Oh, the wonder and fun moments of Fall. I truly LOVE the smell that fills the air from the freshly fallen leaves. I walked yesterday through the woods near my home and listened to the wind howl and watched the leaves spin through the air to gently touch the ground. It was magical, so I thought it would be fun to create a list of things that can make fall a little more magical…enjoy.

Visit a pumpkin patch. We go to the same pumpkin patch every year, take pics, pick our beautiful, round, giant piece of Halloween. A pumpkin is one of the biggest symbols of halloween. Think about it, hand carved, you create an image that will glow with light during a time of darkness. It is a great symbol.

Create a Place of Memories: This year I wanted to create something that held all of our past Halloweens together as a family. It was so fun to reminisce, to see our family costumes, to think of the fun, Halloween festivities. I put them all together and created a fun memory book. You could also have prints made, frame them in festive frames and have a special spot in your home to remember your past Halloweens.

Fall Fest Walk: Find a empty river bed, a place where there are lots of fall leaves, lots of trees…take your kids, cousins and walk. I just recently took my little nieces and nephews on a nature walk up a nearby canyon. They noticed everything—the spooky looking caves above us, the big rocks that were a perfect picture point, the colors of the leaves, they ran with excitement and wonder. So fun!! Nature is always a good thing.

Take pics: I have been taking videos of streams running with leaves floating by, the details of leaves, the colors, the change, the people I love and enjoy. Take pics of your kids throwing leaves, sitting in a pile of leaves made to look like a nest (we do this every year), on a bridge, hanging from a tree…

Invite friends or family over for a chili night: Every Halloween night we have everyone bring over a batch of their favorite family chili to share. It turns into quite the contest!! make it fun with silly prizes like the chili with the most beans, the chili that is meatless, the chili that leaves you with hair on your chest, etc.

Make caramel apples: We are going to do this in the next couple of weeks. It is on our Must Do list!!

Deliver something yummy: At our house we love to make a batch of cookies (usually pumpkin) & deliver them in a cup. I know that is a little unusual, but it makes fun CUPS of COOKIE LOVE. What is better than that!!

A Thankful Tree: I just came across this idea. I have done this around Christmas with paper chains, but during Halloween and into Thanksgiving would be perfect. Here is the cute idea…http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/index.php/2010/11/27/the-thankful-tree/

Make something magical: I just had a couple of my nieces visiting & we headed to the dollar store to find supplies to make small fairy houses. They turned out darling. They got small fish bowls and added moss, twigs, acorns and made their own little scenes. My daughter found a clear glass mug that she turned into a snow scene with a snowman & a twig tree that she adorned with glitter ornaments she made. They were all so magical. I will see if I can find an image that resembles their creations, so you have an idea.

Read a fun Halloween Story: I just purchased Walter Wick’s Can You See What I See? On a Scary Night for my daughter for Halloween. We LOVE doing these picture puzzle books together.  Here are some of Amazon favorites that got higher stars…Ten Timid Ghosts, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, Room on the Broom, The Night Before Halloween, Big Pumpkin…

Watch a fun Halloween Show together: At our house we love the Hallmark series “The Good Witch” (There are about six different movies), we also love Bewitched with Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell, Twitches, Casper, We just watched a cute family show, “The Dog Who Saved Halloween.” We are not into scary!! Find something everyone will enjoy.

Fun Glow in the Dark Candy Hunt: For Easter we put glow sticks in eggs, so I thought you could get eggs or some other halloween container & put glow sticks inside with some fun candy. Then take the eggs out into the dark night and then have the kids go find them.

With the time change bundle up early and read a good book together as a family: For fall break we started the book, The Alchemist which is a great read. Find something everyone will enjoy reading. Even if you take fifteen minutes before bed or just schedule some quiet time right after dinner.

Make a fall potpourri: I LOVE watching my husband put on his domestic side. He enjoys cutting up apples, putting in cinnamon sticks and filling the tiny crock pot we have to fill our home with the aromas of fall.

Enjoy a beautiful bonfire: We LOVE bonfires at our house…with or without smores. A warm fire seems to make the fall a little more bright and brings in the warmth of those we love.

Bundle up: Pull out the candles, wash the cozy blankets, buy some new cozy socks…its fall.

Make something sticky to share: My husband LOVES making puffed rice balls. Make something sticky like caramel corn, puffed balls, rice crispy treats, Chex mix, etc. Share some sticky goodness.

Star gaze: This is always fun to bundle up in sleeping bags or a bunch of blankets & lay out on a chili night & watch the dark night sky.  You could even get camp chairs and hot cocoa & just be together.

Make a feel better basket for someone: What a nice gesture. During the season of colds and flus, there is bound to be someone you know that may need a small dose of goodness. Make them a nice basket with a magazine or book, a small blanket, some vitamins or tea packets and a sweet get well note. Making someone feel a little better is always a good thing.

Boo to you: I don’t know about your neighborhood, but in mine there are people who make treats and “BOO” the neighbors. There is nothing like getting a sweet treat that you then spread the goodness. Here is a link if you would like to do something like this in your neighborhood. Happy Booing!  Here is a link to a bunch of ideas. Enjoy. http://itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com/2011/10/8-versions-youve-been-booed-fun-treats.html

No matter what you do this Fall..enjoy the moments, the memories, the FUN!! Happy Halloween & Fall Fest.  -H