It’s tradition time! Traditions are my favorite thing ever. Seriously. They give me a sense of stability, security, that all is right in the world, that our family is doing ok. Traditions remind me to laugh and to celebrate. They give me something to look forward to…and celebrate looking back. And this is one of my absolute favorite traditions….it’s pumpkin-carving-on-the-front-porch time!
For the last three years we have carved our big ole orange friends on the porch. It’s not anything super fancy but we do generally the same thing….set up the camera and tripod and our thrift store blanket that has fall colors (and adds cush for our tush) and carve a pumpkin (or two) with the kiddos.
This year my dad came and joined us for the pumpkin carving extravaganza. He didn’t know we were doing this (SURPRISE – here hold a baby!) but he came because we promised him football and dinner 🙂 He was a good sport though….helping us when someone would try to sharpie their face or grab for the knife. Seriously….when did we get so many little hands!?
Will was the resident artist who also helped get the guts out of one pumpkin and even got to help cut with Daddy. He’s five going on fifteen if anyone wanted to know 🙂
LJ was so little last time we carved that this truly was his first real experience and the reaction to see that top come off with the guts hanging down was so cute!
Max just hung out and waited for his nap 🙂
And Weston really got into it! I was so surprised because he is in that “don’t-let-my-hands-get-dirty” phase. Which is ironic because his fingernails are always dirty!
He loves order….loves lining things up, sorting things, making categories….he is only two but I totally see him sorting my craft supplies when he gets bigger 🙂 I thought that maybe this would be out of his comfort zone (messy, totally not orderly) but he wanted to scoop all the guts out and put them in the big bowl. He would hold his spoon out and transfer them so slowly and carefully! It was so sweet to see my go-go-go boy slow down and be so thoughtful about the process.
Look at that two-hand approach 🙂
We teased LJ (my eater) and he got a taste and didn’t quite like it 🙂
We have pumpkin pancakes (the boys always ask for pancakes) so hopefully that will redeem pumpkins for my little ginger.
Aww – I could look at these of Weston all day….look at how he is holding my hand so sweetly 🙂
My rough-n-tumble kid is growing up! **TEARS**
Oh here is Will getting to help Daddy! He loves the idea of a knife (he gets to butter his bread now at dinner) so this was right up his alley. GIVE HIM ALL THE SHARP THINGS!
Will drew on the faces and Weston said that he wanted to do it too so he modified the original drawing and it turned out with so much of Weston’s personality 🙂
At one point I think my dad was sneaking the kids candy and I ended up alone on the front porch. TRADITION WINNING!
So nice of those kids who let me carve their pumpkins and have all the fun all by myself 🙂
Weston came back out and joined me…..favorite child sticker! (settle down…I don’t have a favorite…I love them all….my kids aren’t scarred)
In the end, we have the most beautiful pumpkins in all the land 🙂 Next year I guess we will do THREE (maybe we should just start growing pumpkins!).
Oh and I have the cutest boys ever 🙂 #proudmama
And in case you were wondering what happened to Maxi Knight….he was in his Pappap’s arms. And if there is something you should know about this man, it is that he loves golf, football, popcorn, spicy food and is a total baby whisperer 🙂
After the pumpkins were done, dinner was eaten, and babies napped….we got the four boys in their costumes. I just want to say that it is my dream to have four boys who are dressed up like the different ninja turtles. And LJ (real name is Leonard) is Leo. Will is Donatello, Weston is Raphael and Max is Michealangelo.
LIFE GOALS!!!
So I would post photos of our Halloween trick or treating but honestly…it was a terrible experience. LJ kept on falling. He falls a lot anyway and he is very dramatic in general – so for him to fall on the ground is no big deal – he just rolls around and pitches a fit. But he can’t do that if he falls off a foreign patio….because then he’s rolling off more steps and into bushes. He busted his mouth because he fell off a step and then while he was throwing his little embarrassed fit, he rolled his face right into another brick. It broke my little heart. The other part was that I basically had four kids on one stroller and I was yelling at kids to get off the road and overall….not a great solo mom experience. I hate feeling like that….stressed about safety when it’s something that should be easy and fun. And it will be….eventually….but I told Jeremy that this would be the last time that I take all the kids by myself. I need him next year to go too. Let’s cross our fingers that it goes a little smoother in 2016 🙂 I am sure some other mom’s can commiserate with me. So let’s spill…how was your Halloween? Anyone else terrified that their kid is gonna get hit by a car? or fall off a deck? Anyone else spend the night picking up buckets of spilled candy?
