Crisp Mornings and Blustery Days

With crisp mornings and blustery days there's no shortage of colorful leaves on the ground! Is this the day? ...is it time? Why, time for leaf-jumping of course! My children are no casual leaf-jumpers. They work on their leaf-jumping techniques - perfecting each calculated dive. They cartwheel, leap and long jump, hoping to break the records from the year before. Leaf-jumping is one of our fall traditions. It's one of those things we do each year to celebrate fall. These fall rituals are like check points, helping us mark and even slow down the passing of time - just a little.

How about starting a fall tradition with your children? There are many excuses to fall in love with the season of changes: caramel apples, scarecrows, leaf collecting, hayrides, and campfires. Short on ideas? Here are a few to help you celebrate the fun of fall.

Leaves have great kid-appeal. Raked into piles, they serve as tumbling cushions and sweet-smelling hiding places. And best of all - they're FREE!! So take advantage of this special gift from our Creator. When leaves cover the lawn, rake a twisting pathway through them. Copy a classic maze for extra credit. Hide a wrapped lollipop under a pile. First one to find it, keeps it. Get out the backpacks and hiking sticks and view the changing landscape up close.

How about capping off the season with a campfire feast. if your backyard doesn't lend itself to the event, check at a state park or local campground. Many have campfire pits for the public to use. Keep your foods basic like roasted franks. Just push a hot dog onto the end of a forked stick and hold it over the coals. A cookout wouldn't be complete without a toasted marshmallow treat! Graham crackers with a piece of chocolate and a melted marshmallow will have everyone asking for s'more.

Hold a harvest slalom race in which runners must weave through a line of potatoes or turnips or set up a row of pumpkins and take turns trying to land a hula hoop or circle of rope around one. you could even see who can "squirrel away" the most acorns or pine cones in ten minutes.

Scarecrows are interesting fall creatures. Each year we try to come up with a new way of dressing up or posing our latest creation. Why not start a new tradition by getting out an old shirt and pair of pants, stuffing it with hay or straw or even leaves. You could us a pumpkin for its head. Short on time or space? Make a mini scarecrow to decorate your front door by stuffing old baby or doll clothes and using a stuffed sock for the head.

The squirrels are busy scampering and scurrying through the leaves from tree to tree. Hmmmm....maybe they know something is up? Or maybe...just maybe they are getting in some last minute fall fun! How about you?

Have a blessed day,

Lori