A day late.....ok 2 days late

It just occurred to me that I forgot to post pictures of bug bug in his costume! Its so funny that every year I work so hard to choose a costume that will keep JoJo warm at night while he is trick or treating and the past 3 years have been quite warm at night. Anyhow I do my best to stray from store bought costumes because I fear as he get older he'll be like his Dad and just want to throw a mask on, LOL! So far I've gotten my way but I may not be so lucky next year.....he was quite the fan of all the superhero costumes =(

TONS of free & printable pumpkin catrving stencils

For the past couple of years now I have printed all of my pumpkin stencils online. Most websites want you to pay for them but I have quite a collection of sites that allow you to print them for free. Here are some of my fav!
This website has pretty extensive stencils.....not for the amateur. Most require scraping and cutting
http://www.stoneykins.com/Patterns/categories/100-FREE--Patterns/

http://www.spookmaster.com/pumpkin-carving-patterns-freebies.htm

http://www.hp.com/hho/cs/ca/en/party_kits_decorations-decorations-pumpkin1.html?ref=themes_holidays_halloween

http://www.hp.com/hho/cs/ca/en/party_kits_decorations-decorations-eerie_animal.html?ref=themes_holidays_halloween

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/interactives/pumpkin-carving-patterns

http://www.celebrating-halloween.com/pumpkincarving/index.shtml

All Costumes $8.88

http://www.babyage.com/collections/halloween-costumes-now-only-888-while-supplies-last.htm

If you havnt gotten a Halloween Costume for your child yet....or want to guess their size and buy one for next year, RIGHT NOW all the Costumes at Baby Age are only $8.88

They have some really cute ones too!

http://www.babyage.com/collections/halloween-costumes-now-only-888-while-supplies-last.htm

October Happenings!

Pumpkin Patches

Gizdich Ranch

55 Peckham Road. Watsonville.
http://www.gizdich-ranch.com/index.php

Young Life Monterey County Pumpkin Patch

( I like this one because the pumpkins are actually growing on the vine and you get to pick them off. Also a great option for pictures).
Reservation Road @ Hwy 68 (831) 422-6441

Hacienda Hay & Feed

7180 Carmel Valley Road.
(Just past Baja Cantina)
I like this place because it is right next door to Earth Bound Farms (see below) and you can do both in one day. Plus its not so far of a drive and the kids love the animals.

Earth Bound Farms

7250 Carmel Valley Rd.
http://www.ebfarm.com/OurFarmStand/index.aspx
This place rocks on saturdays in October. They have Corn Husk doll making for the kids, a pumpkin race, and fun food. We make a day out of it and they also have a kid garden with a cute lil teepee!

Pumpkin Junction at Casa De Fruita

10021 Pacheco Pass Hwy. Hollister
http://www.casadefruta.com/CASA_PumpkinJunction_2011_Flyer.pdf
A bit of a drive but so worth it, a choo choo train, carousel and more!

Swanks Farms

2600 San Felipe Road. Hollister
another bit of a drive but also well worth it!
http://www.swankfarms.com/
Huge....I mean HUGE corn maze....you will get lost, LOL!
Also have hay rides, tractor rides, pumpkin catapult, and kiddy corral.

Festivals, Trick or Treating, and Events

Gilroy Gardens Scary Boo
Saturdays and Sunday through Oct 31
http://www.gilroygardens.org/
Mazes, petting zoo and trick or treat

Howloween Harvest Fair @ Roaring camp Railroads
http://www.roaringcamp.com/events#ev16

Children's Ghost Train

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 & 29 This is a family and children's Halloween event!


PacRep's Harvest Fest
Sat Oct 22/Sun Oct 23rd 9-5
Custom House Plaza (by the wharf)
Crafts & Entertainment


St. Mary's Holiday Bazaar
12th and central. Pacific Grove
10/22/11   9-3
Local art  and Craft Vendors


My Museum Pumpkin Harvest Hoedown
http://www.mymuseum.org/
10/28/11 3-4:45


All Saints Day School Fall festival
( I like this one)
10/29/11
8060 Carmel Valley Road
family fun, games, food, music, shopping

Getting Ready for Halloween

I know I am going to be super busy the next couple of days with Halloween happenings so I am posting JoJo in his costume early. Viola.....

I'm still debating whether its awesome or sad that I have his costumes picked out in my head for the next 5 years, LOL!

Fun Pumpkin Ideas

Its almost that time.....time to carve pumpkins. I love carving pumpkins so much I am seriously considering carving pumpkins this week, waiting for them to rot and then doing more right before Halloween. Nobody has told me it is a crazy idea so i still just might!
JoJo is Go Diego Go crazy right now (although he says "Go Dego" so as I was searching for a Diego stencil and came across some great Nickelodeon stencils you can print out online.
I never buy ones at the store when there is so many to print free right of the good old WWW.
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr. -Click Here

Twilight fans, Check This out.....no shame!

Twilight Stencils















For more classic stencils I found some great ones at Better Home and Gardens, there is great selection!
Better Homes Link

Pumpkins, Corn mazes, and Fun!

If you don't care much for autumn then I must apologize because I am in a fall frenzy and am loving every minute of it! By the time winter hits my poor husband is so tired of pumpkin pie, harvest festivals and nutmeg that he even welcomes the winter blues, LOL!
So naturally we spent this weekend at our local organic farm enjoying the festivities.....its still early enough in the season that my husband participates......I think JoJo makes it fun for just about everyone anyhow! We brought JoJo's cousin, Mia along and it was funny how many people thought they were twins. Mia is 3 months older then JoJo and is his best friend.              

                                                                    Corn Maze Babies!

                                                                                                         

They had a fantastic time playing in the corn maze, checking out pumpkins, they had their face painted, colored, and played in the corn bin!

The best part was the making of corn husk dolls (which is easier then i thought) and the pumpkin races. The husband did such a awesome job at the pumpkin race we went home with a whole car6t of pumpkins for Halloween, he made us very proud, LOL!
Daddy and JoJo making their corn husk "action figure"....boys don't play with dolls, LOL

It now sits on out table at home.....with some of our trophy pumpkins!

The kids and husband with our prize pumpkins...........

Falling in Love with Fall!

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot


First Day of Autumn: Wednesday Sept. 22


MMMM, this my most favorite time of year....and it has nothing to do with it being football season. I am more festive and at peace in the fall then any other season. Today I did my autumn ritual of buying fall scented candles, fall scented lip gloss, got the last of the Halloween costume accessories, Halloween candy, and decorated for fall. I got JoJo his Thanksgiving outfit and some fall ensembles. I just LOVE the smell of fall, inside and outside. We had our first fire in the fireplace last week and soon Starbucks will be selling their fantastic Gingerbread latte, LOL. I do hope JoJo loves fall as much as I. My husband has learned to love fall because to him that equals baking season, for some reason I bake a lot of goodies in the fall!
Anyhow not to leave the kiddies out here are some of my favorite fun activities to do with the wee-ones…..

-Plant some flowers or veggies
-have a picnic
-star gaze
-visit your local orchard to pick what is in season
-stuff a scarecrow

The coolest thing on our latest bug walk was releasing ladybugs into the garden. I didn’t know you can buy ladybugs at most garden stores like Osh/Home depot or your local nursery. They are great for any garden and the best time to release them is at night, early morning and right after you have watered!
The kids had such a fun time with the ladybugs!

The pumpkin patches opened last weekend!