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!

My Cuddle Buddy

With all the warnings and information overload about keeping our kids active and spending enough time outside I have become a bit neurotic about keeping busy. I have a pretty tight schedule during the week of library storytime, gymnastics, art class, music class and a fun free day (thats usually the park or playdate). When Joey or I are sick we still go for nature walks and on rainy days I feel like I will quickly get cabin fever and opt for a museum or aquarium. This is quite the turn around from my pre-baby years, I could stay indoors and sleep for days but with the fear of my child's brain melting infront of the television we are always on the go.

Today however I woke up, made a big pot of my Autumn Stew and nestled down to watch the long awaited "How to Train your Dragon". I lit candles, grabbed a big cozy blanket and my best cuddle buddy. I thought he'd get bored but I was pleasantly surprised at how content he was just to sit with his mama and cuddle.
Oh boy did it feel nice!

It brought m back to my childhood and how relaxing HOME is. Nothing was better then mom's bed, the smell of home was so comforting and it was pretty cool lounging in pajamas all day. I tell myself to appreciate the simple things all the time and today I am glad I took my own advice!

"How To Train Your Dragon" is going to be a favorite in our house, I can tell!

Favorite Fall Recipe

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients
-1/2 canola oil
-1 cup pastry flour
-1/3 cup cocoa powder ( I like the kind from Trader Joe's)
-2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (also from Trader Joe's)
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon of salt
-1 cup of sugar
-2 eggs
- 1 (15 ounce0 can of pumpkin puree
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
Preheat oven to 350, line muffin pan with festive muffin cups or grease pan. Set Aside

In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl whisk together oil, sugar, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Slowly whisk flour mixture until well combined then transfer to prepared pan.

bake approximately 13-17 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside, let cool before frosting.

Frosting
-1/2 cup butter, softened
-4 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
-2 cups of sugar
-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1 teaspoon of vanilla extract


I've heard of some people putting chocolate chips in it or baking it into a cake or even a bread loaf and sprinkling powdered sugar on top instead of the frosting. let me know how yours turn out!

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!