{Hunter boots (graphite gloss) / Striped bag}

So the past two days have been full of excitement around here.  It has been raining!  POURING rain!  Not a big deal for a lot of you I’m sure, but you should have seen everyone in my neck of the woods.  All smiles in rain boots and fall clothes.  Everyone was in such a good mood!  Aside from getting some much needed moisture, it FINALLY felt like fall!  We are all more than ready.  So to celebrate happy fall weather days (fingers crossed more are coming!) I thought I’d create a little round-up of our favorite fall traditions!  If you’ve been with me for a while you most likely know these traditions well.  We’ve been doing the same things every fall for years.  But that’s the best part about family traditions.  The same fun things to look forward to that signal a happy time of year and remind us of past memories made.  So without further rambling from me, here are our family’s favorite fall traditions!  Love this time of year.  :)

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{DECORATE}

First is the obvious.  We decorate the house.  Since my kids are growing up in a city without major season changes I feel it is my duty to create the seasons for them!  At least that’s the excuse I tell my husband when I’ve spent too much money on wreaths and fake pumpkins.  ;)

My kids really do love it when I decorate for fall.  Our house feels like a cozy fall retreat at the end of what are often long, busy days.

If you missed my fall house tour you can see it here!

{HALLOWEEN PICTURE BANNER}

For years I’ve displayed my kids’ past Halloween pictures in one way or another.  They love seeing all of the different costumes they’ve worn and how little they used to look.  The past two years I’ve just pinned them up on my fireplace mantel with clothespins.  Such an easy way to add some Halloween cheer.

{BASKET OF HALLOWEEN BOOKS}

I keep all of our Halloween books put away until October when I set them all out in a basket in the family room.  My girls LOVED this when they were little and it’s so fun seeing my little boy enjoy this tradition just as much.

When I share pictures of our “reading corner” on the blog it looks like this.

But this is how this chair usually looks.  Pillow tossed on the floor with one of my kids lounging in it with a book.  My little buddy has been hanging out here a lot lately enjoying his favorite Halloween books!  These are my kids’ tried and true favorites:

HUMBUG WITCH

ROOM ON THE BROOM

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A BAT (we read this no less than 8 times today)

LEONARDO THE TERRIBLE MONSTER (not necessarily a Halloween book but we set out anything monster related and this is the cutest story!  One of our all time favorites!)

GO AWAY BIG GREEN MONSTER 

THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK

LITTLE OLD LADY WHO WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING

THE MISS NELSON COLLECTION

THE TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING

{FAVORITE FALL TREATS/RECIPES}
Another tradition is making these favorite family recipes each fall.  I usually try a few new things (fall is the only time of year I enjoy cooking!  Sort of.) but these four staples are what we all look forward to most!

APPLESAUCE COOKIES  SO so good.  Love them for breakfast with oj. :)

WHITE BEAN CHILI

BANANA BREAD MUFFINS

MEXICAN CHALUPAS

And my kids’ favorite movie treat that they look forward to all year.  We take our favorite jack-o-lantern bowl.

Fill it with popcorn, pretzels, fishy crackers, m&m’s, and candy corns.  Creating…

an easy Halloween treat your kids will love.  ;)  This treat always makes me smile because it came to be one October many years ago when my girls wanted a “Halloween treat” to eat while they watch their Barbie movie.  I grabbed this bowl and tossed the treats I had on hand at our house all together.  Totally random!  It was such a huge hit and now they get excited to eat it every year.  We always have a “Halloween movie night” when we make this treat and watch some of our favorite Halloween movies.

{HALLOWEEN BINGO}
This Halloween Bingo game is a favorite every year.  I made it for the girls and I love watching them play it with their little brother this year.  I found these cards on-line and just put them on black  paper and laminated them.  If you google Halloween Bingo so many fun options come up!

{PUMPKIN PATCH}
We take the kids to the same pumpkin patch every year.  It’s more like a small carnival with a few rows of pumpkins really, but they love it and we can’t let October pass us by without going.  :)

{FALL TRIP}
We’ve also started a fun tradition of taking a quick weekend trip to SLC each fall to stay with my sister.  They have a witch festival that my kids adore and aside from spending time with family, I love to see all of the beautiful changing leaves!  I say this all the time but it’s so true.  Leaves on palm trees don’t change and this is the one time of year I would love to live somewhere else.  Just for a month or two.  :)  Our SLC trip gives us a quick fall fix!

Speaking of visiting my sister every fall, last year I took some pictures of her beautiful modern home!  You can check out that post here.

Love her playroom!

{FALL DINNER PARTY}
So this is actually a new tradition I’m starting this year!  I want to have some friends over for a little fall dinner party.  Low key and simple – probably just soup and salad and dessert.  Or maybe my standbys – banana bread muffins and applesauce cookies.  To be determined.  :)

Sources: Yellow Stems, Terrarium Vase, Chargers, Pumpkin napkin rings, white napkins, Pumpkins – Home Goods, table and chairs – Restoration Hardware, Rug – West Elm.

So there you have it!  Our favorite fall traditions.  Such a fun time of year.

Does your family have a favorite fall tradition you all look forward to every year?  If you do I’d love to hear it!  There’s always room to add one more.

:)