This being our third year into it, Pumpkin painting is quickly becoming a sweet little annual tradition that my girls and I are loving. It’s easy, no fuss, no sharp tools to watch over and keeps them occupied for a lonnnnnng time. Although given the recent rough ride life has handed to us, energies were desperately low – like my snapping mommy schpiel was sadly becoming a permanent fixture in our house. I couldn’t have that – not for Mike or my girls! So what do I do when I start stumbling over demotivation rocks? I give myself targets in life to help refocus. And doesn’t have to big ones either…little pumpkin parties over the weekend will do the trick just fine. Besides, with so much focus on Parker recently, our little Morgy was getting the short end of the attention stick, so instead of just saying “Let’s paint pumpkins!” (which would have gone over just fine too), I slapped the “party” lable onto that sucker, much like proverbial glitter and suddenly I had an excited-for-life Morgy again. (She and I speak the same love-language: crafts and celebration get us jacked-UUUURP!)
This was by far the quickest and easiest party I’ve ever arranged, and so glad my energy levels met my (mini) goal challenge head on – it didn’t last all day, but hey, it showed up…And that’s what counts. Right? Also, along with the kid-post-surgery hermit life, it meant that my brain’s social synapses were hardly firing AND I really missed my brother. So I confirmed on the morning of the actual day that we will indeed be seeing him and fam, and promptly let the girls know their cousins were on their way. What a way to send their excitement levels into SUPERSAYAN status!
Needless to say, it was a good day, and hopefully the marker of all the rainbows that are now due to shoot out of some unicorns bum. I mean just look:
In fact, it was off to a good start with a chilled out brekkie, just us girls while daddy went to train…
Girls and I ended up playing make-belief, then went grocery shopping and came home to daddy with big smiles, but also straight to the medicine cabinet for pain meds for Pax. But when my bro and fam came, it was a chilled out setup to fuel their creative juices…
And they knocked themselves out with all the messing outside…
And in the kitchen where the girls helped with toffee apple sprinkles…
And were pleased as punch about their creations . Although my girls were adamant that the pumpkin must be ONE colour. (An unfortunate side effect of my instructions to them last year, where the intention was to turn the pumpkins into Mike Wazouski and Sulley for the Monster Bash Party. There’s hope for next year though…)
Like I said, easiest freakin party ev-ahhh! So if you’re thinking of doing something similar, this is all I did:

• I hauled out a crate and picnic basket from our Summer section in the storage to use as tables.
• Used our old picnic blanket ( it’s moisture proof)
• During our mad dash through the stores, I asked the girls what they thought their cousins would like, and they unanimously called out for popcorn (1 x savoury and 1 x caramel) and some chocolate covered donuts ( I bought cocktail ones)
• I found the strawberry sodas I had bought for a planned playdate that didn’t quite pan out due to life. So they became fair game.
• An upcycled jar of peanutbutter full of those round apricot sweets because Mike loves them and they remind me of pumpkins this time of the year
• And I decided to whip up some toffee apples, because I promised Parker-Grace I would make them for her after her operation. And promises need fulfilling. Also fortunately my sister-in-law saved me from myself with these. I kind of just chucked random ingredients in with zero measurements – a perfect recipe for a flop. But she stepped in with her gorgeous baby bump and saved the day.
• I added a pot of some pretty flowers for the Spring time effect
• Couple of paint brushes for everyone
• Various Acrylic paints with small bowls (or even jar lids) to decant some paint into it. (Cause you know your toddler is going to knock that whole jar of paint over if given the chance)
• We brought out the kids’ table, and covered it in paper to minimize paint clean up (warning: acrylic paint is permanent on fabric, folks!)
• Pumpkins for everyone
Let them loose…BOOM – you got yourself a pumpkin party!
A day well spent with family and sweet memories made, where the girls are already planning next year’s one. Now…if the energy gods could please fulfil my order.. I got a birthday and Halloween sprinting our way!(Invites havent even been sent out due to HUGE question mark hanging over “how the hell am I even going to pull that off?!“)
Here’s to ticking off those fun little goals and feeling like you’re winning at life again! X
Oh wow – last minute planning and it looks amazeballs! I’m sure that the kids had a good time. Your niece’s curls are gorgeous 🙂
I know, right, Jodie?! I love her curls too! As for last minute- THANKS!!! I was pretty pleased with it too. The girls would have been quite fine with just the normal pumpkin painting, but it was nice to make them feel a bit special and have some fun after a whole lot of boring weekends indoors. Also helps me keep from losing my mind a bit.
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