Palmettos and Pearls: pumpkin carving party

Happy belated Halloween! We handed out candy last night, but we really celebrated this past weekend before the storm came. My husband is kind of like Clark Griswald when it comes to holidays, in the sense that he LOVES them. He creates playlists for every one, makes sure to pull out our multiple tupperware containers of various decorations and usually wants to host friends for celebratory parties. I like to entertain, but I sometimes get frustrated with all the time and prep that goes into it.

We decided to throw our second annual Pumpkin Carving Party this year and expanded our invitation list somewhat. Not as many friends were able to come as we had hoped thanks to the impending storm and other commitments, but it turned out to be such a fun party! And the weather was just perfect- a little overcast and almost 70 degrees. Much better than the snow we had last year.

our front porch decorated and ready for action

back yard before the sun went down

Gowdy office friends Mary Anna and Patrick- loved having them stop by

We served appetizers outside, three different kinds of chili inside and yummy desserts- a Smith Island cake, one of the best I've ever hard, and Halloween cupcakes from our friend Alex. Unfortunately, the molasses ginger pumpkin ice cream cookies were left in the freezer!

Our littlest guests enjoyed looking for prizes in birdseed, everyone stayed warm by the fire pit and roasted marshmallows for s'mores, and our friends carved some very impressive pumpkins.

Halloween bubbles in birdseed

USC Law girls Caroline and Laura

Richard and I were exited to order an attachment to go on the end of the drill which was supposed to scoop the inside of the pumpkin in record time. It didn't quite work as fabulously as advertised, but they may have been due to the fact our drill wasn't properly charged.

showing off his new toy

boys hard at work

Jill and Ryan

the Capaldi's

newlyweds Laura and Shawn

Min and Alex, who is expecting Baby Strawn in January

so proud of his finished product

some of the carved masterpieces

sweet girls Gia and baby Elsye

At about 9 pm, little Gia decided she was tired of our Halloween playlist and wanted to hear her Disney playlist. Which resulted in a Disney dance party. Hilarious. Oh how times have changed, and we don't even have kids of our own.