Fun with Pumpkins

Tonight was our annual pumpkin carving night.

For dinner, we had Tater Tot Taco Salad.

The kids have fun with this dinner, so I thought I would share the recipe, as it is so very simple.

I just prep all the ingredients and set them out on the table and let everyone build their plates as they choose.

I set out:

1 lb cooked beef, seasoned with taco seasoning

refried beans, warmed

baked tater tots

shredded lettuce

shredded cheese

sour cream

salsa

and, in honor or my in-laws, ketchup

It is quick, easy, and fun!

Well, as fun as taco salad can be.

It was a hit with everyone . . .

except handsome dude.

He is a stubborn, handsome dude.

He sat in his highchair for 2 hours.

He started off in a regular chair.

Then, when we realized that he was going to make life difficult for us, we decided to make life difficult for him and strap him into the highchair and make him eat ALL of his dinner.

Hence, the two hours.

We are not pumpkin snobs.

Our pumpkins never turn out cute, crafty, or clever.

We just give the kids a sharpie and let them design to their heart's delight.

This girl is precious to my heart.

She calls me mudder.

*tear*

Once the drawings are complete,  the lumberjack, along with his large muscles, carves out the shapes.

He really likes this part.

He feels that fall would not be complete without this special tradition in our family.

The lumberjack is super festive and loves all things traditional.

Notice handsome dude is not in any fun pumpkin shots.

Notice Mabel is really hoping to help handsome dude out with his dinner.

Little dude here is the opposite of handsome dude.

Little dude ate 3 helpings of tater tot taco salad.

Then little dude snacked on the pumpkin guts and seeds.

And little dude had the diaper to prove it.

I heart little dude.

*sigh*

I heart handsome dude, too.

TaDa!

Four fantabulous pumpkins, two artistic girls, one cute little dude, one handsome dude having a quick break from his dinner for a photo op, and one lovely mudder.