The 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party

Perhaps I love throwing parties so much because it's really just an excuse to get together with friends. And I'm always looking for an excuse to get people together.
We had our second annual pumpkin carving party last night. Last year's event was such a hit, we decided to do it again and make it a yearly thing.

Our group of friends has changed a lot it seems. We seem to have several different groups of friends from all different places and not everyone knows each other anymore like they used to. I found myself caught in the middle of missing the way things used to be and hoping for how things can look now as we've experienced so much change around us. Going to a still newish church, friends that have left, friends that have returned, friends that feel new, and old friends that feel like family.....all of that has changed how even throwing a silly pumpkin carving party can look.

So we gathered some old friends to join us.
And we missed the friends that weren't there too.

These two kept us laughing all night long. My cousin Aimee and her boyfriend Grayson.In my book, they have celebrity couple status now, so I call them "Graymee."

But really, a party is just a way of bringing people together to share some laughs and food and a good time. To connect and fellowship and just have fun.
And even if everyone starts out not knowing every single person there, we all seem to become friends by the end of it. Parties have a way of doing that maybe.
As far as the carving went, I still maintain that cleaning out pumpkins is still disgusting. But I survived. Now that I know what I'm doing, I was able to clean it out a lot faster than before.
It's always fun to see the designs that people come up with. We have very talented and artistic friends. I especially love the "Pumpkin Pie."
Since I botched my pumpkin last year and salvaged it by carving a giant heart into it, I was determined to be more successful this year. Considering it's only the second pumpkin I've ever carved, I think my very happy pumpkin face turned out especially awesome. And quite happy.
Todd and I put ours out on the front porch. He did a fun house scene on his pumpkin and my camera simply doesn't do it justice.
My fun jack-o-lantern all lit up.
The party was a success. Awesome pumpkins were carved. And old and new friends all meshed together to have a little fall fun.