halloween

Happy Halloween!

We've celebrated with parades, coloring our pumpkins, carving our pumpkins, roasting seeds, parties at school, costume making, decoration making and more.  BUT the trick-or-treating is tonight and I have one Harry Potter and Hedwig who can't wait!

running club

Blaise suggested that since running club was cancelled after school today (due to weather) that we run our own.  The imaginations ran wild with how to do it. . . set up an obstacle course, run around the house, bike for some, etc. etc.  I kept it simple and they ran in the rain.  I hate to admit that I drove while they ran (but my knees will thank me for it tomorrow, plus I did pilates and pickle ball today - that counts).  They ran a mile in the rain and loved every minute of it - mission accomplished!

pre halloween fun

Mark and Mathew came over to play and the house was very quiet until I met these folks  .. . .nothing like some practice for Halloween.

stokoe farms

Zipppppp lining . . . .

 Bike riding  . . . .

 

I can barely reach the pedals . .  .

Boys can I take a photo?

 Well, that is a bit better  . . .

 Blaise, Julian, Gio, Jacob, Jaxon and Ambrose

Stokoe Farms, 4 families, 9 kids, hours of fun and laughter!  What a great way to spend a fall day!

pumpkin fever

Fall time . . .cooler temps, crisp nights, crunchy leaves under foot, smell of fire, corn stalks, pumpkins, mums, scarecrows, bats, tombstones but did I mention pumpkin?  I think we have a little 'pumpkin fever'.

We colored our pumpkins like this with the plans to carve them closer to Halloween.

 

Today we opened one can (large can) of pumpkin puree and made the following:  pumpkin pie spice cheesecake, chocolate chip pumpkin granola bars, chocolate chip pumpkin muffins and pumpkin granola.  All of the recipes came from skinnytaste.com which features delicious, healthy, low fat, family-friendly recipes.  Now if you'll excuse me I need to go run around outside so I can enjoy some of these treats later . . .

genesee country village and museum

Green ducks, squawking geese, oxen, wood barrels, apple cider and more.  We stepped back into time today at Genesee Country Village & Museum.  Our trip included grinding apples into cider, shelling corn and printing newspaper.  The boys really enjoyed themselves and marveled at what jobs they would want to do.  But when mentioning that kids during this time mainly worked and didn't play .  .  . well, they aren't totally convinced.

powers farm market

Powers Farm Market is a fall favorite.  A haunted hay ride, walking through the spooky teepees, feeding animals, picking pumpkins and eating donuts!  Grandma and Grandpa were in town to share in the delights.