Mr. Stinky Feet

Another one of our annual October traditions is attending the Mr. Stinky Feet concert at Country Club Bank. The kids were able to get on a firetruck, have a balloon made, and of course...listen to Mr. Stinky Feet. Jack was even able to be part of the "band." What fun!

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch

It's an annual tradition in our house...the first weekend in October we head out to the Pumpkin Patch. I think it's funny though how much our adventure changes each year. Before children, Craig and I ventured out alone to pick out the perfect pumpkin, but did nothing else. When Jack was born; even though he was too little to partake in much, I was so excited to finally have a little one to share this tradition with. In his last two years there, Jack has been overjoyed to crawl through the caterpillar and bounce around in the inflatables. Last year Maren was just along for the ride in her stroller and Jack picked out her pumpkin. This year however; as every year has been for us, was another complete change representative of our growing family. Jack was petrified of the caterpillar and inflatables (it must be a three-year-old thing), but had so much fun playing the beanbag toss and hillbilly golf. Marsy enjoyed the playground and carried all the beanbags and balls around as the rest of us tried our luck at hillbilly golf. Jack and Maren both picked out their own very special pumpkin. It was the first year we were all able to really enjoy ourselves (minus keeping Jack far away from the "scary things"), and I know it will just get better from here. I thought it might be cute to put a comparison picture above of last year's trip and this years--it's amazing how much things have changed in a year.

October Snacks and Crafts

FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS SITTING ON A GATE...
Spread a Graham cracker with peanut butter. Place 5 pumpkin candies on top.



Recite the following rhyme...
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late."
The second one said, "There are witches in the air."
The third one said, "We don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run, and run, and run.
The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."
Then whoosh went the wind and out went the lights
and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

PUMPKIN PIE IN A CUP (note: Jack was not a fan of this, Maren ate it up!)

In a large Ziploc bag, mix one box vanilla instant pudding with a cup of milk. (The little helpers can mix it up by squeezing and kneading the bag.) Add 1/2 C. pumpkin, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and a sprinkle of ginger, and have the little helpers squeeze the bag again until mixed.

In a separate bag, place three graham crackers inside. Have the little helpers roll over the bag with a rolling pin until crushed.

Cut a hole in the corner of the first bag and squeeze the mixture into cups. Pour some of the crushed graham crackers on top. Grab and spoon and enjoy!

SPOOKY SPIDERS




Insert 4 licorice pieces into each side of an oreo cookie. Place a little frosting on top of the oreo and use bite size m&ms for the eyes. (See photo)

PUMPKIN PIE PLAYDOUGH (Thanks Jen and Nicholas!!) (Pictures coming soon...)

2 1/4 C. flour
1 C. salt
4 tsp. cream of tarter
1/4 + 1/8 C. oil
1/2 (1 1/2 oz.) container pumpkin pie spice
orange food coloring (2 parts orange, 1 part red)
2 C. water

Mix all ingredients together. Cook and stir over medium heat until the lumps disappear. Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth. Store in an airtight bag or container.



MAREN'S FAVORITE OCTOBER BOOKS
Spot's Halloween... Eric Hill
Buscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch...Alyssa Capucilli
Spooky's First Halloween...Salina Yoon
Pumpkin Faces...Emma Rose
Spot's Halloween Party...Eric Hill
Where's Baby's Pumpkin?...Karen Katz
Peek-a-Booo!...Marie Cimarusti


JACK'S FAVORITE OCTOBER BOOKS
Omar's Halloween...Maryann Kovalski
Sam's First Halloween...Mary Labatt
Pooh's Happy Halloween...Ann Braybrooks
Courduroy's Trick-or-Treat...Lisa McCue
Franklin's Halloween...Paulette Bourgeois
Tucker's Spooky Halloween...Leslie McGuirk
The Halloween Play...Felicia Bond
Trick Or Treat, Smell My Feet...Diane DeGroat

Happy Birthday Parents As Teachers!

This morning Maren and I attended the Parents as Teachers birthday celebration. Maren had so much fun. She played with toys, painted a rock for the rock garden, played with a birthday cake tower, painted a laminated cake with shaving cream, and decorated her own "birthday cake." Her favorite part was getting to frost her own cookie and ea
t it, of course. What fun!