Pumpkins & Halloween

Last weekend, after another dismal Eagles game, SK and I drove out to the East Bay (Concord/Walnut Creek) to spend time with some new friends. The friends are probably ten years older than us and already have established families -- one family with four kids and another with two. The kids ranged in age from 12 to 2 1/2 months and called us auntie J and uncle S. For SK and me, it was kinda like being adopted into their families. It was also a time to practice being around kids and acting parental.

It was a beautiful day, so we packed up the kids and went to a random pumpkin "patch" -- which turned out to be a dirt covered corner with well-placed scare-crows, hay bales, and of course, pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. There were also some random farm animals which everyone was allowed to pet - rabbits, goats, pigs, chickens and ducks. It was random but still kinda fun.

And then it was back home to carve the pumpkins we so carefully chose. It had been awhile since I carved a pumpkin, but it was fun to get your hands all dirty and generally just make a big mess. We were quite proud of our finished product.

Finally, we had a giant family dinner at a place called "Claim Jumper". I guess they only have these places on the West Coast, but basically, it reminded me of a cross between Sizzler and Cheesecake Factory -- steak house w/ a big varied menu and HUGE portions. SK got a large plate of chicken and biscuits and all I could think about was clogged arteries. SK dove in and ate almost all of it. When SK finished it, the little five-year-old boy sitting next to him declared, "You make me feel sick." Ha ha ha! The next night, I made sure to fix a healthy dinner.

Speaking of not eating v. healthy... Halloween day at work was not full of many healthy eating options. I contributed by bringing in some homemade eyeball cupcakes. I tried to make them diseased looking since I figured the eye doctors I work with would appreciate it.