Nature Walk, Leaf Painting, Creek Exploration and Acorn Stamping

We were spoiled by a very mild and warm fall.  We took this opportunity to spend a lot of time out of doors.

We went on a nature walk and discovered some super cool mushrooms, collected acorns, leaves and pinecones.   Afterwards we raked leaves and enjoyed jumping in the piles.

 

We painted leaves and made acorn paintings one day on our new previously loved outdoor kid table.

 

 

 

 We took both dogs and a friend with her two pups with us to the creek one warm fall afternoon.

Shiver Me Timbers

So, the little guys decided to be pirates this year and boy were they cute....

We had a little celebration at preschool and then later that evening we visited our friends the Z's for lots of playing, food, trick or treating and candy eating.  A short visit with the neighbors and then I insisted that these little scallawags scurry off to bed!

Pumpkin Patch 2012

One of our must do activities each fall is visiting the pumpkin patch.  True to form, we made it out twice and had loads of fun picking out pumpkins, swimming in corn cribs, petting animals, picking cotton, swinging, riding tractors, jumping and sliding.

His scarecrow impression

Ready to cannonball into the corn crib

Corn Angel

Awesome swing

Captured random brother kisses on the tire swing

Best slide ever!

Maze masters

I "need" two!

Pumpkin love

Very much loving the corn

Boy have these guys grown fast, 3 short years ago they were so tiny, in fact we all fit into one corn train car here....http://teamriggle.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkin-patch-2009.html

Slacker

Yep, you guessed it, I have become a slacker in my old age.

Last week, okay...well several months ago... we made our first scarecrow and the boys were quite impressed with the mess that accompanied the construction phase, I am not sure our neighbors love the straw infested yard we now have but the boys have a scarecrow that is happily plopped on our porch guarding our pumpkins.

Upon completion of the scarecrow I was feeling pretty proud, I thought it turned out cute and the boys were sitting in his lap when all of the sudden Matthew discovered that our scarecrow did not have "parts".  Yes, that is my word for little boy genitalia and no, it never occurred to me to make our scarecrow anatomically correct.  Who knew the quality control police would go lurking in the scarecrows drawers?

Our happy...penis-free...scarecrow, or scarecrowess?

Leaves..leaves..leaves..

* DISCLAIMER *

I have absolutely no control when it comes to taking pictures of my little reds in the leaves, don't say I didn't warn you, there are WAY TOO MANY pictures in this post.

Our most favorite activity every fall.....raking and playing in the leaves.   We even had a genius friend rake up all her leaves for a party game...best party game EVER!!

Have I mentioned recently how much we love our trees!!