I have two boys -- almost 11 and 8. Regular wild boys.
But you know what? We don't carve pumpkins.
Now, I hear your outrage -- "WHAT?!?!? EVERYONE CARVES THEIR PUMPKINS!"
Nope. Not us.
We tried to carve them when my oldest was little. The outcome? Wretching. Gagging. Running away. Completely grossed out. He even had "Carve a Pumpkin Day" at school. Nope -- he was 'disgusted' and asked to sit AWAY from the STENCH.
He refused to SEE or SMELL the inside of a pumpkin. My youngest? Can take it or leave it, thank goodness. So? We don't carve. Even as he got older -- no WAY. It's NASTY.
We've done the kits that have the pieces that you stick into the pumpkin and make a character. It seems too boring for them this year.
We won't be carving, but I think I've come up with an alternative -- painting.
Now, not fancy painting -- but glow in the dark paint with a pattern. This was met with MUCH cheering and excitement.
How many colors?
Can it be glow in the dark camo?
Can we use black to make a scary face on the background with the glow?
Happiness, over the dreaded gross nasty pumpkin event.
Maybe it will help secure the Mother of The Year crown. Or? They will paint themselves and everything else in glow in the dark paint and we will laugh.