Pumpkin carving 2016

WADDUP I LOVE PUMPKINS. I love holidays. Any excuse to do anything festive. But I loooove Halloween. It's just so fun. That's what Halloween is, pure fun. I mean, yeah it can be scary too, but I ain't about that life. For me it's just fun. And PUMPKINS! Ah! They're fun too! The most wonderful time of the year begins when those pumpkins start sneaking out.

Brendon and I have carved pumpkins together every year for the past I dunno, decade? But last year we invited people over to carve them with us and it was a blast. So this year we did the same! (I can't wait until we've got a bigger place and can finally throw a real Halloween party!!! You're all invited.)

Here are some very candid slightly low quality photos. It's hard to take good photos while also keeping a baby out of too much pumpkin trouble! Also Indiana is topless because she puked on her dress right as we started carving. Babies, man.

Indiana was helping Amy, by eating her pumpkin.

Indiana really likes pumpkins. Maybe because they're big and orange? Who knows, but she loves 'em.

The final products! Ben's, Amy's, Ben's (we had two Bens!), and the Hogans' pumpkins!

Brendon and I carved a joint pumpkin this year since we knew one of us would have to watch Indy. So we found the biggest pumpkin we could. Brendon cleaned it out, I carved it, and when we were done... we put our baby in it.

Contrary to this face she's making, she loved it. She was dancing and smiling and was pretty dang content to just hang out in a pumpkin. Best (and weirdest?) baby award.

And of course, we had to light them up! Everyone left their pumpkins with us for the night so our place looks like the coolest porch in the hood!

Halloween is the best! I'll be sad when it's over. But that means Turkey Day is coming and that means Christmas is coming and it's just the best time of the year!

Pumpkin Patch 2016

Pumpkin patches are great. But pumpkin patches with a baby, they're even better! This was our first trip to a pumpkin patch in Temple. The weather this weekend has been pretty stellar, so we decided to hit up them pumpkins! We went to the Robinson Family Farm, and it was awesome! They have a ton of kid friendly activities, lots of snacks, and of course pumpkins! They also had ample photo opportunities, obviously I loved that. We got there early so it wasn't too crowded and it was still pretty cool out, even in the sun. Indiana was too young for most of the activities, but we had fun just walking around and looking at stuff.

Animals! They had some goats, sheep, and ducks! We forgot change so we couldn't feed them, and the animals quickly realized we had no food and moved on, but Indiana liked looking at them anyway. She was also very into the pumpkins!

  

They had fresh spun, made to order cotton candy, and it was the bomb. I looooove cotton candy. And that man. ;)

Clearly not that into the swings.

That baby loves some pumpkins! We got a big fat pumpkin for carving and then a tiny mini pumpkin for Indiana to chew on. She loves it, new favorite toy.

Pumpkin patches are the best. October is the best. Indiana is the best!

Halloween 2013

Did you all have a spooktacular Halloween? Mine was pretty good! We started the festivities a couple nights before with a door decorating and pumpkin carving party. Our apartment complex was having a "decorate your door contest" so of course we participated. Although we didn't win, I think our door is pretty fantastic.

I carved my pumpkin into a snarky vampire and Brendon carved his into a Cyberman. Kudos to you if you get that reference! Carving pumpkins is so fun, we ended up skipping it last year because I was in Dallas for a week, so I was very ready to get my carve on this year!

And now, dun dun dun... the costumes!

Brendon was Hugh Hefner. This was definitely a last minute thing. I was supposed to make him a different costume, but I ran out of time. Although I did make that smoking jacket. For our company Christmas card we take crazy photos every year, and this year we all dressed in smoking jackets. And of course I made mine. That jacket he's wearing was made for me, it is an extra small! Yet it is HUGE! I used a bathrobe pattern and just shortened it to smoking jacket length. Brendon added the hat and walked around school all day with a stuffed bunny. Classy.

