Fall Preschooler Activities

This week we had some little friends over for a Fall Art event with our moms' group. I did some searches on Pinterest to come up with the ideas. Here are the activities that we did:

Paper piece pumpkins from Frogs and Snails and  Puppy Dog Tails. I actually cut out a pumpkin shape and had the kids rip the orange paper to glue on their pumpkins.

Painted Indian corn from Spotted Canary. I cut out paper shapes and had the kids use cotton swabs to dab their paint onto their corn. I had crumpled paper bag strips that we stapled on for the husks.

Fall themed bingo dauber sheets from DLTK kids. Bingo daubers are always a big hit with the 5 and under crowd. And I like that they are a lot less messy than regular painting.

We also did a tissue paper stained glass window. I don't remember where I first saw this idea, but everyone enjoyed it. I taped contact paper to our windows with the sticky side out. The kids placed tissue paper squares onto the paper. I will definitely be doing this one again with my kiddos.

Of course, no good playgroup would be complete without snacks. We had the "traditional" fall mix of roasted peanuts and candy corn. Apples on a stick from Ellies Bites Decorated Cookies. And candy corn dipped pretzel moms from Your Homebased Mom.
What projects have you done for fall with your kids?

Around Here

I was just looking through pictures on the camera and found too many good ones not to share. So pardon the bit of a photo dump, I couldn't help myself.

One day Peachy decided to style Cream's hair, with the spray bottle we use to clean the floor. Thank goodness I clean with vinegar and water!

In an odd combination of events, the girls decided that Mr. Cherry should take them out one night after supper.

Peachy wanted help with her rollerblading.

And Cream wanted to test out our new-to-us carrier. They all enjoyed themselves and I went for a walk. We will just call him Super Dad!

One of the fro yo places in town had a special promo for the day. Since we were out around lunch time, I decided we would just go and have fro yo for lunch. Peachy decided it was okay as long as we had real food for dessert.

Cream was happy with the change of events and wishes it took place more often.

Peachy got the idea that she needed to set up a photo booth in the living room. She was very specific in her timing, that we needed to take the pictures once it was dark. So after supper we set up the tripod for a few selfies.

The girls and I headed to a harvest event at a very old farm property outside of town this past weekend. The bluegrass band asked if the girls wanted to join in on the rhythm section.

We also got to examine some pretty cool pumpkin and squash varieties.

Appliqued Tee Shirts

I recently received an order for a few decorated baby onesies. As long as I was making a few, I figured I may as well make a few more. :) I really had fun coming up with the designs and creating the shirts. I think it really had to do with the fact that I was in a creative happy place. I didn't have to follow a pattern or read directions. It was just me, making. That makes me happy!

I got all of my designs through the Silhouette online store. I do cut my fabric using my Silhouette machine with a Heat N Bond Lite backing. After ironing the pieces onto the tops I stitch around them to add detail and add durability.

Foodie Friday: Carrot Cake Bread

We have a bumper crop of carrots in our garden this year. I love just going out to the back yard and pulling however many we need. I will miss that easy produce come winter. I had been having a hankering for something carrot cakey as of late and with a ready supply of carrots, I went for it. Since I knew I wanted something that I could legally eat at any old time, I didn't go for true carrot cake, instead I made some yummy carrot bread. The results were great! You could whip up some sort of cream cheese frosting to go with the bread, but I went lo-cal. ;)

Carrot Cake Bread 

based on the recipe from Flour On My Face
Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3 cups shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350.

2) Grease four mini loaf pans and set aside.

3) Mix sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until blended.

4) Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in small bowl.

5) Mix dry ingredients into wet until incorporated.

6) Add carrots, almonds, and dried cranberries. Fold in until incorporated.

7) Pour into pans and bake for 40-45 minutes, checking after 35 minutes.

8) Cool and enjoy. (I froze some of the loaves and we ate some.) 

Pumpkin Patch 2013

A trip to the pumpkin patch is a seemingly quintessential part of fall is these parts. 

The girls and I made the trek earlier this week. 

Unfortunately an incorrect address sent us on a bit of a wild goose chase. 

But we made it there and got to thoroughly enjoy everything that the pumpkin patch had to offer.

 I also go to enjoy practicing taking pictures with the new camera. 

When I got the camera, I didn't take into account how difficult it would be to get a picture of a two year old and a four year old BOTH looking, BOTH smiling, and BOTH in the shot. 

Ha ha ha. 

While we missed last year, Peachy went to the patch in 2010 when she was one and a half,

and Cream came along in 2011 when she was less than 2 months old.