Hellloooo, fall! My favorite season snuck up on me this year, but can I share how amazing the pumpkin muffins have been, how delicious the apple wine has tasted, and how excited I am to chaperone my kindergartner's very first field trip to- the pumpkin patch?! Yes, it is certainly fall! And of course with fall, comes one of my favorite activities-writing contests! Kaitlyn Sanchez has a treat for you on her blog- Math Is Everywhere. Hop on over to take a look. You will be rewarded with a contest to exercise your creativity, fun fall images to inspire you and of course a few prizes to drool over. In 200 words or less, here is my story inspired by an image of a perfectly-plump orange pumpkin:


Gorda
By Kari Ann Gonzalez

As an early bloomer, Gorda was the only gourd delivered to farmer Tom’s pumpkin stand. Gorda didn’t mind and life rolled along…until the day before Halloween.
 
One by one plump orange pumpkins were picked, plucked up and taken home.
But not Gorda. She was too green. Too warty. How she wished she too would find a home.
 
Gorda tried to look her best. She stood tall. She tried a touch of paint. She even pasted triangles to become a… Gord-A-Lantern. Nothing worked.
 
More kids passed. More pumpkins were picked. But not Gorda. Poor Gorda. As the last pumpkin was picked, she hastily rolled herself off the shelf and into the wagon.
Thunk!
 
“Mommy, what happened to that pumpkin? It’s so green. So warty.” A little girl said.
“That’s just a gourd. Put it back, Sweetie.” She replied.
 
Just a gourd? I’ll never find a home!
She found herself back on the shelf…this time all alone.
 
Until Witch whisked up. “Oh, what luck! You, little gourd, look just like me. So green. So wonderfully warty! Would you like to come home with me?”
 
Gorda jumped at the opportunity. But she no longer wished for a home, because now…she had one!

February 14th is fast approaching! Heart shaped treats? Check. Valentine Cards? Check. A contest submission for Susana Hill's Valentiny Contest? Check! I hope you enjoy my contest submission. Please stop by Susana's blog to see all of the wonderful submissions at: susannahill.com/2019/02/13/oh-guilty-heart-the-4th-annual-valentiny-writing-contest/  


                                                        HEART PROJECT
                                                   By Kari Ann Gonzalez
 
“Welcome, Garret! We weren’t expecting you until next week.” Ms. Munoz said.
Ezra watched Garret shuffle to a seat in the back.
Poor Garret. Who starts a new school on Valentine’s day?
Ezra remembered what it was like to be new.
He looked at the valentines he made…but, he was one card short.
“Recess!” Ms. Munoz declared. Kids raced to the playground.
Tiptoe, tiptoe. Ezra snuck to the art station.
He grabbed a few supplies.
“What are you working on?” Garret asked.
Ezra shoved his project behind him. “Nothing…”
“Oh. Okay.” Garret’s shoulders slumped.
Ezra’s face flushed. He swallowed, watching Garret walk away.
Ezra could have introduced himself…but, he had to finish his project.
Students started to file back in.
Ezra whispered to Katya. She passed the glitter pens.
Shawn peaked over Ezra’s shoulder and nodded.
Ezra slid the project to Thuy. She added a special touch and passed it to Dion
“Time for our Valentine’s party!” Ms. Munoz clapped.
Garret shrank further into his chair… until glittery fish caught his eye.
Ezra held out a huge fishbowl shaped valentine signed by the whole class. It read, ‘Garret, I’m so glad we swim in the same school. Happy Valentine’s Day!’ Garret smiled shyly, “Thanks, I hope we’ll be FINtastic friends.”

December is a very special month for our family. Sure we love holidays, presents, and sweets...but even more dear, is our family. December 12th, is our youngest daughter's Adoption Day anniversary, followed closely by our oldest daughters birthday. We have so many wonderful reasons to be merry! Top it off with Susanna Hill's Holiday writing contest, and the season can't be beat! Wishing you all an amazing holiday full of love and joy. 

Xoxo, Kari

Here is my contest entry below, I hope you enjoy the read:

X Marks the Spot
By Kari Ann Gonzalez
 
“Nick?” Cole whispers.
“Here we go again…” Nick yawns from the top bunk.
“What if Santa loses his GPS? How will he find us in California?”
“Rudolph always brings a backup map.” Nick says rolling over. “Besides, I thought of that. I strung Christmas lights between our palm trees that read, ‘Santa, Cole and Nick live here. We’ve been mostly nice, stop here please!’”
“Well, what if Santa stops but he has a tummy ache from too many sweets? What if he’s allergic to dairy?” Cole asks.
“Hmmm. Let’s give Santa spice to forget about the sweets. We’ll leave California sushi rolls with lots of wasabi, and almond milk to drink!"
“Okay Nick, but what if Santa gets too hot in our California heat? What if he can’t get in, because we don’t have a chimney?”
“What if we leave Santa a red bathing suit, and your surf board to cool off in the sea? We’ll open a window to lure Santa in with the smell of wasabi wafting on the breeze.”
“But Nick, what if Santa runs into ninja-bread pirates pillaging Christmas trees?”
“What do you think we should do?” Nick yawns again.
“Let’s treat them to cocoa, and ask them to behave nicely. We’ll melt their hearts reading Christmas cards, until they return the gifts to the tree. Then, we’ll sing pirate carols until Christmas morning!” Cole said
“Argh, matey! But Santa won’t come until we go to sleep…Cole?”
“Zzzzzz.”

What is that you say? I misspelled the word Halloween in my first blog post? No spell check needed here, it’s time again for Susanna Hill’s Halloweensie Contest! The rules are: 100 words or less incorporating a variant of the words: howl, shiver, and cauldron. My contest submission is posted below. Wishing you all a very happy Halloween!
 
Boogie Monster Finds His Groove
By Kari Ann Gonzalez
 
The Halloween Ball is hopping.
So is Boogie Monster.
Darn broken leg!
Vampire’s moves are silky smooth.
And Werewolf? He can really cut a rug.
“Boogie, why in the cauldron aren’t you dancing?” Witch asks.
“I can’t move like I used to.”
“Give it a try!”
Clunk. Boogie’s cast echoes on the floor.
Boogie shakes off a shiver.
“Join us Boogie!” Vampire entices.
Kerplunk! Boogie’s Tango ends in a tangle.
“See, you can still get down!” Werewolf howls.
Putting his best foot forward, Boogie finds the beat.
His hands begin to dance and move.
Then Boogie finds his Halloween groove!