The kids first Vikings game

For Christmas, we got the kids tickets to their first Minnesota Vikings game.  Well their first NFL game, too I guess.  Our friends Jon & Jess and their boys were there too, so we stayed in a hotel in the night before and went to the game together.  We always like to stop at The Vikings Longhouse before the game to get in the spirit.  The kids got to meet the cheerleaders, so that was fun.  

As for the game itself, the Vikings sadly lost to the Bears, but it was a great game!  Especially when you consider none of the Vikings starters played.  I was worried the kids would get bored, as football games can get a little long sometimes, but neither kid seemed bored at all.  We did however spend $6157248645 dollars on food! ;)  

It's been so long since we were there I can't even remember where we ate {sad!} but I do remember we stated at the Hilton Downtown Minneapolis {thanks Priceline!} and it was beautiful!  Longtime followers know how much my kids love a good hotel!  It's all about the pools and the two double beds to jump back and forth on.  :)

How we...do Fall

Here are a few of the things we do to soak up as much as possible during my favorite season of the year...

*Fall Bucket List*

This is our 2018 fall bucket list, but here are previous ones for 2017, 2016, 2015.

*Soup Sunday*

This summer we started Cinema Sunday, but we're taking a break for the fall to accommodate for all the football games! :)  We decided to theme it Soup Sunday and invite our friends over for different soups each week.

*Friend Party*

Last year we went to a fall campfire party with s'mores and a taco bar.  This year we're hosting a pumpkin carving party, so stay tuned for that. :)

*Sports*

Praise the Lord, the kids won't be playing soccer this year, but Jordyn will still be busy with dance and tumbling. And I think Cullyn is going to try wrestling {please resuscitate me if you see me passed out in the stands from holding my breath too long! My nerves are already rattled about this!} 

*Decor*

I get to decorate this house for the first time, so that should be fun {& interesting}.  Here are photos of our Ankeny house decorated last year. 

*Apple Orchard*

We've done this every fall since the kids were little.  In the past we've always went to Center Grove Apple Orchard, but now that we moved, we might need to try a new place.  I love this activity {for many reasons} but we always love coming home and making fall recipes with the apples we pick.

*Pumpkin Patch*

Sorry for the photo overload, but this is probably our favorite activity of the fall.  It brings back so many fond memories for me! We're so lucky to live by an awesome pumpkin patch that offers pick your own, hay rides, apple shooting, slides, homemade apple cider and donuts, a jumping bean, animals, a so much more. 

*Photoshoot*

I always try to sneak a photoshoot in the fall {didn't happen last year -- photographer problems!} to capture our family with the beautiful foliage. *My plug here -- as a photographer, I always encourage families to take a photo at least once a year {doesn't have to be fall!}.  It doesn't matter if it's perfect, if you weigh what you want, if your kids have bruises, or if your husband hate taking them.  Your children should have at least one photo with their parents ever year.  I promise they aren't going to care about the details!  The years fly by, don't wait for the perfect scenario!

*Scavenger/leaf Hunt*

We usually do at least one of these each fall.  Sometimes we do an actual scavenger hunt, other times we just look for special leaves, but no matter what we do this is always a favorite activity of the kids. Proof that sometimes the simpler things are the best, even if it's a free leaf hunt. Kids just love time with their parents attention. Here is a post of our day of 2016.

*School Parties*

The kids will each have a school fall party, so I will help with that again this year. This will be my first year with both kids' parties on the same day/time so we'll see how this goes down!

*Trick-or-Treating*

This post has a few of last year's Halloween favorites.  Unfortunately, as any Iowan knows, the weather here on Halloween is extremely unpredictable. It could be cold or snowy {most likely}, maybe rain, or possibly even nice {so rare!}.  It really makes planning outfits difficult.  Last year it was so, so cold. I usually do themed costumes, but one year we ended up with a superhero and a princess, so ultimately it's just whatever the kids will agree to wear -- haha!  If you're looking for ideas we've done a caterpillar and a butterfly, a football player and a cheerleader, and Moana and Maui.

  

  

  

*Fall Snacks*

The kids and I like to make easy, simple snacks and the holidays are the perfect excuse!  Snack mixes and baking are our go-tos, but we always try to make a special Halloween breakfast {if it's a weekend} and supper too.

What activities do you do in the fall?  I always love hearing about other families traditions!