Pumpkin Carving Contest

Every year since Mike and I have been married (7 years now), we have done an informal pumpkin carving contest of some sort between the two of us. We're both very competitive and serious about this stuff! For the past two years, we e-mailed the pictures to friends and family and had people vote on their favorite pumpkin. This year my pumpkin won by a landslide. After a few late entries the final tally was 58-20! Mike thought it wasn't fair that I used a stencil and he drew his free-hand. (Apparently, some of my mother-in-law's male co-workers thought the same thing which is why Mike ended up with as many votes as he did!) As I told him, we both had the exact same resources and tools. He just chose not to use them because he got lazy! Next year we will open up our contest to anyone who would like to participate. May the best carver win!!

2007 winner! Ghosts carved by Liz.

Runner-up. Pirate carved by Mike.

Last year we both used stencils and pumpkin carving tools (thanks, Sydney!). Mike's carving won since some people thought it was scarier for Halloween. I don't remember the tally, but it was much closer last year!

2006 winner. Skeleton carved by Mike.
A close second. Bat carved by Liz.

For Halloween in 2005, Sienna was only a couple of months old and we hadn't been in our house for very long. We got lazy with the carving that year, but you can see who our pumpkin scooper was (and still is). Isabella and I scoop out the pumpkins every year. I imagine that Sienna will be more actively involved next year. Mike won't scoop out his own pumpkin because he thinks it's too gross. This is coming from the guy who gets upset when someone won't put their own bait on the hook when they're fishing. I think there should be some sort of penalty for not completing the entire pumpkin carving (and scooping) experience!

Pumpkins 2005

My pumpkin is on the top left and I just made a silly smiley face. Mike carved "#1Dad" into his pumpkin (top right). He also carved"Hi" into Isabella's pumpkin, and I gave Sienna's a happy face, too. Not very creative but at least they were carved in time for Halloween.

I don't have any digital pictures from our previous contests, but in 2003, Mike carved "Sox '04" along with a hand giving a thumbs up. As any of our local friends and Red Sox fans will tell you, the Red Sox finally won the World Series in 2004 and broke the "Curse of the Bambino." Mike is still proud of himself for predicting that win!