get to the course. This was very good, because it requires driving through some very small stone villages. The weather was a little windy and very overcast, but the temperature was lovely.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992637413_45f44f2bf9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Locker Room Keys">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992637413_5e05ae5fea_z.jpg" alt="Pedreña Locker Room Keys"/>
</a>

I found it amusing that the keys to all the members' lockers were all here in the corner of the locker room.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992596244_f451b64ee0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Locker Room Members' Shoes">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992596244_d0583737c3_z.jpg" alt="Pedreña Locker Room Members' Shoes"/>
</a>

Any decent country club also lets you keep your shoes there. I wonder if the sink to clean them is used by the members or some servant that does it for them.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992585614_0ebc2de442_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Putting Green">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992585614_872b84ebe2.jpg" alt="Pedreña Putting Green"/>
</a>

Fantastic views across the bay to Santander from the putting green, which they had recently aerated, hence the little sandy holes.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992424215_cea59637c5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Fairway">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992424215_4b2754e95b.jpg" alt="Pedreña Fairway"/>
</a>

My ball in the fairway with the [Isla de Mouro](http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=isla%20de%20mouro) in the background.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992645083_7f75d64cc9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Green and Palacio de la Magdalena">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992645083_2c7abd8005.jpg" alt="Pedreña Green and Palacio de la Magdalena"/>
</a>

The _Palacio de la Magdalena_ behind the green.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992427695_c0db864088_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña 18th Tee Cave">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992427695_9de0fb32be.jpg" alt="Pedreña 18th Tee Cave"/>
</a>

A cave adjacent to the 18th tee where Seve and his friends would hide when the greenskeeper would come along to tell the lads to "get off the course already!"

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992435755_7b965482ca_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Club House">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992435755_ea4c314f05.jpg" alt="Pedreña Club House"/>
</a>

The interior of the clubhouse was an exhibition of how to sparsely lay out furniture.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992440045_813a2d445b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Club House">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992440045_a9ebf5cc1b.jpg" alt="Pedreña Club House"/>
</a>

Another nice view of the _Palacio_.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992661683_72189a31c1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pedreña Seve Wall">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-22-golf-in-pedrena-home-of-seve-ballesteros/10992661683_8e839c7b13.jpg" alt="Pedreña Seve Wall"/>
</a>

A wall dedicated to Seve.

As for [the scores](https://shotzoom.com/rounds/75507832580)…my lack of practice really shone through on the front nine, with an 18-over 53, but I gained some control on the back and finished with a +7, 42, eleven strokes better. I did considerably better than the other two in my threesome.

After golf, we had a cold beer at the clubhouse and then stopped by two separate bars for some amazing anchovies and chorizo on the way to eat lunch. Since most of the people I was playing with are from Bilbao – remember they were off work that day because of the holiday – we stopped for lunch at the midpoint between Santander and Bilbao, which happened to be Treto, a town adjacent to where I live, at a restaurant, _La Barca_, that I've always wanted to try. It was very convenient to have such a short drive home.

I can't wait to get invited back!


Golf in Pedreña - Home of Seve Ballesteros


![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-11-movie-premiere-snacks/rTVt5LC.jpg)I've been down for the count with a stomach virus and/or food poisoning for most of today. Around hour fifteen of lying in bed, the following scene began to develop in my semi-conscious imagination. I think it works best as a skit for a comedy troupe, or, if someone like Jimmy Fallon could actually get all the celebs together to do it, all the better. We've all seen the celebrity gossip tv coverage of a movie premiere, where the famous people get out of their limousines and strut up the red carpet, but, have you ever wondered…  ![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-11-movie-premiere-snacks/koNHUJ2l.jpg)

## What happens after the celebrities get inside the cinema lobby for a movie premiere?

Some light elevator muzak is playing, and we see Steven Spielberg and his wife enter the lobby. He tells her, "You go grab our seats, I'll get us some popcorn." They split up, and he walks over to the concessions line and takes his place behind Morgan Freeman.

Next to take their spot at the back of the snack line is Will Smith and his family. His daughter, Willow, is nagging her mother, "Please mom! Can we get _Junior Mints_ this time? Puhlease??" Finally, Jada snaps, "Yes, okay! Fine!"

Cut to Spielberg and Freeman making small talk, and wondering if these are premiere prices, or if "regular people" actually pay $15 for a big cup of mostly ice. Morgan talks about paying pennies for his snacks as a kid.

Cut to Will, who looks annoyed. He glances as his Rolex, "What is _taking_ so long?"

As if to answer him, the camera pans up the line to the front, where Gwyneth Paltrow is demanding to know if the popcorn is GMO or not, and explaining what "soy butter" is. Cut back to Will, who rolls his eyes, and grumbles "Not again!"

Just then Quentin Tarantino and his date walk up. He says to his date, "Hey baby, you know what they call a _Big Gulp_ in Europe?" As Tarantino begins explaining the intricacies of European soft drink culture, the camera cuts to Jaden Smith, who is silently mouthing the words and gesticulating as Quentin is speaking them. Jada smacks him on the shoulder and says, "Cut that out!" The camera pans across the faces of the other actors, and they, too, are rolling their eyes and mouthing Quentin's oft-recited words.

