yup. it’s hard to believe, but that was us almost exactly one whole year ago — unknowingly beginning a new family tradition, picking pumpkins at milledge avenue baptist church. we weren’t yet married, and we were just beginning to house-hunt in earnest. eileen was rooming with a friend and still warming up to life here in athens. of course, athens has always been home to me. but on that cool october night, as we harvested our first halloween pumpkins together, the old city started to feel like a new place for both of us. it started to feel like home.

we returned excitedly to milledge avenue again this year, ready to meet those two lucky gourds who would sit proudly on our own front stoop: our first official jack-o-lanterns (since last year’s pumpkins never became anything but a soggy mess on my parents’ driveway).

the selection was endless. there were big pumpkins, little pumpkins, and pumpkins that climbed on rocks.

it was a hard decision. but i finally decided in favor of the orange one.

eileen counted pumpkins while waiting for me to decide.

in honor of this little milestone, i tried to carve a likeness of my beautiful bride. she says she doesn’t see the resemblance. (everybody’s a critic.)

eileen carved the tree silhouette. qué artista, ¿no?