Happy Fall

I LOVE the Fall. It is my favorite time of year!!!

There are so many things that I LOVE about fall!!

Here is a list of things I love about fall.

1. The cool crisp air.

2. The smell of leaves and baked goods cooking.

3. The smell of mums.

4. Chili, soups, and stews that have been simmering on the stove.

(If this recipe is good, I'll share it with you!!)

5. Making as many meals in the Crock Pot as possible. (Did you know that there is a group of girls who started a group on Facebook. Check it out here.....

6. Apple picking.

We usually go two to three times in the fall. The four of us go in the beginning of the season, the kids and I usually go, and we go again at the end of the season. We go with Tommy's paternal side of the family.

We did our first trip this past weekend.

 Once upon a time I thought that apple season was only in the beginning of September. But was I wrong!!! Some of the BEST apples come out in October.

My favorite apples are the Mutzu. They are so yummy.

This past weekend we found a new farm by us. They even press their own apple cider. So it looks like I will be going back on October 8th for the Mutzu and again October 13th for apple cider.

Once apple picking is done comes ...

7. Apple sauce

8. Apple pie

Home made of course.

9. The kids have been asking for Candied apples so I promised we would make them in October.

10. Dipping Apples in Caramel. I buy the Marzetti Light Apple Caramel Dip. So good.

11. Going to farms to to get pumpkins, mums, decorations, cider, etc...

My favorite farm is Johnson's Corner. It's in Medford, NJ (South Jersey)

It's right across the street from my high school!!! Some of the best Apple Cider Donuts!!!

12. Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins.

 We usually buy a lot of pumpkins some for decorations through Thanksgiving. Some other pumpkins are for carving. Tommy is the best pumpkin carver!!

The night before Halloween, we gather in the kitchen to watch and help Tommy carve a pumpkin. We scoop out the pumpkin seeds and cook them for a nice healthy snack.

13. Halloween is another reason I love fall!!!!

We begin decorating  for Halloween the first week of October and I usual stop decorating for Halloween, well on Halloween!!!!

pinterst

We go to a Halloween Party the weekend of Columbus Day. The campground where my parent's have their camper have a huge Halloween Day. It starts at 10 am for pumpkin painting followed by trick or treating, hay rides, and a Halloween Party!!!

This year's Halloween Party looks to be a great one because (both finger crossed) my brother's will be bringing my nieces too!!!)

Speaking of Halloween the kids already have their costumes. I wanted to make them but Speed Racer wants to be Spider Man and Ballerina changes her mind hourly. (Such a lady.) The other day while we were at Marshall's with my Mom, Ballerina decided she wanted to be a 50's chic. This was after my Mom told Ballerina that she use to where a poodle skirt when she was younger. Well, Ballerina took one look at that poodle skirt and saw the potential of it's twirling ability. She decided right then and there she needed to be a 50's chic.

I thought I would be able to make it and then remembered I have no free time on the weekends to make this stuff!!! So I bought the costumes. Which is fine because the kids will where the costume three or four times and I know that they will play dress up!!!

Speed Racer tried his costume on the other day (Spider Man) and thought that magic powers come with the suit, so he decided to try and scale the wall. He quickly learned he can't scale the walls!! Boys are soooooo funny.

Back to things I love about the fall...

14. The new season of TV. I love when my favorite shows come back to TV.

My favorite show is Modern Family!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show!!! I was one happy girl last night!!!

(If you don't watch this show you should.)

15. Football games. Ok, not really but football just reminds me of fall. I use to go to all my high school and college football games  too!!!

16.The array of colors.

17. Sunday morning hikes.

18. Leaves falling on the ground and then being able to walk through them while listening to the crunch sound under your feet.

19. Making leaf piles and having the kids jumping in them. Then deciding to join them for some fun.

20. Sunflowers.

I recently made this for snack.

21. Apple Cider and Hot Apple Cider.

22. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Even though our celebrations have gotten smaller, we still love Turkey day.

23. Wearing sweaters and boots.

Don't you just love this outfit.

My favorite colors for the fall are this caramel color and coral!!

Also a splash of leopard print!!!

24. Making crafts with the kids.

25. Fires in the backyard.

26. Having quiet nights with Tommy by the fire.

27. Buffalo Wings ( Love to have them once a year and it's usually in the fall.)

28. Butternut squash. Love it roasted!!!

29. Gourds, indian corn, corn husks, and hay bales.

30. My favorite thing about fall is something that happened twenty years ago!! That's right 20 years!!!!

Hubby and I met, became fast best friends, and fell in love in the fall!!!

I recently saw a bucket list on Pinterst. I thought I would share it with you!!!

I'm going to print this out, hang it up, and cross it off as I go!!!!

What are some of your favorite things about fall!!!

Signs of Autumn

Autumn is my favorite time of year.
Come see what some of my favorite fall things are:

The kids posing with this scare crow at the annual Mountain Bash.

Taking hikes and watching Speed Racer spend time with his uncle. Uncle Mike and Speed Racer rock climbed together up a steep cliff!!


Daddy helping his daughter hike.

The kids in a hay maze with my cousin.

Endless supply of baby pumpkins


Visiting so many farms.

Freshly baked pumpkin chip cookies, freshly baked oatmeal bread, and an apple scented candle.

Making a haunted house with an old box.

German Apple Cake

Sitting by a warm fire

Incredible views with so many colors

Taking the time to sit and look at the views and spending time with family.

I just LOVE these pumpkins. I hope to grow some of my own next year!!

Freshly made Apple Cider Donuts

Looking at an old barn.

XOXOXO

Janine

I hope that you have had a great fall!!

Donaldson's Farm

Happy Columbus Day. Today the kids and I took my parents to this very nice and clean farm in Hackettstown. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was!!

We all hopped onto the hayride to head out to the pumpkin fields.
I told the kids that they could each get a pumpkin but they need to be able to carry their own pumpkin.

The cute couple that greeted us to the pumpkin field.
The Pumpkin Fields



Charlie Brown and Snoopy looking for the Great Pumpkin.


We got to pick our own Indian Corn.

After we picked out our pumpkins we headed back to the farm where all the activities were taking place. Speed Racer could not resist the tractors that were available for the kids to play on.

My father supervising the kids in the tractor wheel!!

Speed Racer riding around the farm.

Ballerina in the real big tractor.



Still driving the tractor.
After the tractor riding we headed over to get some funny pictures.
Grams and Pops.

Ballerina as a farmer.

After the funny pictures we galloped over to the horses for the kids very first horse ride. Ballerina went first she picked Foxy the white horse. Speed Racer wanted to ride on a miniature horse. I thought I would die laughing at the sight of him riding on such a small horse but luckily he's too big. So he rode on Foxy too.

The kid's new friend!!

Me and the kids. I think that this will be our new Columbus Day tradition.

I hope you had a great weekend!!

OXXOXO,

Janine

Ballerina had a great time on Foxy.

I think she wanted to go faster. Ballerina and her horse ride.


Speed Racer riding on Foxy.

Waiting for his ride.


Speed Racer getting on the horse. Ballerina did exactly what my father told her to do in the wheel.


Patiently waiting his turn.

After the horsing around we had our lunch and then got ready to head home. But we had to go the shop for some Apple Cider Donuts.

I saw this cute ghost and asked the kids to take a picture with him.