Suddenly they all look up to see Samuel L. Jackson walking right past the concessions line and into the cinema. He pats his suit, which crinkles with the sound of candy wrappers. He smiles and wryly says, "Enjoy your wait, motherfuckers!"

\[Fade to black.\]

![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-11-movie-premiere-snacks/3ojVFhl.jpg)


Movie Premiere Snacks


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691820553_9f9b43e8b7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691820553_d917a9799e_t.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

Once again this year, I volunteered to go into Nora's class and carve a pumpkin. Her teacher managed to acquire a 30 kg (66 lb) pumpkin from a fruit vendor in her hometown, and I agreed to come into school and perform my nation's traditional pagan gourd evisceration ritual. This year, all three of the preschool classes (turtles, 3-year-olds; bears, 4-year-olds; and elephants, 5-year-olds) attended the actual carving. Due to the fact that the pumpkin had grown lying on its side, one side of it was totally flat, so it didn't really stand up by itself, but we quickly solved that problem by placing it in a shallow bucket.  When I first got to the classroom at 11:00 am, it was just Nora's "bear" class. I took a survey to decide the basics of the mood of the face we would draw, pointy or square teeth, round or squinty eyes. As tends to happen with groups of humans of all ages, a few vociferous individuals ended up making all the decisions. Then the older and younger kids started filing in.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691615486_8012e2a954_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691615486_179880b5fe.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

I explained to the class that, in my home country, all the kids get dressed up and go out trick-or-treating on Halloween night, and how exciting it is to be walking around in the dark with other witches and goblins and ghosts (and Harry Potter and Spiderman). I told of how we also get pumpkins, which are relatively plentiful this time of year, and carve faces into them. I suspect that none of this was new to even the youngest of the three year olds thanks to American culture creep into their cartoons, etc., but they listened relatively attentively.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691612424_3eced594b7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691612424_d5576a85db.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

The pumpkin was very thick skinned, and difficult to carve, but I managed.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691807553_b9be0e9669_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691807553_ff609a6cd2.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

Really thick walls!

When it was open and needed cleaning, I stepped aside and every child that wanted to was given the opportunity to reach in and clean out some of the pumpkin guts. Some loved it and some thought it was pretty gross. The process of organizing them to do it all was pretty crazy, and it got quite loud sometimes.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691626856_1a96cb97b5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691626856_ef566d3307.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

Let the carving begin!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691577715_e44bd7e468_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691577715_86ece0b8df.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

They all cheered as each orifice was extracted. One of the kids who goes to basketball classes after school began chanting, "Erik! Erik! Go Erik!" which swept through the crowd like a wildfire and had to be extinguished by finger-wagging teachers.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691820553_9f9b43e8b7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691820553_d917a9799e.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

The final product.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691588155_9b422860e1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691588155_1ac65f6250.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

Proud daughter.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691591405_706215d3e9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691591405_5d19ec7178.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

That afternoon all the parents were invited in to see my work and in a spooky little corner they designed.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691833413_22205e0af7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-halloween-school-pumpkin-carving-2013/10691833413_e0767f7e8c.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Carving 2013 - Fray Pablo"/>
</a>

My little pumpkins.


Halloween School Pumpkin Carving 2013


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691500394_4926c88ac3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691500394_1e4d4b7a30_t.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

As in previous years, I was given two little pumpkins by daily grocer, and we invited a kid or two over to participate in the annual ritual. [The first year](/2010/10/29/pumpkin-carving-2010/), we invited our neighbor, Oscar. He seemed more interested in Nora's toys than with the pumpkin carving, so the next two years, [2011](/2011/10/30/halloween-2011/) and [2012](/2012/10/28/halloween-2012-pumpkin-carving-with-carmen/), we invited a friend from three floors down, Carmen. Oscar has a three-year-old sister, Gabriela, now, and Nora has a best friend from school, Claudia, so we decided to invite _all of them_ this year, including Claudia's infant sister, Mara. _Seven children!_  We began as we always do, with some paper to sketch out some ideas. With kids from three to seven years old, we had a variety of drawing skills. There was a general consensus around Carmen's idea to have the top of the mouth be all sharp teeth, and they liked my suggestion of having two square teeth. "Like Sponge Bob!" they all shouted, upon seeing my sketch.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691363165_afa18cff9a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691363165_361de63678.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

They did fairly well taking turns scooping out the pumpkin innards, especially considering that Nora, Claudia and Carmen are all incredibly bossy. Oscar, again, got bored very early on and went off to find noisemaking toys.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691623153_876855bc52_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691623153_9262a28e33.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

Carmen and Nora are pumpkin cleaning veterans.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691635713_8b236c1236_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691635713_bf23aa8fc0.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

It was Gabriela's first time.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691402535_d942175ff9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691402535_10f7ae6cec_m.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691457156_829a9462e4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691457156_45ee7ab60b_m.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691459774_fa25938823_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691459774_0654ce4168_m.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691657493_8719e90587_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691657493_1f913fd9ac_m.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

She definitely enjoyed it more than her brother, Oscar.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691483336_d4a83cbc56_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691483336_8215d8b7a5_m.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691490066_8e8845fff8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691490066_65510b2e92_m.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

All clean!

Then it was time for the kids to go running off to play with toys, while I got busy with my knife craft.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691500394_4926c88ac3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691500394_1e4d4b7a30.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

Tada!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691470315_33baf9ba9b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691470315_f37038fa76.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

The babies did what babies do. I love the symmetry of this photo.

Keeping seven kids under control was easier than I'd feared. In herds, they're pretty docile, accepting rules passed down to them, e.g. "No, you may not go upstairs to \[totally wreck\] Nora's room." Only once did we get a messenger rush into where the adults were to tell us that "Nora fell down and is crying!" but a hug was all that was needed to cure her.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691465255_fdef535f83_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2013-11-05-pumpkin-carving-party-2013/10691465255_5903d6b330_c.jpg" alt="Halloween Pumpkin Party 2013"/>
</a>

I'm already looking forward to next year!


5 posts from November, 2013