Ep 9. Punkin Chunkin

In Modern Family season 3 episode 9, titled "Punkin Chunkin," the Dunphys head to a pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin for Halloween. While there, Phil becomes determined to launch a pumpkin using a catapult, earning him the ridicule of the other parents at the patch. Undeterred, he sets out to prove them wrong and build a successful catapult.

Meanwhile, Claire and Mitchell volunteer to help out at Luke and Manny's school for a Halloween carnival. While there, they discover that Claire's nemesis from high school, Trish, is also volunteering and has brought her own impressive pumpkin catapult. Claire becomes determined to outdo Trish and sets out to create her own pumpkin shooting contraption.

Back at the pumpkin patch, Gloria and Jay take baby Joe to his first pumpkin patch experience. Gloria is thrilled to show Joe all the different pumpkins, while Jay becomes increasingly annoyed by noisy children and overly enthusiastic parents. However, he soon bonds with another grumpy dad over their shared annoyance.

As Claire and Mitchell work on their catapult, they enlist the help of Cam, who becomes obsessed with getting the perfect pumpkin to launch. This leads to a series of mishaps and some tension between the three.

In the end, everyone comes together at the school carnival and showcases their pumpkin catapults. Phil's catapult doesn't quite work as planned, but he still manages to impress his family with his determination and ingenuity. Claire and Mitchell's catapult works perfectly but, to their surprise, Trish's catapult outdoes theirs. However, they still manage to have a great time and enjoy the holiday with their family.

Overall, "Punkin Chunkin" is a fun and lighthearted Halloween-themed episode that showcases the various personalities and dynamics of the Dunphy-Pritchett clan. It's a great example of how the show can balance goofy humor with heartwarming moments and family relationships.