Pumpkin Patch, Jack O' Lanterns, and Fall Treats

We hit up the pumpkin patch last Saturday after Jace's t-ball game.  The IWFC (International Women & Family Club) from Thunderbird was hosting their monthly family field trip there so the cost was only $3 per person instead of $10.  We did all the usual pumpkin patch activities:  corn maze, petting zoo, jump house, corn pit, pumpkin launching, picture taking, etc.  It was super hot though.  TOO hot for October.  I think especially being pregnant this desert summer is dragging on way too long.  I'm desperate for some cooler fall weather.  We didn't stay that long because I felt like I was going to die from heat exhaustion.  The kids had fun except for when I was helping Jace with the water pump activity.  You pump water into a trough which then floats a rubber duck to the end.  When I was helping him it pinched his finger and he started crying.  By the time he calmed down some other kids had taken his duck.  He was furious at me for the next hour even though I apologized like 20 times.  We stopped at Sonic on the way home and got some icee drinks to help cool us down which seemd to cheer him back up then we went over to Derek and Kristie's for a barbecue and to watch the BYU football game.  Overall a fun day.  We didn't get pumpkins at the patch so on the way home from the game we let them pick some out from the grocerystore.

 

Cutest pumpkins in the patch!

On Monday for family night we made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, carved our pumpkins into Jack O' Lanterns and roasted the pumpkin seeds. 

It was super fun!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies - a fun fall treat - and SO easy.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 (15oz) can solid pack pumpkin
1 Spice cake mix
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (optional)
1 C. chocolate chips
1 C. chopped walnuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix everything together.  Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 15-18 minutes.  Let sit for 5min. before removing from cookie sheet.  ENJOY!!

Scary Jack O' Lanterns.  Brooke chose the scary face and Jace chose the pirate ship. 

Roasted pumpkin seeds from our Jack O' Lanterns.

Jace insisted that we have roasted pumpkin seeds but he refused to put his hands into the pumpkin guts - it was too gross for him.  So I recruited Brooke to be my seed sorter.  Jace was so happy and appreciative that I made them for him and he ate a ton of them.  What a fun family night!

The next morning I took a picture of them before we left for school (that's why Brooke is holding a piece of toast) in front of their pumpkins making their scariest faces ever! :)  Jace was super happy this morning.  I think because it's spirit week at school and today happened to be military day so he got to wear a camouflage shirt.  He's a nut! I loved having a happy Jace this morning.

Making their scariest faces ever!