One family's pumpkin carving tradition

By Cari Quam/Austin Daily Herald

Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the scariest pumpkin of all?

Dad's is. Always and every year.

At least that's how it goes at the Urick home.

Pam Urick said her family carved pumpkins every Halloween when their children were young.

They made a contest of it. Each member would try to create the most frightening face of all the pumpkins. The Uricks hid the pumpkins' new faces until Halloween.

And then, let the scariest face win.

"We turn them around one at a time and see how scared everybody gets," Pam said.

Pam said she always carved a happy-looking pumpkin.

"Being the mom, I couldn't scare everybody," Pam said.

Her husband, Jim, always declared himself the winner, Pam said.

The winner of the contest simply got to have the title of carving the scariest jack-o-lantern until the next year.

Pam said now that her children have their own children, the pumpkin-carving contest carries on in their homes.

"Everybody seems to have their own tradition," Pam said about pumpkin carving.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com

Staying safe for tricks and treats

The Parenting Resource Center offers these tips to keep Halloween safe:

n Young children should always go trick or treating with an adult.

n Older children should never trick or treat alone. Have at least two friends go with.

n Plan your trick or treat route ahead of time and make sure your family knows where you will be going.

n Wear a flame-retardant costume.

n Have your parents check your candy before eating it.

n Be cautious of strangers.

n Accept candy only in the doorway. Never go inside a home.

n Do not play near jack-o-lanterns.

n Only visit houses whose lights are on.

n Walk on sidewalks and driveways.

n Carry a flashlight.

n Use crosswalks or cross at the corners of intersections.

n Take a cell phone, if possible.

n Walk, don't run.