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!

A Glimpse of the Sun!

What is that I see? Is that the sun? I know they say we have a indian summer but this is crazy. Just incase this weekend is the start of our summer I thought I’d remind myself and some of you what fun good weather can bring!

-pitch a tent and camp out in your back yard, make smores and tell scary stories or read some out of a book. (Did any of you read “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” when you were young? Heck even if its too cold to stay out all night just getting away from the t.v. and doing something as a family is fun!

-While your out there, see if you can catch a glimpse of some stars. Nothing like laying on the grass, cuddled up looking for a shooting star. Who cares if you don’t find one!

-Outside hide and seek with the whole family

-make a fort….outside or inside!

-if your really brave how about a big mud puddle and a good ole water balloon fight?

If you plan on staying inside……

-remember how cool that old school popcorn was to make. The kind that popped on the oven and got bigger and bigger. I know it sounds silly but I can bet most of our kids have never seen it and would get a kick out of it!

-PILLOOOOWWW FIGHT!

-They still sell puff paint at your local craft store…..every kid needs a puff paint shirt….shoes, and hat, LOL

-What about those cool color posters that are like 3x5 feet? I used to love taking on that project, pick one up at the craft store when you go buy puff paint, LOL. Oh don’t forget the sidewalk chalk while your there!

-make some cookies from scratch, There is so much even a young child can help out with….rolling out the dough, picking cookie cutters and shaking the sprinkles! Plus kids look so cute covered in flour!

AND MY ALL TIME FAVORITE…….make something simple for dinner (we like shredded pork tenderloin sandwiches with honey mustard) to pack up like a picnic, blanket and all and head down to your local park or spot of grass to people watch, let the kids run around and have a outdoor dinner! Even the front or back yard will do!

The point I am trying to make is try to make everyday special. Childhood is so magical and it goes by so fast. I know we are all hard working parents and we may be tired but in our house we say “if we are going to be tired what we might as well do something fun”!