Family Activities: Fall Festivals
Jake on the spinning teacup with the girls! The last time I went on this ride it made me so sick and dizzy I thought I was going to throw up in one of the girls pumpkins full of Halloween candy!
One of the fun activities our family enjoys participating in every Fall is the local festivals! The girls love getting a chance to go for a ride on carnival rides, hayrides, bouncy castles, check out ambulances, firetrucks, helicopters, pet farm animals and more (for free)! They always have a blast at this event!
Here are a few pictures from one of our favorite fall festivals that we try to go to every year at a local church in our area. Although you do get a bag of candy the highlight is the fun activities (not candy). If you are looking for a safe place to trick or treat for Halloween check to see if any of your local churches do a “Trunk or Treat” event.
Off they go on another ride!
Going UP……..
Jake and the girls flying by me on a chair swing!
Brina flying down the slide!
Karlie zooming down the giant slide!
All of us went on the Thomas the Train ride together!
Checking out the inside of the ambulance!
They had a lot more activities going on that I didn’t get pictures of like face painting, hair glitter, carnival games and more! Do you have fall festivals in your area that your family always looks forward to attending? What type of activities do they have at the festival?
Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins (4 Ingredients)
As the Fall leaves continue to rain down in our yard we are enjoying some delicious treats! These Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins are super easy to make, only contain four ingredients, and taste awesome. The last time I made these for a group of friends only 2 came home with us and the girls begged to take them in their school lunches. You will not have to add any water, eggs or oil to this recipe and the muffin will still turn out with a moist.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins:
- 1 box Yellow Cake Mix
- 1 can (15 oz) Pumpkin
- 4 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
- 4 tablespoons Powdered Sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line 24 muffin tins. Mix together yellow cake mix and canned pumpkin until blended (the batter will be thicker than your typically cake mix). Scoop evenly into muffin tins (I use an ice cream scoop) and set aside. In another bowl blend softened cream cheese and 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Drop a small spoonful of the cream cheese mixture on top of each muffin. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, and sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar over the top of each muffin prior to serving.
The last time I made these I did about half with the cream cheese and half without cream cheese. Both were a big hit with the group, but the ones with the cream cheese went faster. 🙂
Pumpkin & Yellow Cake Mix Muffins topped with Cream Cheese & a touch of Powdered Sugar
Fresh out-of-the-oven Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins
Pumpkin Cheesecake & regular Pumpkin Muffins sprinkled with Powdered Sugar and ready to be eaten
Recipe: Halloween Brownie Trifle
In celebration of the Autumn season I brought this Halloween Brownie Trifle for Community Group last week. My original inspiration came from a recipe called Black Velvet Halloween Trifle from Blue Bonnets and Brownies. I decided to make my own version based off the items that I had in our pantry. Her bottom layer was a Black Velvet cake made from scratch, however, I used a box brownie mix because I was doing it on a Sunday afternoon before our get together that night.
The Halloween Brownie Trifle was a huge hit with our group so I decided to share it with you. This dessert would be great for a Fall or Halloween get together with family and friends. The best part is it’s easy and delicious!
Halloween Brownie Trifle:
- 1 box Brownie Mix
- 2 (3.4 oz) boxes Butterscotch Pudding
- 1 (8 oz) container Cool Whip
- 1 1/2 cups Candy Corn
- Red & Yellow Food Coloring
- Make the brownies according to the directions on the box and cool completely.
- While the brownies are baking mix together the butterscotch pudding according to the directions on the box. Stir in 1 teaspoon of yellow food color and 1/2 teaspoon of red food color. Cover and put into the fridge until you are ready to assemble.
- Once brownies have cooled cut them up into 1 inch squares and layer them into the bottom of a bowl. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of candy corn over the layers of brownies.
- Pour the cold butterscotch pudding over the brownies.
- Spread the cool whip over the butterscotch pudding.
- Decorate the top of the Halloween Brownie Trifle with remaining candy corn.
Layers of the Halloween Brownie Trifle
Recipe: Candy Corn Cookie Pizza
Our family enjoys candy corn, cookies, and pizza so this dessert is a great combination. If you are looking for a festive Fall dessert recipe this one is always a hit with our family.
Candy Corn Cookie Pizza
- 18 oz Sugar Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
- 1 cup Candy Corn
- 1/2 cup Raisins
- 1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 cup Vanilla Frosting
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-inch pizza pan. Roll the cookie dough into a 1/4 inch thickness.* Bake cookie dough for 15 to 20 minutes or until the crust turns golden. Allow to cool completely. Gently remove crust from pan and place on a serving platter. Spread the peanut butter over the crust. Sprinkle candy corn, chocolate chips and raisins evenly over the top of the peanut butter. Put the vanilla frosting in a microwavable bowl and microwave 10 seconds or until thin. Drizzle frosting over the cookie pizza. Cut into wedges and serve.*You can also use rolled refrigerated sugar cookie dough. Here are the directions: Cut cookie dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place the slices on the greased pizza pan and press down with floured hands. (the rest of the recipe above is the same).