*Adorable boys.
*Love all the pics.
*Your hair is soooooo long!
*Did you already share your candy corn planters, and I missed it?
Could LJ get any cuter? I mean seriously I want to squeeze him!
Love this! I have a photography logistical question: When you set up the camera on the tripod, do you set it to juts take pictures every X seconds or are you hiding a magic remote somewhere? These poses look so natural that I can’t imagine you’re hiding a remote!
I love every one of those pictures!! I may have to do our pumpkins on the front porch next year, such a great idea!!
Our community has daytime trick or treating at stores all afternoon. Easier to shepard a raft of turtles in daylight. Then just a few local homes at night to show off their costumes for the neighbors. And what kid doesn’t want to trick or treat twice in one day.
Our grandkids do their trick or treating in their church parking lot (trunk or treat!). Games, bouncy houses, lots of candy, it’s a big hit with them … and no moving vehicles.
Its so cute that you added a boy every year! Way to grow a family tradition.
You took all four trick or treating by yourself??? I know you are an awesome mom, but dang girl!! That thought alone stresses me out. We had three toddlers to 4 adults in our group and we were whipped out when we got home.
Love your honesty about the trick-or-treating experience at the end. Been there!! Now that my kids are a little older (ages 6-9) its easier but I remember thinking when they were younger that I was missing something because the experience was not so fun with 3 little guys so close in age.
Weston’s pumpkin is my favorite! haha.
Such sweet pictures! Your tradition of carving on the porch is really great. And I love the pumpkins that the boys designed 🙂
Here in Minneapolis we had a trick or treater get hit and killed by a car….it really made my kids stop and reflect. We talked a lot about it. On the “funnest night of the year” how safety, reflective bits (even if it doesn’t match the costume), where to walk etc. are soooo important. It is just sooo sad, but I think my kids now get it – on why I am the shrieking mama about safety on Halloween. Glad yours was relatively uneventful!
That picture of Weston kissing you is the sweetest thing ever… I have a 2-year old who is at that sweet loving-on-mommy stage right now too, and I wish I could hang on to his kisses and hugs forever!
You’re a brave mama! Taking four kids trick or treating alone sounds scary!
Aw, you really do have the cutest boys! I love traditions too and can’t wait til we get to do some…my son was only 14 months old this year so I’m hoping we can start some next year. We carved a pumpkin while he was sleeping the night before Halloween since he’s definitely a wild man…and that wouldn’t mix well with sharp knives yet. Poor LJ! I didn’t really let my kid walk except like the last 3 feet to the door while holding my hand, haha. He was the Where the Wild Things Are costume I posted in your costume parade 😉 I would not have attempted trick-or-treating solo with 4 kids! You’re a brave mama.
What a fun tradition and thanks for sharing it with your readers. I love the boys dressed as the ninja turtles! The last paragraph about the actual trick-or-treating was so sweet – poor LJ. But those stories will make amazing memories to look back on and smile.
Next year I recommend coordinating Trick or Treating with your sister/parents/family/friends etc. It’s so much easier to take a group of kids when there are lots of adult eyes. We always get a group together and go and it makes it great and so much less stressful.
The kids look awesome in their costumes. Maybe next year they could go as Ghostbusters!
What a fun tradition!! We had grandparents come over to pass out candy this year so we could booth go trick or treating. It’s definitely a two person job and we only have one little! Your such a great mom! And those mommy Weston pictures are total framers!!
If it makes you feel better, I only have 2 kids–one is about half a year younger than Weston and the other is a week younger than Max–and even though we went trick or treating with friends (and none of them have kids), I insisted that hubby come along to wrangle the 2 1/2 year old.
