My Favorite Halloween Tradition

First you go to the farm market or pumpkin patch to pick out the proper size and shape of pumpkin. Then you bring it in the house to warm up to room temperature (this is important). You decide what design to carve. Cut off the top of the pumpkin (or bottom, or even side). Then the best part, reaching inside to scoop out the gooey, slimy guts of the pumpkin. (A pause to wash one's arms). Then the scraping, and more scraping if need be. (Another pause...). Draw or poke the design on the pumpkin, then carve. Put a candle inside and turn out the lights. Oooh and aaah, cause it looks so cool. Just before the trick or treaters come out put the jack-o-lanterns outside and take their picture. Enjoy a job well done.