Pumpkin Patch

I was able to take Gretchen to the pumpkin patch last weekend! I was glad that we were able to go because it wasn't looking like a possibility in early October. Sadly, DJ wasn't able to go with us because of football season, but Gretchen and I had a fabulous time!

We found a pumpkin patch that offered tons of fun activities for her, as well as a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. Gretchen decided that she wanted to do the maze, and I was glad that it was inside, so we'd be a bit warmer! I was also glad that it wasn't too scary, although Gretchen did get scared at one point! I'm sure she was thinking that she'd never find her way out!

I was able to sneak her coat off of her for a few minutes to snap a few pictures in her Halloween shirt!

She LOVED the hay ride! I would have to say that this was probably her second most favorite activity!

She saw some other kid's taking a picture sitting on a pumpkin, so she had to sit on one too! She kept walking through the pumpkin patch saying, "I want a happy one!" and "They're all my favorite." Needless to say, it took a long time for us to find a happy pumpkin!

We saved, the best for last! The train ride was probably the most fun she had on this day. I was so proud that she rode the train all by herself and didn't get scared at all! I was a little nervous that she'd stand up and try to jump out in the middle of the ride, but she did great, and we had to ride it twice!

Fall Decorations!

I love fall- it's one of my favorite times of the year! There's just something so comforting about the leaves changing colors, the crisp air, and the sense of togetherness that fall always brings! I convinced my husband to finally get down my decorations last weekend, and we spent an evening decorating the house! Gretchen has a corner of our kitchen, and on her table I placed our treat bowl, complete with spider rings, and her trick or treat bucket that I made last year- find a tutorial for it here.

I placed a few of my leaf items in an area of our kitchen.

And, some of my favorite items on our buffet table. The candlestick was one of my grandmothers! The salt and pepper shaker, I've had since college, and Gretchen calls my pilgrim a princess. They were "dancing" earlier tonight!

I kept my kitchen table simple, although I'm dying to purchase two black pumpkins I've found at Hobby Lobby! I have a candleabra with fall candles in the center, and a dish of candy corn.

My mantle is probably my favorite, because I tend to skip it every fall! This year, I came across a picture in Southern Living of a beautiful fall mantle, complete with a variety of pumpkins. I decided that I would copy the look, and placed small glitter pumpkins in a clear vase, along with a few other pumpkins, and a wicker/pumpkin piece from that my mother-in-law gave me a few years ago. I also placed a few of my wicker decorative balls on the mantle to complete the look. I'm tempted to replace the photos in the frames, with some from our previous fall festivities!

Have you started your fall decorating this year?