Pumpkin Launching!

Our Halloween morning started out with a good idea from some friends: the pumpkin launching contest at Cal State Fullerton! It turned out to be a super-fun event that we will definitely attend next year.

We got there a little late, but not too late for the kids to make and launch marshmellows from their very own catapults made from popcicle sticks and rubber bands. They were quite intent.

Later, in the stands, Brandon, Paige and Marissa decided to practice shooting Goldfish into the crowd with Brandon's catapult. Right after I put a stop to that, Ryan had to borrow the catapult and shoot Goldfish into the crowd himself. He's very good at reinforcing good behavior.

There was also a pumpkin carving contest that the kids got to help judge. This was Branond's favorite. I didn't get a picture of Maylan's favorite, but it was a rotten, molded out pumpkin that was a few years old. It did look cool. She now wants the pumpkin she carved this year to rot and mold so it looks like the one she saw.

Before the main event, they had a medieval fighting demonstration that we could get very close to. It was quite interesting.

The funny part happened when the knight with the green helmet got knocked over and couldn't get up. The fair maiden had to help him remove his helmet and then help him roll over onto his stomach before he could finally get to his feet. The knight who knocked him over just watched the whole process.

As we were heading to our seats in the stands, the kids saw these crazy foliage monster guys. They were camoflauged in the bushes along the pathway and then scaring people. Marissa didn't want to get anywhere near them.

And then it was time for the main event: 8 or 9 various pumpkin launching machines. They each took turns launching their pumpkins at some targets set up on the field. It was terribly fun to watch.

This "Pumpkin Lobber" was the hit of the event. Before it started, they did a test fire of a pumpkin that sent it soaring completely through the scoreboard at the end of the field. They were immediately disqualified and weren't able to participate in the actual event, but it was pretty cool. Ryan and his dad spent about 15 minutes talking to the guy afterwards. They say they need to learn how to weld so they can make their own. All in all, a great way to start our Halloween. Thanks for the great idea, Natalie!