Halloween Flashback

As I began planning this year's Halloween costumes, I thought back to what Jacob has dressed up as in previous years.  It hit me that this is his FIFTH Halloween and I just don't understand how that can be!!  It is such a fun time of year, and now we get to share it with sweet Jonah! 

A stroll down memory lane...

2008

2009

2010

2011

Jack the Jack-o-lantern

So excited!!

Giving Daddy instructions about Jack's face.

We have quite the collection of pumpkins!

Last year after Halloween, Jacob was absolutely devastated throw out our jack-o-lantern, Jack (original, I know).  The only thing that made him feel remotely better was the promise of making a new Jack the following year.  Tonight, we turned our largest pumpkin into Jack 2012 and he couldn't have been more excited!  He was very specific with his instructions as to what Jack should look like and we even went so far as to try to trace a wooden jack-o-lantern sign he had painted with Mim last year.  One tooth broke off, but he was happy enough with the outcome!  Now it's on to  pumpkin seed roasting...

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!