The boys are super cute! You make me want to start so many family traditions….pumpkin painting parties, pumpkin carving on the porch/deck, gingerbread houses etc. Maybe next year since my little one will be nearly 2. I just didn’t feel comfortable carving pumpkins with an 11 month old! Random question, do you trim LJ’s hair or take him somewhere? I’m so nervous to cut a wiggly little boy’s hair, but it’s in his eyes! 🙁
Our church has a harvest festival and when our youngest was old enough to do trick or treat we didn’t live in a very good trick or treating ‘hood, so we decided to do the festival. It’s the best thing ever. Pizza party, carnival type games to earn tickets to buy candy (everything from full size candy bars to dum dum pops) and small toys/temp tattoos/stuffed animals/puzzles, face painting, and a cake walk. And everyone is in one room, running around with people from my church, so no decks or shrubberies or bad weather to watch out for. No costumes (they want to avoid someone coming as Freddy Kruger to avoid scaring the little people) so they miss out on dressing up, but now that my oldest is 8 (and understands how trick or treating works) she thinks the harvest festival is way better.
I see you convinced Will to have LJ be Leo 🙂
We had a couple of trip ups with spilled candy but after ‘shaking it off’ we moved on to the next house. We bought a pumpkin to carve but it is still not carved. Maybe we can carve a turkey in it.
Thank you for keeping it real!! I also had a less than stellar experience trick or treating with my kids, although I only have two of them – a 2 yr old and 3.5 yr old. Older one was running waaaaaaaaay head of us, totally into ringing all the doorbells. Meanwhile 2 yr old wanted to sit down on the grass and eat candy after each house. I had a heck of a time wrangling them together. Oh yeah and it was 90 degrees here in FL so we were sweating like crazy. UGH! I don’t know how you did it with 4!! I hope you had a bottle of wine and half the candy after they all went to sleep. 😉
In my neighborhood the dad’s pile the kids up in trailers attached to their John Deer’s and drive them up and down the road that way! The kids get hay ride fun, stay together and are corralled in a tractor. I think you’ve got all the tools for it so try that next year!
The ninja turtle costumes are the BEST! How perfect!
These photos make me smile. You guys are awesome parents. The boys really got into their carving/scooping. Too cute!
You’re not alone in the Halloween disaster category. A few years ago I took my daughter trick or treating. She was about 10. After one house, she joyously jumped down a couple steps…only there weren’t a couple steps. There were about 5 or 6. It was poorly lit and she misjudged. I knew the screams were real when I watched her ankle immediately swell. Luckily, she was a small child, because I had to carry her in her slippery satin costume about 10 blocks back to the car. Fractured bone. She’ll never forget THAT halloween.
so Will is 5 and Weston is 2…….can you remind how old LJ and Max are? think I got the names right……you do have the cutest 4 and I can only imagine how busy you are.. we had 3 girls very close and I always wished for a 4th because we had a spare hand!!
Katie- I don’t have kids, but when I do I hope to be half the mother you are! Every day isn’t going to be rainbows and butterflies but you sure do make the most of it anyway.
Sorry but your trick or treat event recap made me chuckle! And yes Jeremy should go with you – it’s hard enough keeping 4 kids in line normally forget about it’s getting dark, they are in strange places, there’s just general chaos and they have costumes on!
And you have the cutest kids!
LJ is one and Max is four months old 🙂
xo – kb
We have always done that in the past (my mom came to help or we went somewhere else) but this year it seemed like nobody was available or going trick-or-treating. We definitely need to go together next year though!
xo – kb
I do trim their hair myself (it looks not perfect) but don’t be nervous…you can always attempt and have it fixed if you botch it 🙂
xo – kb
Will actually changed his mind and wanted to be Donnie because it was the only weapon that he didn’t have yet 🙂 Anything for more toys, huh?!
xo – kb
That’s what we need to do! I have always said you gotta earn that candy by walking but now I am rethinking my position 🙂
xo – kb
They are exactly like these DIY ombre planters but in different colors 🙂
xo – kb
I have a remote but it’s set up for timer so I just push it periodically and then it keeps taking them at unknown times 🙂
xo – kb
Brilliant! Thanks =)
Someone’s gotta say it… your boyfriend looks super handsome with a beard. *Swoon*
😉
Where was Jeremy?! You poor thing!!! It is so stressful and my mantra every year for the past few years specifically at the pool and trick or treating is “It will be easier next year. It will be easier next year.” And I actually think they are at ages where next year will actually be easier!!! Yippee for that! And I only have three close together … I can’t even imagine four in situations like that, solo no less!!! Good for you for your honesty too! Always appreciated!!!! 🙂
Ok… How have you lost ALL your baby weight?! I’m assuming you are also nursing Maxwell. I am having the hardest time loosing weight while keeping my milk supply up. I would LOVE any advice you have! You look amazing…. Like seriously. Help me!!
