Fall Fun...

This year Tivoli was open for Halloween so several of us Moms'N'Tots went over to see the decorations and enjoy the playground. Ruby loves going on this big trampoline! It's filled with air and the big kids can really get a lot of air when they jump. Ruby just "space-walks" about two steps, then falls down--she has a ball though and the kids are really sweet to help each other up (as best they can!).

I have no idea what this ogre was made out of, but he was very gross (and impressive)! He was for sale, but I think you'd have to be a millionaire to buy him (and a bit odd)! There was steam coming out of him and he was generally just really creepy. They also had lots of highschool kids and a few adults dressed up in costumes--witches, fairies, etc. None of the costumes were scary though and there wasn't even a haunted house, so it really was a family friendly event.

One of the most amazing things to me were all the pumpkins! Last year there were really no pumpkins to be found anywhere in Copenhagen in October. This year, every grocery store had them (complete with instructions on how to carve a jack'o'lantern). Apparently somebody figured out that they were missing out on a big marketing ploy to get people to buy, buy, buy. Those pumpkins got bought like crazy and we really saw a lot of jack'o'lanterns around. The bad thing is that so many people live in apartments that the pumpkins didn't last too long sitting next to their radiators! Ours lastest a few weeks on the front step, until the frost came and then ours too hit the compost heap.

We also hosted a Pumpkin Carving Party for a few of Jared's co-workers. I was REALLY impressed with their carving skills. All of them did heaps better than I ever do. I guess it takes patience to really do a nice job... Ruby didn't get to try carving this year, but she did really enjoy all the roasted pumpkin seeds! I used a recipe off of allrecipes.com with salt and butter and Worcestershire sauce. We'll never make them again any other way! That Worcestershire sauce really rocks! I also finally tried preparing my own pumpkin from real pumpkins. I was surprised how easy it was and it really is quite tasty. All of the instructions I read online cautioned against using the big carving pumpkins for baking, but since that's all we had, I tried it and we have really enjoyed it. I've still got about 4-6 cups in the freezer, so we'll be able to have a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving without paying $5/can at the American Store--yum!

Well, I guess that's about all for now. Ruby is letting me know, in no uncertain terms, that she is ready for Mommy to be off the computer. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving if I don't post again before then!