Pumpkin Pies, Apple Cider, and Carving - it must be fall!

Once a week our house has what we call "House Dinner". We each take turns cooking, which we divide by floor. (I cook, then Jen and Rachel, and then Tyler. Bran and I count as one, so he gets out of it.) Friday night it was Tyler's turn, so I told him that I would make desert for him, because I've been dying to make Pumpkin Pie. Those pumpkin cupcakes just made me want more! I've also been wanting Bran and I to introduce ourselves to our neighbors across the street, and though that bringing them a pie would be a good way to do so. I also just got a new Taste of Home magazine that had a recipe for Spiced Apple Cider that I had to try, and everyone in our house had also been dying to carve some pumpkins, so we decided to turn house dinner into our "Fall Party" night. We invited Kelly Rhine (he was one of Bran's groomsmen) and Kenny Trovato (went to school with Jen) over, and had a total blast. Ty made some awesome chicken sandwiches and French Onion Soup. After dinner, the girls and Ty decided to practice Face Painting to prepare for the carnival they helped out with on Saturday night. They were awesome! Take note especially of Kenny's "Eyes" done by Tyler. The pies turned out great - I just used the recipe on the canned pumpkin, and then decided to do them in pre-made graham cracker crumb crusts. They were really good, and the cider turned out great! The only thing better than the pie and cider were our pumpkins - enjoy!

First, Rachel drew an elephant rear end on tyler's forehead, in exchange for him getting to help them paint at the carnival.


Then Tyler drew Eyes on top of Kenny's real Eyes.




Our Pumpkins! From the top step down: Kelly's little tiny music notes, Bran's demon (complete with horns! how Martha Stewart of him...), and Kenny's duck. Second step down is Jen's Bear holding a Shark, and mine, which had one angry face, one smiling face, and one face that is puking pumpkin guts. Then on the last step is Tyler's rabbit, and Rachel's awesome city-scape.



After a long night of fun and friends, Bran and I enjoyed the warmth of a fire in our living room.



Mom - I'll post pictures of the pies when I download them!