Carving a Pumpkin..for the last time???

Ok, so I am a loser mom but I really DISLIKE carving pumpkins.  It does nothing for me.  I could live forever without doing it again and never miss it.  All those ooey gooey guts and seeds that NEVER get all the way out of the pumpkin, no matter what you do...and don't EVEN get me started on sillly little pumpkin carving knives that snap in half and have to be pried loose from their pumpkin graves.  But alas, the kiddos love it.  So, with a big sigh and a promise to myself that I can get a massage to reward my good behavior, off we go to carve a pumpkin.  But it occured to me this year as Colt was carving (or wait, that was me that was carving while Colt looked on) that perhaps this year will be the last in the long line of pumpkin carving torture.  This year is the last year we will have a child in elementary school.  Next year Colt will be in middle school (gulp) and Dakota a sophmore in high school, while Ben will likely still be serving in Afghanistan.  What if, along with outgrowning trick or treating and the jolly red elf that comes each winter, Colt also outgrows pumpkin carving?  Am I really ready for that?  This year Dakota refused to even pick out a pumpkin; he said he really didn't want to bother.  All of these little things that I have taken for granted the past 18 years, trick-or-treating, egg hunts at Easter, letters to Santa, they are all coming to an end.  My babies are growing up and I don't know if I am quite ready for that.  Will we be ok if we have NO jack'o'lanterns on our stoop next year?  I don't know--maybe I'll drop by my favorite Hobby Lobby and pick myself up a nice styrofoam jack'o'lantern that is pumpkin gut free!  Now that's the best idea I've had in a while. 

At least Coltin scooped most of the nasty pumpkin guts out himself!

Note:  This is the front side of the pumpkin.  There is only one pumpkin, Coltin designed and mom carved both sides.  It is the most interesting thing I have ever seen, but it makes him happy!

Back side of Coltin's 2-faced pumpkin. 

Happy Halloween everyone and enjoy those wonderful family moments, pumpkin guts and all!!