Fall Bucket List Wrap-Up 2015

We did it, we did it!
Is anyone else singing the Dora song now? Is Dora even on any more?  Oh the memories. Marissa was obsessed!
Last week we finally finished our 2015 Fall Bucket List. You can take a peek back at our first, second and third check ins, but here is what we have been up to recently.    Play In The Leaves
Since the 2011 tornado the middle of town has very few trees, specifically mature ones. In the fall if we want to play in the leaves we have to find others to take pity on us, or we scoop up a pile wherever we find them. 
Which is exactly what we did this year.

Carve Pumpkins
We ended up carving one pumpkin right before Halloween. I usually get all fancy with stencils and such but I just didn't have time for that this year. We went back to the basics using a simple Sharpie and a knife. The girls had just as much fun as they usually do if not more.

.  Go Trick or Treating
I shared the details last week, so let's just say trick or treating was a huge success.

Nature Walk
Last week on our "hookie day" we went for a walk. It was beautiful to be surrounded by nature. The girls are already asking to go back to the trail and I am hoping we can before it gets too cold.

Our 2015 list is complete!

Of all the bucket lists we put together fall might just be my favorite one. Is it bad that I am already thinking about next years list? I think we need to go bigger since we easily marked everything off our list this year.

Enjoy the rest of your fall friends!

Fall Bucket List Check-in #3

Last week we only managed to cross off one thing on the bucket list so I spared myself the embarrassment and skipped the bucket list post. However, I am back for redemption today. We miraculously managed to put a pretty big dent in our list and it looks like we just might be able to finish up our list after all.
Here is what we have checked off our list since check-in #1 and check-in #2 
Bake a Pie
They were so excited to dive in and get busy. Their flavor of choice? Pumpkin of course!

Fall Themed Craft With The Kids

We probably could have already crossed this one off but with a few bigger projects done we'll make it official. 
 I picked up a 2 pack of paintable pumpkins and some metalic paint at Hobby Lobby.

Then Saturday morning Marissa and I spent some time working on this. I had most of the supplies on hand already so it was a simple fun way to add some Halloween flare. 

Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Here we are again for for our yearly trip to Fredrickson Farms. In my oppinion the Joplin area is REALLY lacking a good pumpkin patch. Maybe I should buy some land and become a farmer? The pumpkin selection here was less than impressive. 

See what I mean?!

So we bought a couple baby pumpkins then went to Aldi and picked these guys up for $2.69 each.

Whatever works right?!

Caramel Apples   I know I said caramel apples and technically we had caramel apples. We just chose to go the easy to eat route.

It started with homemade salted caramel sauce and ended with some very sticky hands and fingers. It was SO good. The best part is we have LOTS leftover so we can keep using this stuff all through the holidays. Making caramel was WAY easier than I expected, I will never buy caramel dip ever again. 

Watch a Halloween Movie

Friday night after our caramel apple dip the girls and I sat down to watch a Halloween movie. The movie of choice? 

AGAIN!
Marissa wanted to watch something else but I think she got so nervous that it would be spooky that she chickened out and went with something familiar.

Fall fun that wasn't on our list...
We went to the Maple Leaf Parade.

Then stopped by the Maple Leaf car show. 

Mo-Kan's Hot Rod Reunion is always an October highlight. 

Another super easy chalk board creation of mine.

Silly hat day at co-op, #nailedit

As of October 26th this is where we are on our list 11/15 done!

Today I am linking up with Courtney and some other amazing ladies!

Countdown to Halloween, Bucket List Check-In #2

Today I am linking up late for the Countdown to Halloween week #2. Other posts kept me busy earlier in the week but that's probably for the best since we were kinda lazy in the bucket list department last week. At least this way I was able to cross one more thing off our list before writing this post. 
Here is what we crossed off since our last check-in.
Family Photos   I shared my favorites in the "official photo post" but I thought I would share a few more here.

Sweet sisters

 Fun vintage feel to this one... except I shouldn't be smiling. 

Have you ever noticed they never smiled in old pictures?

Typical care free Emily.

I am pretty sure he had just licked me. You may laugh but I'm completely serious.

How we roll.

Backyard Camp Out
I laughed as I put it on our list but I knew the girls would LOVE it if we could make it happen. I planned it and cancelled because it was too cold. Then I picked another day that would work "better" and forgot to double check the forecast. Yup, it was COLD.
It was warm early in the evening.

 

But it cooled off enough for a fire and s'mores of course!

They were "ready" to go to bed at 7:40.

We did some relaxing and reading.

Around 9:00 I drew the line and said we needed to fall asleep and they finally did. I woke up around 3:30 half frozen then took a quick glance at my phone to see 44 degrees, WHAT?! I should have double checked the forecast! I went inside got extra blankets and dozed back of until around 6:30 when Marissa woke up.

We finally were all up and out around 7:00 so we built a fire and hung out with our hot cocoa (coffee for me) until time to go in for school.

I hope they always remember this night.
I never imagined myself sleeping in the backyard with the girls but making those memories with them is so worth it. 

Fall fun that wasn't on our list...
2015 Pumpkin Run

I could probably cross the fall craft off the list but I'm keeping it on there just in case I do something more impressive.


Speaking of art, check out my latest Halloween chalkboard!

As of October 13th this is where we are on our list, 6/15 done.

We didn't manage to cross much off our list this week, but we did cross off a couple of big ones. I'm happy and optimistic that we will be able to finish off our list with no problem.

Today I am linking up with Courtney and some other amazing ladies!