5th Grade Pumpkin Carving

TJ was excited to participate in a long standing 5th grade tradition ... the pumpkin carving contest!

Each child has an adult come in to help them (and dad came to the rescue for TJ!), and they have about an hour to create their masterpiece. Some people paint theirs, make animals out of them, carve them, some use gourds instead of jack-o-lantern type pumpkins ... but the fun part for the kids is making their pumpkin reflect something that the student is interested in. For TJ, that was of course NASCAR!

Last weekend at the pumpkin farm we searched and searched for just the right "oblong" pumpkin that could be sliced in half and make an oval race track. We wanted one flat on one side, so that could become the bottom and the track would not wobble around. TJ found just the right one, and then gathered up his mini-NASCAR's and things to decorate. We made a backdrop with "spectators" and named the pumpkin track "Scott Speedway". All in all, he had a great time!

My work this week on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has been so wonderful and rewarding. The builder is dealing with rain over the past 24 hours, so there are some delays but it looks like we are in the clear now mostly through the end of the build on Monday. Can't wait to see the finished product ... and most importantly, the family's reaction when they come home on Tuesday. MOVE THAT BUS!!!