As much much as I adore summer, fall is fast approaching and I need a game plan. If I don’t have things to look forward to as cool weather approaches, I will never get off the couch. I try really hard to come up with things to plan that our whole family can look forward to. I’m home with Eli most of the time, so our days are very toddler focused, but our nights are for all of us. Here’s what I’ve got going that actually gets me excited for the chill in the morning air:
1) Decorate for Halloween: While walking around our neighborhood last fall, Eli was over the top enamored with the Halloween decorations. I’m thinking about these ghosts and these bats.
2) Make costumes: My husband and I have worked jobs where we dress up as a group for work, but since having Eli, we get to do costumes together! I’ll be discussing this more in the coming weeks.
3) Apple Picking: We have lots of different orchards around here and last year was a rough one, so hopefully this year will be better. Along with apple picking comes apple sauce, apple pie, apple cake, Apple cider etc.
4) Hot Air Balloon Festival: Every year, Boise does this giant Spirit of Boise Balloon Festival. It is glorious to watch the sky fill with these giant beautiful balloons, plus kids can go up during one morning!
5) Sunday Suppers: We used to host big family dinners at our house and then everyone started having babies and starting businesses and just generally getting busy. This fall I’m bringing them back, first Sunday of every month.
6) Pumpkin Patch: This has become my most favorite fall tradition. Our pumpkin patches are huge and amazingly fun with animals and mazes and all kinds of activities.
7) Pumpking Carving/Painting: Last year Eli painted his pumpkin instead of carved and I think that tradition may just continue until he is old enough to at least attempt to carve his own.
8) Leaf Gathering: Eli is finally old enough to get into some crafty things. We love to take walks in the fall and step on all the crunchy leaves. This year we will gather as many different colored leaves we can find and make a little mural out of it.
9) Family Bonfire: We recently built a firepit in our backyard, but with the summer heat haven’t been able to really break it in. I’m excited to break out the s’more and blankets.
10) Fall Books: Eli has always really enjoyed holiday themed books and monsters. This year we will make treks to thrift stores and book shops to track down some more fun ones to add to our collection.
11) Watch the Storms: When the storms start to roll in, I love to bundle up in the garage and watch the thunder and lightening and watch the rain pour down. It’s so cozy and lovely. This year, I’d love to bundle up and drive around, watching the storms from a place with a view.
12) Fall Hikes: Eli is finally at the age where he can keep up on a short little hike, and the weather is finally at a temperature that Mr. Seashell will find acceptable for hiking.
What family plans are you looking forward to as we slip into boots and sweaters?
guest
What about the family photo? Sounds like a great fall list
kiwi / 511 posts
I love the idea of Sunday dinners with family. We get together with my In-laws fairly regularly but I think it would be fun to try a big family thing once a month. I know that November is taken care of since we do Thanksgiving and my cousin-in-law does a thing for his birthday that is a blast. December is also taken care of as well.
So really it is just September and October to worry about for now. I think I will talk to the family and see if we can do this.
blogger / coffee bean / 43 posts
@Mrs.Maven: we don’t have any family nearby, so ours have always been just our closest friends. A couple friends of ours have started one called a brew and stew, where it’s just a big pot of soup and crusty bread and everyone brings a 6 pack to share! But I have always longed for us to be able to do a bloodline family one, a la the show parenthood. How delightful did those family dinners outside look?