Fall Party

So we forewent (?) Halloween this year in favor of a little "Fall Party" with the kids and a couple homeschooling friends. We took the girls last year in a neighborhood on base, and we just weren't impressed by all the horror all around them. Plus, they were aware of it too and were scared by some of it. I think it may have been fine in the towers since people just kind of congregate in the big room downstairs and kids trickle through, but all the over-decorated houses and adults last year were just a bit much for me. It was Daddy's idea to do a little fall party, but that was where his help ended, ha. Don't Dads always get the best ideas?! I'm glad we did something. It was a fun little thing to do. In the morning it was our homeschool co-op day so the girls gutted a pumpkin after we talked about its circumference. M's brother is a bit of a neat freak and didn't feel like touching the slimy insides. That's our $9 pumpkin, by the way. Last year I remember getting it for $13, so I guess the price went down! 
My main new experiment was to make caramel apples for the kids, but not just any caramel apples  - "gourmet" caramel apples. They actually ended up tasting pretty ridiculously good. I think it will become a fall tradition in our house. Unfortunately, the worst part of that treat were the not too sweet, mealy apples inside. I think when we get back to the states and can buy actual Granny Smiths, they will be that much more spectacular! 
Daddy bought J. a ridiculous tiger costume when he was back in the states (just got back right before Halloween and he's still jet-lagged), so J. was the only one in costume. It is pretty cute, but Daddy is convinced it's pajamas, even though the tag reads "costume." :) 
I let the kids paint some block pumpkins and little pumpkins out on the porch. It actually turned cold on us on the 31st - our first real cold day this year. I'll bet it was around 60, and it was raining. It feels great to be outside now and have to pull out jackets finally! 
We were going to bob for apples too in our little pool, but it got a little late for the 10 kiddos. So we all tried later that night. Daddy was the only one with a big enough mouth to get an apple, but the girls thought it was funny to try. 
I guess it's on to Thanksgiving traditions now! I have some craft plans in my head for Christmas, but none for Thanksgiving yet. I was thinking of doing some sort of month of thankfulness, but I guess I need to get on that since it's already the 2nd, huh? 

This was the caramel with white chocolate and oreos - "Cookies and cream" I thought it was really yummy! 

I might have liked this one even more. It was the s'mores apple, and the regular milk chocolate tasted better with the caramel, I think. 

What a scary, big tiger. :)

Walked in on this one afternoon after laying him down for a second. We thought it was funny. 

Took this on the 1st. His baseball outfit, compliments of Uncle Tim and Gr. and Gr. L. Super cute. 

I'm seeing A's fat baby face here. . . which means I can picture what he'll look like in a few years. :) We are so thankful that he's healthy. At his four month appointment the other day he was 21 lbs. 3 oz - 99%, and 26 3/4 inches - 95%.