I was Glinda the Good Witch for Halloween! This costume was a challenge for sure. I had a decent pattern to start with, but I changed quite a bit. I completely re-did the sleeves and ended up drafting my own pattern for the pale pink undersleeve. Their sleeves didn't stick out quite enough and Glinda rocks some killer sleeves. I shortened the whole dress, lowered the neckline (always), and instead of sewing the bodice with facings, I fully lined the whole thing and altered the collar as well.

I hand sewed all those star sequins on the collar, and then said eff that and glued the rest on. There are sequins on the collar, sleeves, and skirt. And I hand placed every single one. Because I'm insane.

The hat was the crucial piece. The hat is what makes this Glinda and not just some princess dress. It was fun to make, although the mylar I used for it was hard to track down. Luckily detective Brendon found some at a blueprinting company downtown. (Shout out to Miller Blueprint! You guys are the nicest!) I got wild with glitter glue and sequins and am very happy with how it turned out! And it actually stayed on my head all day (I wore this ridiculous getup all day at work).

I am pretty satisfied with how the whole thing turned out. There is a lot more I wanted to do (never enough sparkles!) but unfortunately Halloween snuck up on me this year and I ran out of time. It also doesn't fit me as well as I'd like. The bodice could use taking in a few inches, but since I'm crazy and fully lined it, it is not a simple fix so I just rolled with it. It was comfy anyway!

And for your viewing pleasure, here's a couple Halloween Hogan's.

It was a very good Halloween. And because we're nutzo, I think we've already got our costumes planned for next year. Maybe if I start now, I'll get Brendon's done in time. He was supposed to be the Wizard of Oz this year. OH WELL!

Family weekend recap!

Yesterday I was super lucky to see my whole family all in one day! I got to see my mom, my sister, my dad, my step mom, my momma-in-law, brother-in-law, and even an Uncle! It was really wonderful and reminds me why we are so fortunate to be so close to family here in Austin.

I headed down to NB yesterday morning to see my momma and get her Scottish dress fitted and hemmed. Unfortunately I forgot my camera!! Boo, forgetful me. We had some lunch (her amazing tomato soup and grilled cheese, basically the yummiest thing ever) and my sister and her boyfriend stopped by. I got her dress all fixed up, and it looks fabulous on her! Can't wait for the Renaissance festival! Afterwards I headed over to my dad's house for an early dinner. My Uncle was visiting from Maryland so it was awesome to see him! We had some yummy barbequed chicken. My dad always burns the crap out of the outside of the chickens (intentionally, to seal in the juices) so I'm always pretty wary when I see them at first. But it was deslish! I have left overs in my fridge calling my name...

I headed up to Austin where my mom-in-law and little bro-in-law were waiting at our apartment with Brendon. We went out for some burgers and shakes, watched a bit of the world series (yay Rangers!!!) and then did some serious pumpkin carving. It was a blast! And because we were at home we had a camera on hand for this part of the day.

Cleanin' 'em out! All these photos have shown me that what was left of my summer tan has definitely peaced out on me. Pale is cool these days right?

AJ working diligently on his pumpkin with some help from his brother. AJ is going to be a gangster for Halloween! That kid is too cute.

Deb was the master at cleaning those pumpkins out! There was none of that gunk left when she was done. And obviously I am concentrating extremely hard on my pumpkin. I picked a ridiculously difficult design and ended up simplifying it for my sanity's sake. This is the first time I'd ever not free handed my pumpkin, and the verdict is... designs are hard. They weren't playing when they said it was "four pumpkins" of difficulty.

 AJ and his pumpkin! He said the two ghosts where him and his brother. How adorable is that?? AJ was the bigger ghost and Brendon was the little one, of course.

 Brendon and my finished pumpkins! Of course Mr. H had to do something pharmacy related. He did a great job on his carving! I was pretty proud of my spooky house although I accidentally cut off the top of the middle roof. Oh well, that jaunty angle is cute...ish.

What a cute man I am married to!

All in all it was a wonderful day and a wonderful weekend. And one I needed badly. I am very thankful for all that I have, I am a lucky little lady to have so much goodness in my life!