Fall Traditions

I feel like I need to begin this post with a little discussion about traditions. Traditions can be fun ways to celebrate special times of the year, or make memories with your family, or pass on values from generation to generation. They are awesome. But in this technology driven world we live in, I feel like traditions can sometimes be a source of stress or create feelings of inadequacy. As a mom there are times you can feel so good about the fun, simple things you are doing with your family...and then you take a cruise through social media, and suddenly you feel like you're falling short. You can't celebrate anymore the fact you did caramel apples with your family, because you didn't make the apple cider witch's brew to go with it.

I have talked on my blog before about how our world of Facebook walls, Pinterest boards, and blog rolls can make us feel inadequate as we compare others strengths to our weaknesses. Social media can suddenly make us feel like we have to create everything for our families that we are seeing and taking in on our smartphone. When this happens, traditions aren't fun anymore. Instead of being something to anticipate and look forward to, they fill us with feelings of dread and just become another chore for us to do, like cleaning the toilets or folding the laundry.

So here is my challenge. At this time of the year, and with all the holidays that go with it...let's not experience 'tradition burnout.' Celebrate what you see others doing with their families, don't instantly think you are a failure because you did not. Pick a few things you want to do with your family...things that make you feel excited, that you know you and your family will look forward to. Take pictures, create memories, and share it on social media if you want to. And as you look through Instagram, or Facebook, or Pinterest...celebrate what others are doing and experiencing. If you start to feel stress or feelings of failure, walk away from it all, take a social media break, and go do something simple with your family that brings joy instead of stress.

So, after that lengthy discussion :)...I wanted to share some Fall Traditions our family has done in the past. Each year we pick a few things to do that we are excited about or want to experience. We don't do all of these every year, but we always look forward to doing some of them. So, in no particular order, here are some of our family's Fall Traditions:


1. Go for a fall drive up in the mountains. We have some pretty fantastic scenic drives near our home, it's fun to pick one and enjoy all mother nature has to offer this time of year.

My little guy on our fall drive last year. We always get out at some point on our drive and go on a little hike.

 
Here's a spot we drove to a few years ago. My kids are so cute and little, I just want to kiss their cheeks in this picture. :)

2. Visit a corn maze. My kids especially love the corn mazes. They are all into figuring it out and getting us out as fast as they can. 

 
At the corn maze last year. Daddy told us to make our best 'ghost face' for this picture. :)

3. Make Halloween sugar cookies. We usually keep a few for us, and then deliver the rest to friends and neighbors.

 
When it comes to sugar cookies, my kids think you can never have enough sprinkles.

4. Have a 'spooky food' themed dinner. I go to the Internet to help me with this tradition. You can find all sorts of fun ideas out there for making different finger foods for your family.

 
One year I made mummy hot dogs for our Halloween dinner.  

5. Visit a pumpkin patch. This is a yearly favorite for a lot of people.

 
My three little pumpkins a few years ago. Looking at the camera is always optional in our family. :) 

6. Painting pumpkins. I stole this one from my growing up years, and it is one tradition we do every year. It's fun to see what my kid's artistic minds come up with each year.

 

Major concentration going on.

The final product.

 Fall is such a fun time of year! What are some of your family traditions?