Pumpkin Carving at Grandpa Rick's House!!!!!!!!!

My kids looooooooove Halloween and since their dad doesn't it's a good thing their Grandpa Rick does.   He had six sweet pumpkins to carve for six sweet children.  But first, since we got to his house early in the day we went for a walk to our favorite park at the beach.  My dad has a beach house with his fiance Cynthia.  They live in Rio Del Mar, Aptos which is right next to Santa Cruz.

We love visiting their house, it's beautiful.  When they bought it, it didn't look like this.  They basically took the house down to the studs and rebuilt it.  My dad is a green thumb along with Cynthia.  Their yard is so serene and lush, I love it.

The pumpkins are waiting patiently to be carved.

The walk begins.  My dad is pushing baby Summer, the boys are close by and the other two girls in back.

This is the view at the end of the street above.  They live about thirty seconds from the beach, it's awesome.

Doesn't this just scream California?  This was a perfect day.   It was October 27th and a pristine 75 degrees, with not a cloud in the sky and absolutely no breeze.

We've arrived at the park and the family is happy.  This is my dad (Grandpa Rick and Cynthia) with baby girl Summer.

The boys "playing."  I'm sure it's only my son's that fill there socks with sand every time we go to a park with sand. And then proceed to lob the sand filled socks at each other, until someone is of course on the ground crying with wailing and gnashing of teeth because, "he hurt me."

Summer playing with Grandpa Rick.

Summer with her eyes taking up her whole face.  So cute.

Here is Kalen conquering Reece his younger brother.  Don't worry Reece is totally faking.

My dad resting up for the major pumpkin carving that is about to begin.

This is Gwyneth.  Cynthia has various shawls, trinkets, "do-dads," vintage reading glasses that she lets the kids, so kindly, play with.  This is the first thing Gwyneth goes to when she arrives at their house.

Here we go.  Fresh pumpkins all excited to get carved and scraped out.

Working really hard to get those pesky seeds out.  This is serious business.

No really, it is serious business because this is my dad showing them vintage Halloween cards so they can get ideas on how to carve their pumpkins.  Oh yes, make no mistake these pumpkins will be well crafted, unique and unforgettable.......thanks dad you're the best.  I have many memories just like this with him.

Georgia is first to get done.  Well done dear, well done.

Very funny Georgia.

And here are all six pumpkins in all their glory.  All six kids in all their glory too, I might add.  This is turning into a rare occasion to get all six of these peeps (kids) in a picture together, ya know with all their varying schedules and all.....not really, it's just that gathering them is like herding cats and just when you think you've got them all, one of them has strayed away.  But not this time.


 Happy Halloween.