Fall Fun

This year, I am happy to report, that our fall days have been the proverbial big pile of freshly raked leaves and we have been indeed jumping in and having a fabulous time. Although we've been busy, I am so thankful as I look at my exhausted babies asleep in the van going from one event to the next that we are making some pretty grand memories. I love everything about fall. I love wandering the school supply aisles at Walmart, I love pumpkin lattes at Starbucks, I love candy corn and I love almost feeling like I could wear a sweater.



My husband and I very often speak in movie quotes to each other, and this is one of our faves. In the spirit of autumn, I offer this sentiment to you as well:

Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms. (You've Got Mail)

Fall mornings mean different things to different people, I know. For instance, to Erik it means waking early to take a brisk bike ride with his friends on a Saturday morning. For me, it means making doughnuts and coveting the homes on This Old House in my PJ's. To each his own....

This year we also roasted our own pumpkins to make pumpkin puree. Let me tell you, two small pie pumpkins make a pretty massive amount of puree. For me, this itch has been satisfied and I can check off 'make pumpkin puree' from my life list and go back to Libby's puree in a can. We were able to make two pumpkin pies and pumpkin whoopie pies which are, if I do say so myself, de-lish. Statistics say most Americans gain 7-10 pounds in the holiday season. We're over achievers, we're going to see if we can top that record.

To aid in our weight gain efforts we went trick-or-treating and brought home quite the haul in our homemade trick or treat bags. We had a match fit pair this year - a hippie and a sailor. They walked around the neighborhood protesting each other....totally kidding. We had an awesome time and even met some of our neighbors who are looking for a church. Yes, Halloween can be an outreach opportunity.

Our season also included a Fall Fest at the park and an old-fashioned pumpkin carving party complete with apple bobbing. These events are proof it doesn't take fancy gadgets, expensive bounce houses or lots of money to have some good clean fun. And, can I just say, I love my girls' affinity for simplicity? When we arrived at the carving party there were all sorts of intricate patterns for pumpkin carving. My kids would have none of it and stuck with triangles and toothy grins, despite some pretty heavy pressure to go all fancy-schmancy. I am beyond thrilled that they still love an old school jack-o-lantern. And, although their stubborness can make me want to pull out my hair some days, I so admire their tenacity and their strong sense of self. I marvel at them everyday.

So that just about wraps up fall for us. My sister's wedding is this month and I can't think of better way to celebrate my favorite season than by celebrating love. And, of course, Thanksgiving looms ahead. But, as I'm not hosting this year, I'm simply looking forward to the parade and food I didn't prepare. Does anyone else still watch the parade? Erik is convinced I'm the only one left who insists on watching it in its entirety. I'm such a sucker for a good parade.

In His Service -