Next to Christmas, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Maybe because it allows for my wilder/darker side to show it's colors without shame. Or maybe it's because dressing up in costumes is so much fun and allows our inner child to go wild. Either way, I try and take full advantage of the holiday each year, and one of my favorite family traditions we have is our annual "Pumpkin Carving Ebola Party." We started the tradition a few years back when Ebola outbreaks were scaring the nation, so we jokingly decided to throw "Ebola" into the party name, and it stuck - we aren't too politically correct at my house, and I love that about my family.
Each year, at the beginning of October, my family gets together at a pumpkin patch to play games with the grandkids and pick out the perfect pumpkins. There's a ranch up in North Scottsdale called MacDonald's Ranch that we particularly like. There is so much to do there for little kids. They have pony rides, a hay maze, petting zoo, mining for gold, "ducky races", etc. My favorites are the horses (obviously) and the awesome train ride you get to take over to the pumpkins.
As Halloween approaches, we get together once again, only this time we meet at someone's house to have dinner and carve our pumpkins. We play Halloween music while feasting on chili, hot apple cider, and cookies, then we make our way into the backyard to start carving. One year I saved all of the pumpkin seeds and roasted them. That always makes for a delicious Fall snack and I highly recommend you give it a try next time you carve Halloween pumpkins. Here is one of my favorite pumpkin seed recipes to get you started. There is also a plethora of them online from sweet to spicy, or savory.
I also love to "Boo" some of my favorite neighborhood families. If you haven't heard about this fun Halloween tradition check it out on Google and be sure to add it to your agenda for the month of October. The kids really love it. As fun as it is to pick out the candy, snacks, prizes to put in your goodie bag, my favorite part of course is dropping it off at the front door, ringing the doorbell, and bolting back to the car and trying to take off before they catch you! (Note: If you don't want to get caught, I definitely do not recommend a Prius as your getaway car - ask me how I know! Haha - it made for a funny memory though).
Here are some pictures from this year's Halloween family activities. We did the pumpkin patch the first weekend of October and did our pumpkin carving ebola party last night. Enjoy!
What are some of your family's favorite Halloween traditions? Share them in the comments below!
As Halloween approaches, we get together once again, only this time we meet at someone's house to have dinner and carve our pumpkins. We play Halloween music while feasting on chili, hot apple cider, and cookies, then we make our way into the backyard to start carving. One year I saved all of the pumpkin seeds and roasted them. That always makes for a delicious Fall snack and I highly recommend you give it a try next time you carve Halloween pumpkins. Here is one of my favorite pumpkin seed recipes to get you started. There is also a plethora of them online from sweet to spicy, or savory.
I also love to "Boo" some of my favorite neighborhood families. If you haven't heard about this fun Halloween tradition check it out on Google and be sure to add it to your agenda for the month of October. The kids really love it. As fun as it is to pick out the candy, snacks, prizes to put in your goodie bag, my favorite part of course is dropping it off at the front door, ringing the doorbell, and bolting back to the car and trying to take off before they catch you! (Note: If you don't want to get caught, I definitely do not recommend a Prius as your getaway car - ask me how I know! Haha - it made for a funny memory though).
Here are some pictures from this year's Halloween family activities. We did the pumpkin patch the first weekend of October and did our pumpkin carving ebola party last night. Enjoy!
What are some of your family's favorite Halloween traditions? Share them in the comments below!
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