Fall Fun

I love October especially the latter half as the weather finally starts to cool off and we get a reprieve from the long hot summer. We finally get to enjoy the great outdoors again as the kids play out front all afternoon and evening with their friends and I can once again enjoy walks in the neighborhood.

I also enjoy going to the pumpkin patch and this year we went out to Carefree to check out their Enchanted Pumpkin Garden. So it wasn't a pumpkin patch but it was a fun adventure and an afternoon field trip.  There is an artist that carves pumpkins and puts them in different scenes. It was neat to watch and see all the pumpkins.

Next up for some fall fun, Queen Creek's Trunk or Treat. Jay and Anastasia had a Saladmaster booth at the event and the kids all dressed up and were ready to get some candy. I think everyone in the town showed up for this event. It was crazy crowded which was great for our booth but trying to trunk or treat was a bit overwhelming.

Caramel Apple Fun

It is fall and one of our favorite activities is to make caramel apples. This year Joshua, Savannah and Alexa picked their small groups from church to invite over. So for three Fridays in a row we hosted each group, one at a time. It was a lot of fun and they are a great group of kids, and awesome mentors. We definitely got our fill of caramel apples!

Halloween fun

I love our family traditions and even adding new ones and this Halloween we did just that.  We carved pumpkins and made our scary face pancakes like usual but we also went to a new harvest fest and made a super, easy, yummy dinner that will be a keeper for Halloween nights to come. 

We started carving the pumpkins Friday afternoon.....and yea.....it usually drags on....everyone starts out so excited and then Anastasia ended up finishing them up this year.  This is why I limit it to 3 pumpkins each year and they can share.  Joshua however was willing to pay his own money to get his own, so we had four.  : )  They did however turn out awesome and received compliments from everyone who came by.  My favorite part of it all is the roasted seeds!

We were able to have two nights of fun this year dressing up and hanging out with friends!  Lots of our friends go to Calvary Chapel every year on Halloween for their Harvest Fest.  It is usually on Halloween night and our kids like to hang out in our cul-de-sac on Halloween but this year CC held the harvest fest the night before.  It was so much fun going with everyone and running into people we don't get to see all the time.  The kids had a blast and so did we and of course there was tons of candy to be had. 

Captain America, A Fairy, Two volleyball players and the one and only Elvis 

 I was so tickled when he asked to be Elvis this year!  We don't spend a lot of money on Halloween costumes.  They usually just pick from what we have in dress up tubs and then we accessorize.  But when my pretty reserved and modest kid asked to be Elvis we had to find a costume.  :)  The sad thing was the local costume shops that pop up for Halloween all had Catlin Jenner costumes but no Elvis!!??!!  So Amazon to the rescue.  Joshua did a great job and got lots of compliments on the costume.  

Harvest Fest Fun:

Saturday morning we made our traditional scary face pancakes.  Anastasia even took the time to make them look like pumpkins, complete with green stem. No morning pictures of Jay, Anastasia or I, just our pancakes:

Halloween Night:

So my new meal for Halloween, tacos in a bag.  My friend Kara brought this as one of their meals this summer when we went camping.  I have been trying to justify having it again and Halloween is the perfect night!  I just cooked up taco meat, set out the toppings.  You simply pick a bag of chips, open it and put in the meat, add the toppings and eat straight out of the bag.  YUMMY and easy clean up!  

 We set up the fire pit out front and get our chairs and table with candy and just sit out front and enjoy the neighbors and kids.  This was one of the first years I didn't go with the kids trick or treating.  I stayed and passed out candy and relaxed.  I always start to get a little nervous this time of year since two years ago when I got really sick on Halloween night and remained sick most of the winter.  But I am doing much better this year.  : )

 Everyone thought the pumpkins were amazing.  Anastasia did do a really good job!

Papa and Grandma came over for a short time to see the kids.

 Time to sort and trade.