My absolute favorite time of year is fall. I love all the smells and flavors of the season! I love the holidays and the wardrobe. I love it all. And though we don’t actually experience fall in this part of the country the way that everyone else does, I love to do fall activities with our toddler girls. And I have been kind of neglecting doing the fun things we are used to doing lately, so I thought I would challenge myself to complete a bucket list with our girls this season.
It is a busy time of year for us, but I am hoping to this bucket list will help me to focus in on the joys of the season while teaching my girls (and having FUN!). We have already done some of these activities in previous years, but I am hoping keeping and making traditions will be something the girls love as much as I do.
Here’s what is on our bucket list for fall this year
Pumpkin decorating – I have seen some of these neat new fake pumpkins at the dollar store that you can carve, so I am thinking we are going to pick up a couple of those and let the girls work on them in different ways. Last year, we decorated our store bought candy pail pumpkins with stickers. It was a fine motor activity that G really enjoyed. Notice I haven’t said carve pumpkins because, to be honest, I wouldn’t know where to begin…especially with toddlers. Maybe next year on that one.
“boo” our close friends – I have seen this idea on Pinterest in the past and I think the girls are definitely ready for this at this point. We will bake some yummy cookies and add some of our favorite candies and set them on the door of our close friends houses with a note encouraging them to pass it on. I really like this free printable from Catch My Party to make it easy to “boo.”
apple picking – we have got to get on this one quick so we don’t miss out! Our closest apple picking place is up a mountain (so it is a little cooler) and we already have plans for a family photographer to get some pictures of us up there. But I think we are going to take the girls for the day up the mountain to pick apples and have a picnic. Sounds like great fun!
Autumn leaf craft – there are so many great leaf crafts out there! And sadly, I can’t get real leaves around here for the girls to play with (unless they are palm fronds!), so I love this leaf craft made from coffee filters from Frugal Fun 4 Boys. Isn’t it so cute?
slow cooker applesauce activity – we made applesauce when G was very young and loved it! I have been thinking we need to make some more with W, since she loves it so much. It is so simple to make when you use the slow cooker and can be very educational for toddlers. Here’s our recipe for Slow Cooker Applesauce.
pumpkin crisp to take to a friend – this is hand’s down my favorite fall dessert EVER! I just can’t get enough of it. I used to have a small business during the holidays baking and selling them . And it is always fun to take a fun dessert to a friend. The recipe is so simple the girls can help with the entire process and I know they will love taking it to some one we love. We just might have to make one for ourselves while we are at it!
Mickey’s Halloween Party – I am so excited about this new tradition for our family. We took the girls to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland for the first time last year and had a little bit of fun. But this year the girls are already talking about the party – it is going to be so much better than last year! We are all dressing up (including Gran and Grandpa!) and are looking forward to this special event. I don’t know who is more excited – me or the girls?
Count our blessings – I love the idea of teaching our girls to be thankful for the many blessings we have (gifts from the Father of Lights, every one!). And I want to be intentional about reminding them of God’s daily blessings. I love this Thankful Tree from Bargain Bound and the activity she did with her family throughout the month of November. We will probably do something similar for the girls this year.
That is what we are going to be doing this fall. What are you planning for your family this season?
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Great ideas! This is our first fall on the gulf coast instead of in the Midwest .. I’m still kind of in denial that it’s actually fall – lol! Need to get on the ball.. Already have some apples that are waiting to be made into applesauce!
Great list! Do you have a recipe for pumpkin crisp? I’ve never .made it before, only apple crisp
I do have a recipe and it is super simple. Maybe I will share it on the blog this season! Stay tuned!