Fall Festivities Round #2

While in Vegas, waiting in the parking lot of In & Out Burger, I got a phone call from my mom telling me that they had decided on a date for the Infamous, Kessie Family Pumpkin Party. October 24th. A conversation about the details and my sadness at not being able to attend commenced. When I hung up the phone, I turned to Dennis, and expressed my dismay. His response to my General Hospital-ness?

We should go!

Wait....WHAT?! You wanna go to Washington to carve pumpkins?! Yes, he did. So we called Kaitlin, and asked her if she wanted to drive home that weekend too. She started crying exclaiming, YES OF COURSE I DO!!! The decision had been made. So on Oct. 22nd at 8:30pm, after work and many setbacks to our schedule, we pulled out of Salt Lake with Kaitlin, and her friend Taylor from home in the back seat. We were off, and no one in Kennewick had any idea we were coming.
Now if you are wondering if you read that whole leaving at 8:30pm thing right...you did. Dennis, like the trooper that he is, drove through the night from SLC to Kennewick. It was pure torture, but well worth it. While on the drive, I called Jared and broke the news to him while he was at work and asked him to just leave the back door unlocked so we could sneak in and fall asleep in the family room. Which at 5:00am is exactly what we did. Kaitlin snuck up to her room and fell asleep, and Dennis and I took the couch and big chair in the Family Room. Two hours later my dad came walking down the stairs, saw us and prepared to freak out. I shushed him, gave him a HUGE hug and asked him to figure out a way to get mom down stairs.
Dad: "Pat! You need to come down here! There is a HUGE stain on the carpet!"
Mom: "Steve, are you sure I need to come down"
Dad: "Yes, I don't even know what this is!"
She reluctantly came down stairs, saw us and started screaming, hugging, and screaming some more. Pure Bliss.
The rest of the weekend was filled with fun. It was so good to see the fam and be home with all of my siblings. That doesn't happen very often. Just wish I could have seen more of the cousins!

I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with Dennis Pumpkin Carving abilities. It was his first attempt and he pulled out the headless horseman.