This is my favourite tradition of yours! Once again, you got amazing real photos out of it 🙂
Actually I have lost some weight but I definitely still want to get back to my pre-baby weight 🙂 It’s more for my confidence than anything! I have been trying to track calories (junk food is my weakness) and I use the MyFitnessPal app. It does help but I definitely need to exercise more 🙂
xo – kb
OH MY GOODNESS>>>RIGHT?!
He is so meant to have a beard.
xo – kb
He was at home handing out the candy and keeping my dad company 🙂
He promised that next year will be our year!
xo – kb
Super adorable setup Katie! The boys looked cute in the Ninja Turtle costumes!
This year we had about 8 kids ages 2-8. It wouldn’t stop raining, it was cold and it was like herding a bunch of angry wet cats between 9 adults. You would think we could handle them all but NOOOO. I feel your pain.
You poor thing! It is so easy as moms to feel guilty about things! My husband and I took our 3 year old daughter together, but we only were out for about 45 minutes because I am 8 months pregnant. I didn’t want to miss her trick or treating, but I couldn’t make it very long, and I felt so bad ending her time early! You know what though, she didn’t care at all. I felt so guilty, but really, she loved wearing her costume, getting “big girl make up” put on her face, seeing all my family, seeing all the other kids in costumes, and of course eating candy. I am trying to just focus on the things I did right that day, instead of things that could have been better. You are doing an amazing job with all those babies!
Cute pictures. My 4 year old tried to catch up with her brother and ended up face planting on the sidewalk. She scraped off a large chunk of the top layer of skin under her eye and cheek area. That was the end of our trick-or-treating “fun”. Not the best Halloween to-date.
I love the photos and I love the ‘tradition’ of adding a little stud to the picture each year.
As a mom of 2, a 2 year old and a 6 month old, can I just ask where the heck you find the time to make such elaborate and cute entrance decor each year. I look at your blog and constantly have to ask myself how you find the time to get anything prodictive done?
Spill the beans, where do you find the time to do anything crafty?
Well, LJ and Weston are on the same nap schedule so really I get a couple hours every day that I can set Max in a exersaucer/bouncer/nap/wrap and set up stuff with Will (if he’s home). It is much harder and much less productive with the two middle ones 🙂
xo – kb
Trick-or-treating with our three was almost perfect. ALMOST. I thought I was prepared for ANYTHING! I had my parents with me and the hubby, so even with three littles (4,2, and 6 months) we had more adults than kids. BUT one punk teenager had to ruin it all. He thought being dressed in a scary costume, it would be funny to traumatize a little 2 year old girl dressed as Minnie Mouse…. we are still having bed time issues and conversations about monsters living in our neighborhood. 🙁
OH NO! I hate that! We actually had a scary house in our neighborhood growing up but they put a sign in front of the mailbox that said “Scare zone! (do not enter unless you expect to be scared!)” It was helpful.
xo – kb
I had the same question! I love your candid pics and that mom and dad are sometimes even both in the picture! 🙂
Ps– sorry for lol-one at your trick-or-treating fiasco!
Make that lol-ING. 🙂
I love your carving pumpkins tradition and you are amazing for taking all four boys by yourself! Your boys are super adorable!!! Random question: Where did you get the thin gold rings that you are wearing? I LOVE them and have been looking for exactly that! Need to pass along the info to my husband for Christmas! =)
The plain band is actually my great grandmother’s wedding ring. The one with the small diamond is from Gemma Gray. It’s a stacking ring but I wear it solo 🙂 Here is the link.
xo – kb