Fall Color Hike

On Sunday it was so beautiful at 70 degrees so we decided to go on a fall color hike instead of a lazy Sunday drive.  I started out the hike with some Starbucks Pumpkin Spice coffee (got this for .97 on clearance- 6 servings!)

We took some firearms on our hike and did some target shooting with hedgeballs.  Those things explode!

 I loved this shot with the sun shining down.

This tree was so cool!  It was very much alive and still growing!

We also fed the cattle while we were out and about.  

Beautiful trees.  This time of year makes me really think about God's creation.

Yep.  I live here.  I am so blessed!

Crumb Topped Pumpkin Bread

 I can cross another thing off my bucket list now!  Let me tell you something about my husband...  He LOVES anything pumpkin!  And who doesn't like the crumb topping that goes on top?  So I combined the two.  He has been working hard in the field the last several weeks and I wanted something special waiting for him when he came in last night.  

It was so delicious, but even more so right out of the oven!

Crumb Topped Pumpkin Bread

1 3/4 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 t. cinnamon

1 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

1 c. pumpkin 

1/3 c. coconut oil (I'm sure you can substitute another oil, we just use coconut for most things now)

1/4 c. butter, melted

1/4 c. applesauce

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

Topping

1/2 c. flour

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/8 c. sugar

1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 c. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease 8 mini loaf pans. (I used my Pampered Chef pan that has 8 mini loaves in one pan)  Combine all dry ingredients.  Gradually add remainder of ingredients and mix together.  Do not overmix.  Pour evenly in mini loaf pans.  Combine all topping ingredients and crumble on top of bread.  Kind of press the crumbs into the batter so it sticks together better when it comes out.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Let cool for a few minutes and place on wire rack to finish cooling.

Verdict:  Hubby thought they were fantastic!  We liked the combination of the crumb topping on pumpkin bread.  They were super moist and hit the spot after a long day in the field.

Minnesota

We went to Minnesota a couple weekends ago to see my brother's family and had a great time!  We left Thursday about 5:30 and were only going to go part way.  Jake got his 2nd wind about 11:00 and decided to keep going.  We pulled in Derek's driveway about 3:30 am.  And their door was locked.  And we didn't want to call and wake up the girls so we slept in the car a few hours until  I saw a light come on at 6:30 and decided I couldn't hold it any longer...

We went to the store on Friday and the aunt in me just had to buy something for these two cuties.  They carried them EVERWHERE!  It was the first thing they wanted when they woke up  and the last thing to be put away before they went to bed.

Awww... Isn't this so cute!  I just happened to turn around and catch this with my camera.

We had a wonderful time and headed home Sunday evening about 6:30.  We did stop in Omaha this time and got home at noon on Monday.  Just enough time to start laundry and get a few things done before going back to work on Tuesday.

Smore's Bar

So I got one thing accomplished on my fall bucket list.  We had friends over on Friday night for a smore's bar.  It was a big hit and super easy to plan.  I designed this invitation on Photoshop.

I gathered different ideas via pinterest and designed this menu on photoshop as well.

So, since I finally planned ahead for something and had big plans to do a bonfire and smores bar outside, the weather rebelled and it was cold and drizzly.  We ended up inside and built a fire in the fireplace to roast the marshmallows.  

I got regular, strawberry, and chocolate marshmallows. 

We used chocolate covered graham crackers, graham crackers, and fudge striped cookies.

I also had milk chocolate, cookies & cream chocolate, Carmello, Reese's, Rolos, Mint Patties, Coconut, and bananas.

Roasting in the fireplace actually worked pretty good!

And this little cutie needed a bath after the guys thought it was a good idea to roast her a marshmallow :)

Ovenight Guests

We had some very special overnight guests last weekend.  The Isch kids came over Friday night and spent some time with us.  After a supper of pizza, chips, & pop we started decorating the pumpkins.

I used my silhouette to cut out pumpkin faces from vinyl.  It was SO much cleaner than actually carving them!  Then they could change the faces if they wanted to.  I got my faces from the Silhouette store.

Haley's pumpkin---Colton's pumpkin---Gavin's pumpkin

The one in the middle looks incredibly mean!

Then we played a game of Balloon Ping-Pong.  I just glued big crafting (popsicle) sticks to paper plates for the paddle.  They had to try to keep the balloons off the ground.

Haley & I mixed up the cookie dough so it could be refrigerated overnight while the boys played.

We are making candy corn cookies and Haley is layering the cookie dough in a loaf pan.

They wanted to play Simon Says so I couldn't resist be Simon and keeping my camera close by.

We had to watch the Comedy Barn special before we went to bed.  It's the show that Jacob & I went to on our honeymoon in Pigeon Forge, TN so they had fun trying to find us in the crowd.  As soon as this  was over they were all asleep!  Saturday morning Gavin fixed us scrambled eggs for breakfast and he did a fantastic job.

Then it was time to make candy trains/tractors/airplanes.

Candy tractor- we just stuck them together with glue dots from my crafting stash.

Candy train

Candy Airplane

In the midst of construction.

Caught Colton eating the frosting out of the bag.

Here are the layers of sugar cookie dough for the candy corn cookies.  We just sliced off 1/4 in. at a time and cut them into triangles.

The recipe said to roll the cookies in sugar after they came out of the oven. 

We figured it out after the first pan that this is impossible.  The sugar did not stick so we rolled the rest of them in sugar before we stuck them in the oven.

Cute fun little cookies!

Haley & I made Reese's Fall Cookies in a Jar while the boys helped Jake outside.

We put Washi tape over the canning lids to make them prettier :)

Haley measuring the ingredients.

I designed the recipe card on Photoshop and attached it to the jar with jute.

I don't think we packed the brown sugar down enough because the white sugar ran right through it so it doesn't look as layered as it should.

Each of the kids had to choose someone to give one to and then they got to keep one to make at home.

The kiddos helping Jake feed the cattle.

They were a huge help and it was a really nice day.

They are cleaning out the planter for Jacob.  I think he owes them something for doing this...  It doesn't look fun at all, but they enjoyed it.

Helping trim trees.

Playing on the stash of cable spools.

Beautiful picture of a beautiful girl!

My boys.

My girl. (photo credit-Colton)

These kiddos are my niece and nephews by adoption.  I wish my other nieces and nephews lived closer so we could do fun things like this all the time.  It makes me miss them so much.  Love you guys!