We made our annual fall trip to Goebbert’s to pick out a pumpkin for carving. Isaac had the best time wandering through the piles of pumpkins, searching for the perfect one. It’s such an easy outing, but it’s quickly becoming one of those family traditions I look forward to every year. (Just remind me never to go on the last Saturday before Halloween!)

Here is is, contemplating the perfect pumpkin…

This year we finally did it. We carved our very first pumpkin. Isaac was so excited. The second I set it down, he appeared with a Sharpie, the scooper, and a big grin. I grabbed my coffee (as one does) and prepared for what I thought would be a messy, chaotic project. To my surprise, it was easy, fun, and not nearly as gross as I had imagined.

Once we cut the top off, Isaac dove right in. He wasn’t even grossed out, which honestly surprised me. He scooped with such intense concentration the entire time. Watching him get into it made me realize that I probably overthink these things. It didn’t have to be perfect. It just had to be fun, right?

I thought the carving would be the tricky part, but it wasn’t bad at all. With Isaac’s input, I drew a simple little scary face and carefully cut out the eyes and mouth while he supervised like a tiny foreman. He was very serious about his duties. When it came time to light it, we realized we didn’t have a candle. Without missing a beat, he suggested we use his party light from Christmas. Genius. I cut a small hole in the back, threaded the cord through, and the second we plugged it in, the pumpkin lit up with playful bursts of color. It looked like a tiny disco right on our porch. Definitely not spooky, but definitely fun.

Once it was glowing, Isaac couldn’t resist turning it into a whole production. He even made a little video tutorial for his “Spooky Party Pumpkin.” It still makes me smile every time I watch it.

A fun family pumpkin carving turned into a “Spooky Party Pumpkin” moment! Watch Isaac’s first-ever YouTube short where he shows off his glowing jack-o’-lantern. This cozy fall activity was simple, creative, and full of laughter.

It’s funny how something so simple can turn into such a sweet memory. What started as a quick fall project became one of those moments I’ll hold onto. The smell of pumpkin, Isaac’s serious little face, the disco party on our porch. Our very first jack-o’-lantern, perfectly imperfect and completely ours!

P.S. Naturally, I couldn’t resist trying to roast the seeds afterward. Let’s just say it didn’t go quite as smoothly. I shared that little “pumpkin seed fiasco” over on Smallish Adventures. You can read it here →

My First Pumpkin Carving (and What I Learned!)