Family Outings: Fall Festivals & Fun Activities
A little behind in posting these pictures but I figure it’s better late than never, right!? Since a couple of our family members have requested these pictures here we go…..
One happy and one scary pumpkin on the front porch In celebration of Fall Festivals, events, and activities we had the girls do a pumpkin this year. Brina wanted a happy pumpkin and Karlie wanted a scary pumpkin. They did the outlines for their pumpkins and Daddy cut out the pieces. They were both quite pleased with their pumpkins.
One Blue Crayon and One Violet Crayon The girls dressed up this year as crayons! They were super excited to wear their crayon costumes that we picked up on clearance last year.
Goody cups for the girls class at school. The girls helped pack the goody cups for their teacher and friends in their classroom! Besides stickers, pencils, glow in the dark silly bands we included a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Candy Corn Cupcakes for the girls class We made candy corn cupcakes for the girls class at school. They were so excited to take them and share with their friends at lunch.
Karlie and Brina carrying their goody basket into school They were thrilled to carry the goody basket into school. Several other students stopped to express their delight in the cool basket on their way to class, I think that alone made the girls day!
Two little crayons and Daddy getting into the teacup This was the first ride the girls went on at the Fall Festival. So thankful Jake was willing to ride with them, last year I went on it and almost threw up from the spinning!
Hold onto your hats little crayons! It made me dizzy just watching them spinning in circles but they had a blast!
Fun fall festival rides Our two crayons are in the blue one. They loved this ride last year too.
Having fun They loved looking out of their “cage” as they called it over the rest of the Fall Festival. When they got off they told us everything that they saw on the ride and what activities they wanted to do.
Ready to fly on the bug Two little crayons going for another spinning ride on the little bug, too cute!
Bug in flight It was hard getting a picture when both of them were looking at me. The bug got cut off on this one but at least both girls are looking my direction! 🙂
All buckled in...now ready to swing and spin Daddy was such a sport and went with the girls again on this spinning ride. Everyone is all buckled in and ready to SWING!
There they are swinging It looks pretty innocent doesn’t it but if your stomach does flip-flops while going in circles…..
Checking out all the equipment in the medical helicopter They had a emergency helicopter there so you could show your kids. Pretty neat seeing on the devices they put into it.
Two little crayons coming down the slide They had a blast jumping on bouncy castles, racing through bounce house mazes, and zipping down the slides.
Two cute crayons next to a giant black cat The cat was having problems staying up but I snapped a quick picture with them in front of it. They thought it was so funny seeing a giant black cat.
Too Much Candy!
Hope everyone had an amazing Holiday weekend. Halloween is a great time to create memories with your family. The Fall Festivals, pumpkin carving, hayrides, dressing up and candy…..sometimes too much candy. Every wonder if you’ll be able to eat, share and giveaway all the candy before the next Halloween hits.Dentists all over the country are participating in a Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. They buy the kids Halloween candy then donate it to the groups that send it to those in Military Service.
- Example: Holly Tree Pediatric Dentistry in our area is Buying Back Halloween Candy and giving the kids $1 per pound ($5 max per child) and a Treat bag. The Buy back dates are Monday 11/1 to Thursday 11/3 between 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. All the candy will be donated to Troops overseas. Also, Dr. Ann will match every dollar given and donate it to a local charity “Let There Be Mom.”
If it is something you interested in participating in you can read more about on the FAQ page and search for locations near you!
Recipe: Super Easy Halloween Punch
Great punch to add to your Halloween festivities and super easy to make. It takes about 5 minutes to put everything together.- 1 – 14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 – 46 oz can chilled Pineapple Juice
- 1 – 2 liter chilled bottle of Orange Soda
- 1 – container (any size) of Orange Sherbet
Stir Sweetened Condensed Milk and Pineapple Juice in the punch *bowl. Slowly pour in the chilled Orange Soda. Top with balls of Orange Sherbet. You can serve over ice and refrigerate any leftovers. Makes about 4 quarts.
*You can use a plastic pumpkin like the one the kids take trick or treating (pictured above) to put the punch in to add an extra touch. Make sure it is one without a hole in the bottom! Happy Halloween!
Fall Festivities – Pumpkin Carving
Our family enjoys celebrating the different seasons, Holidays, and events throughout the year. It has been a blast going to a variety of family friendly Fall Festivals in our area. The weekends are full of horse back riding, playing in the leaves, hayrides, bonfires, pumpkin carving and all the other fun activities while creating wonderful memories with the family.
The girls have been asking for over a month to carve pumpkins and since they were on sale recently ($3.99 for a 12 ++ pound pumpkins at BiLo) we decided to have a family night together. We had a great evening of carving pumpkins, roasting the pumpkin seeds, drinking hot apple cider and eating caramel apples. Daddy free handed the designs the girls drew out on the disposable table cloth. Everyone had a blast!
If you are wanting to find some great carving patterns that you can download here are a couple websites to check out:
Most of the designs are kid friendly (however there are a few frightful designs). There is a range from easy to difficult ones depending on what you want to do. Enjoy time with together and make it a fun celebration while creating memories together.
