“Do you want a happy pumpkin or a scary pumpkin?” I ask the Fecklet.
“SCARY pumpkin! I want a scary one!”
I draw two faces: one with demon eyes and fangs, and one with happy eyes and a big smiling mouth. “Which one—scary or happy? The happy one, right?”
“SCARY pumpkin Mummy!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! Yes, a scary one! Like a dinosaur! Grrrr!”
We cut open the pumpkin and pull out the guts (“It’s all slimy, Mummy!” cries Fecklet with great joy), and I cut out demon eyes and fangs. I show Fecklet.
His eyes grow huge. “I don’t like it, Mummy! I don’t like the scary pumpkin!”
So I cut the fangs off. And try to make the demon eyes more jolly.
Now everyone is happy, including (sort of) the pumpkin.
Clearly, you are more proficient at cutting up root vegetables than myself–currently sporting a large plaster on a very extreme manicure (very Hallowe’eny blood!). And all I was doing was making soup.
WOW. Great creative problem solving, Adapting scary pumpkin to become belly-laugh pumpkin!
Of course you will create a fine kitten, and have a great story/photo for the baby -book. The pumpkin still has a smile that I don’t trust.
Bless his heart! And what a fab mum he’s got.
He’s just such a cutie!
This reminds me of the year Boy (Elvis to you) was a Just Right Ghost. “Not too scary, not too happy–just right!”
Oh, bless! Brings back memories. We’ve had to do the same, in years past.
In our street, you put a pumpkin outside the door with a tealight burning inside it to show that you’re happy for people to knock for trick-or-treat goodies. Eldest has decided he is too big for this and has nabbed the role of chief goodie-giver. Interestingly, he still expects a share of his sister’s goodies…
So cute…eldest read your blog and did a big AWWWW!
And like Kate’s offspring – she too has said she’s too big for trick or treating and is handing out candy. And yes – she’ll expect chocolate too.
(((Kate))) I hope your finger is better.
Chris, I don’t trust the pumpkin either. That’s what happens when you try to reform a scary character.
Jan and Anon (is that you, Mom?):
Rach, I love a Just Right Ghost!
Kate and Donna…we’re too small for trick-or-treating here and it really doesn’t happen in this neighbourhood anyway. I miss it. Giving out goodies is a good job though, are they dressing up?
Bless his little heart! Reminds me of Sally on “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” cutting eyes in the sheet and then scaring herself with the ghost! Give him a big hug for Mom & me. Thanks!
Hugs, Hope
I’ve given him your hug, Hope.