The Broyles Baby Book: Fall Fun

Fall has come to Chicago! This would hands-down be my favorite season...if it lasted more than a few weeks. But we did our best to make the most of the time we have before the snows come and to take advantage of all of the fun things going on this (short) season.

This year, for the first time, we tried out Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo. It was just me and the kids (and the crowds of Chicago) so it was a little hectic, but still lots of fun! We didn't really spend that much time looking at the animals, most of the focus was on the activities and rides.

What is it with kids and trains? The zoo train ride only lasted about a minute but they loved it!

Aaron was the only one who'd been on the carousel before so he knew what to expect.

Danny and Jill were a bit nervous at first. But once we got going, they didn't want it to end!

Hay! Where ya goin?

What could be more Midwestern than swimming in corn?

Finding our way through the corn maze

Aaron and Jill loved the ferris wheel. Danny was a bit nervous. I was absolutely terrified.

Picnic lunch to finish off Fall fest.

We also went back to County Line orchard, along with Oma and Opa. It was such a hit hit last year that the kids looked forward to the trip with much anticipation. County Line has an apple orchard, a pumpkin patch, and an area where you can feed farm animals and ride on a little train.

Aaron couldn't wait to start picking.

Riding the tractor to the orchard.

And they're off!

At first Danny went for the ones on the ground.

But we taught him to aim a little higher.

Showing off his loot.

Taste testing

The apple picking crew

Back on the tractor, heading toward the pumpkin patch.

So many to choose from!

Would you like to buy a pumpkin?

Peekaboo!

Tasting the seeds from the sunflowers growing right next to the pumpkin patch.

There was corn too!

View from the top.

Oma and her little pumpkins.

Broyles under a blue sky.

Quick snack break before heading to the animal farm.

Looking a little more like plumbers than farmers.

Feeding the animals.

Watching the mechanical dinosaur who crushes pumpkins in its jaws (aptly named "Peter").

Jill got some cheek art.

This feels a little small.

Now that's more like it!

Ready for our ride on the "Moo Choo" train.

That was fun!

So even though we visited the pumpkin patch at County Line, we waited to buy our pumpkins from the grocery store (on sale for $2.50 apiece!). And this year, we tried carving them instead of just painting them. I'm happy to report that no one lost a finger, and our finished jack-o-lanterns were semi-decent! Here's our personalized guide for how to carve a pumpkin in 10 easy steps:

Step 1: Pose and look effortlessly cute next to your pumpkin

Step 2: Cut off the tops without cutting off your digits

Step 3: Get distracted and help your baby brother paint his pumpkin

Step 4: Scoop out the innards (or pretend to scoop for the camera and then make a disgusted face and let Daddy do the dirty work)

Step 5: Channel your inner Picasso

Step 6: Pumpkin plastic surgery

Step 7: Take the excised pieces and throw them at your siblings

Step 8: Put a lid on it

Step 9: Smile like a jack-o-lantern

Step 10: Give it a trial run in the bathroom. Success!

Speaking of pumpkins, Jill's teacher sent her home with a little science experiment to do on her own: a mini pumpkin with some "potion" (vinegar) and "powder" (baking soda). Since it was Jill's experiment, we let her be the director of operations.

Getting set up.

Jill was positive that the "potion" was supposed to go in before the "powder." Unfortunately, that meant most of the vinegar was absorbed into the pumpkin so there wasn't much of a reaction. But it was a learning experience all the same.

Underwhelming results.

Our final Fall festivity was, of course, costumes and trick-or-treating. Our local park had its annual Halloween party on the day before Halloween so the kids got a chance to test out their costumes, all of which were lovingly created by their very talented Oma (Aaron's costume even had lights sewn into it!).

A skinny pumpkin, a dalmatian, and a crayon

Daddy and I dressed up as proud parents.

Strollin' in style

Barely through the gate and they are already eating candy!

Enjoying a little live music.

Bulky costumes didn't slow them down in the bouncy house.

Ran into a few friends.

Hope those balloon animals were worth the 20-minute wait in line.

A crayon holding a crayon! So "meta."

For the past couple of years, the day of Halloween has been cold and rainy. But this year, it was uncharacteristically warm and pleasant. We went to our favorite trick-or-treating event on Southport and Aaron and Jill totally knew the drill. They were on a mission to collect as much candy as possible (in fact, at one point when we stopped to chat with some friends, Aaron tugged on my sleeve and pleaded, "Mom, I came here to get candy, not to talk!"). Danny, on the other hand, was initially a bit fearful of all the random strangers dressed up in weird costumes. But once he realized they were going to give him candy, he was all for it.