More Pumpkins! ...and a recipe

Saturday was clean-out-the-garden day, and we gleaned the last of the season's harvest. Here's our pumpkin/squash bounty, all shapes and sizes. These will make a festive display on our front porch (maybe all except the two mammoth zucchinis we didn't know about).

And here's Seth getting ready to "help," which consisted mostly of shoveling dirt from one side of the raised bed to another.

And, just as I was getting ready to rake a cleared out bed, I saw what I thought was a dried out leaf HOP about 3 feet! We fascinated at our little Kermit, and Seth spent the rest of the time watching him and pointing out every little critter by yelling "BUG!"

When we had Seth's birthday pancake party, lots of people asked for the recipe for the pumpkin pancakes, so here it is:

2 eggs

1 1/4 c. buttermilk

4 TB butter, melted

3 TB canned pumpkin puree

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/2 c. mini chocolate chips (optional)

Combine eggs, butermilk, butter, pumpkin, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Mix ingredients well with electric mixer. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and blend with mixer until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter in 1/4 cup portions onto heated and buttered skillet or griddle. Flip pancakes when batter is bubbly and finish cooking on other side.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

That is one of my favorite holiday movies of all time. Poor Linus, no one believes him. I remember watching that movie every year (anyone else remember those holiday specials on a Friday night with the Dolly Madison commercials?) thinking that it would end differently and I would FINALLY be able to see the Great Pumpkin. Never happened. *sigh*

Last week we went with my sister Gerilyn and the nieces and nephews to Carpinitos Brothers farm for a day out in the pumpkin patch. We didn't pick any pumpkins ourselves since we have (cross your fingers) 5 or 6 good ones in our garden waiting to be picked shortly.

Which weighs more, Seth or a pumpkin? hee hee

Here's a REAL workout...Hannah AND Seth AND pumpkins!

"OK let me try. How hard can this be?"

The Blink of an Eye

Our little man!

That's what the last two years have been with Seth. He was born, I blinked and now he's two!I've heard it said that when you have children, the days can seem like forever, but the years fly by. How true! He turned two years old a week ago Friday, and our little guy just gets better every day. I'm thrilled and amazed at the things he can do, and I love being able to actually have little conversations with him. Happy Birthday, sweet boy. We love you so much!

I brought cupcakes and apple juice to day care on Friday, and then we went home early for a little dinner and family time. I'm disappointed in the quality of photos from that day. I seriously need help figuring out the settings on my camera! Outside shots come out clear and perfect...indoor ones are a blurry mess. Any advice?

Anyway, Saturday we had a "pancake party" for his, and our, friends. It could not have been a more perfect morning for a breakfast at the park. Thanks to all who came, ate and played! And thanks, Jason, for sharing the great photos.
Matt the pancake chef

So excited to be two!

I actually took a few decent photos, like these:

Can you say static cling in my hair from the slide?

Sophie to Seth: "OK, let me show you how the slide is really done."