Monster Mash

We are steadily crossing things off our Fall to do list and this past weekend we crossed off one more thing- make Monster Mash!  I remember my mom making this and sending it to me when I was away at college and since it has some of Jacob's favorite things, I knew he would enjoy it!  Monster Mash is definitely a special treat (not the healthiest snack) but fun for this time of year!

Combine:

10 cups popped popcorn

16 oz. bag plain M&Ms

14 oz. bag chocolate covered peanuts

1 cup peanut butter chips

1 cup candy corn

The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm

We made our annual trip to The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm yesterday after school and it couldn't have been better.  The weather was perfect- sunny, breezy, and 75 degrees.  It was great to get out of town and enjoy a little quiet time outdoors. 

We have been visiting The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm since Jacob was 10 months old and it was great to share it with Jonah this year, too!  Jacob even calls it "his" pumpkin patch!  I am so happy to have a special place to visit each year and create memories!

A fun afternoon at the pumpkin farm!

First up was feeding the goats and cows!

Jonah loved watching all the animals!

After we finished the hay maze (Jacob was being a stinker and didn't want his picture taken!)

Picking our pumpkins!

Daddy and Jacob on the hayride!

Wordless Wednesday

6 Months Old!

My Favorite Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Another item on our Fall To Do list is to make pumpkin bread.  It's a tradition that really kicks off the fall season, my mom made it while I was growing up and I started making it back in college.  Each year I make at least one batch (it makes three large loaves) because it freezes beautifully and nothing is better to snack on on chilly fall afternoons with a cup of tea.
My college roommate, Amy, even did a taste test for her nutrition class using the recipe and for that reason, I now make substitutes to make it a bit healthier (you really can't tell a difference!).  Enjoy!

3 1/2 c flour (can do half all purpose, half whole wheat however I don't recommend doing the full amount whole wheat, the bread will be very dense and heavy)
3 c sugar (sorry, no substitutes here!)
1 c oil (I substitute 1 c apple sauce)
4 eggs, beaten (Egg Beaters work great!)
2 c pumpkin (canned)
1 t baking powder
2 t baking soda
2 t salt
1 t allspice
1/2 t cloves
1 t nutmeg
1 t cinnamon
2/3 c water (trust me!)

Combine sugar, oil (apple sauce), and eggs.  Add pumpkin.  Sift dry ingredients (measure before sifting) and add to pumpkin mixture.  Add water.  Combine.  Pour into loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Yum!

So True

A few little decorations

I usually decorate for fall in mid September, but for some reason this year I just wasn't ready.  Maybe it was because the temperatures were still almost hitting 100, maybe it was because I am completely swamped at work and trying to juggle being a great teacher and a great mommy to two boys.  Maybe I'm just tired!  Anyways, I decided to get down to business about a week ago when I was home with both boys (our home got hit HARD by a tummy bug and I had to take practically a week off from work!).  Ultimately, decorating the house was good for me and I remembered how much I enjoy the season and promised myself to take time to do the fun activities, even when I'm exhausted.  Jacob was so terribly excited about the decorations, it was more proof of how important something as small as a fun decoration can be to a four year old.  I remember vividly coming home from school to find fall decorations up and my mom icing the pumpkin sugar cookies.  I hope to create these memories with my boys even though I'm a working mom!

Our Halloween mantle (Jacob added the Jack-o-Lantern bucket for good measure!)

Spooky sign and light up haunted house above the TV

One of Jacob's favs: the Halloween tree

Now if only we used this room...

Trick or treat, smell my feet...