A fall tradition

There are a gazillion reason why we all love Fall, right?!?! We started a little First Day of Fall tradition a few years ago.  We get a pile of comedies, stay up late laughing, and eating comfort food. (under stacks of blankets.....usually it's chilly outside....it just isn't in the cards yet.) 

But I think the traditional "First Day" dinner trumps everything.  We start the season off with homemade Mac'n'Cheese and Ritz Cracker Chicken casserole.  Hello?!  If these ultra-filling dishes don't sound tasty.....you just don't "get" me.  :)

Oh, the leftovers are just as delish!!!!  Doesn't this meal just scream Autumn?!?! 

On Saturday we got out our FALL tubs and started turning our home into a fall foliage haven.  The Mr. takes care of the outside of the house and I tackle the inside.  Here's a little tour of how it turned out:

And just think.....we still get to decorate for Halloween in just a few days!!!  

Does anyone else feel like a certain part of the house is their domain?  When I am cooking...the kitchen is all mine.  I enjoy winding down from the day while I cook dinner.  Alone.  :) The Mr. tries to help.....    so we decided to cook fajitas together!!!  And it was nice, not bumping into each other, or telling him he isn't doing it right, or bickering.....  I did good!!!  

With all this food overload...we had to get out of the house and get some fresh air....maybe a little exercise.  We met some friends at Oktoberfest......so much polka music.   It was just like a scene from National Lampoons European Vacation.... no really. 

 I wanted to take a few pictures at school today and show our Fall happenings in the classroom....but.....after I took this picture....the Monday bug came into my classroom and rattled my kids up.  The idea of trying to snap a few during my break was completely forgotten by the time 3:00 rolled around.  You get it....

It's only been a few days into this Autumn season and I already have the "feeling". 

Update

Believe me,  you should feel very lucky to not have come in contact with The Mr. or me in the past 7 days.  After many details that are too horrendous for documenting...we found out we had salmonella poisoning.  I don't know if any of you have ever experienced that but...hold.your.tickets...it was an event that brought us close (way too close) as a couple.  Okay, enough.  I just want to express my thankfulness for that episode being behind us.  Whew!!!!
I thought I would post a whole slew of pictures from the past month and just catch-up.  This will be a distraction while I countdown the days until Fall.  (Yes people... it's officially Fall on the 23rd!!!)  You know I have been itching to get out our Fall Tubs and go crazy with the foliage.  I know,  I'm wild.   Let's get started.
It's finally true,  I now own every single fall item at hobby lobby. 

It will be our kitty baby, Ollie's, first holiday where we decorate.....you think he's gonna have a feeding frenzy?!?!

I'm pretty much an early bird and a night owl.....  I would totally prefer to do my sleeping in the middle of the day.  Since that isn't going to be the case,  this is what an ideal work morning looks like for me.  Hot green tea in hand, a banana for breakfast in the car, lunch packed, and plenty of water.  

This amazing man helps me get ready for each new school year.  I brought home some laminated name tags that needed to be cut out.  The Mr. grabbed scissors and started going to town..... but as you can see, the kitties don't really have the same "get to work" idea!!!!  Seriously, lamination scraps are like cat nip to our cats.  They go bonkers.  

That night we had another pizza baking contest.  We both "build" a side... honey, you did good...but not good enough.  I win.

We have had a handful of cool breezes (maybe less) but when they blow through...we open the windows and soak it in.  I'm pretty sure the kitties aren't enjoying the fresh air but instead I think they are planning a jail break.  They were practically screaming at the neighbors to come an rescue them from their horrible conditions.....              Can you believe Ollie (on the left) is only 7 months old?!?!

 Sorry to bust your cute little bubbles...you're NEVER leaving!!!!!!  We love you too much!!!

 Since the weather was so nice, it was yard day.  (not for me.... I just provide the ice cold tea.)  We were in need of some serious rain and one tiny spark from the weedeater hitting the concrete started this rapidly growing fire.  Whew....scary.  Thank the Lord this was quickly put out and no other damage took place.

The hubs and I have already been bit by the Autumn bug.  This is the result. 

 Like I said earlier, we have been really ill...like not eating solid food for almost 6 days.  Well, 6 days later we were ready to try real food.  What do I pick?  A pumpkin Spiced Latte and a pumpkin cream cheese muffin.  It screams Autumn!!!!!

 To keep with the pumpkin theme I pulled up my Pinterest board and found a recipe for easy pumpkin cupcakes.  Two main ingredients.  1 box of cake mix and one can of pumpkin.  No oil, eggs, or butter.  I added chocolate and cinnamon.  350 for 20-25 minutes.  Try it!  

 Add frosting of your choice or powdered sugar and now you have a little snack to get you in the Fall mood.  I've eaten two...I'm trying to get the spirit of Fall flowing through my veins!!!!

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  The Mr. is showing me all the things he wants to put in our front yard this year.  FYI- These skeleton friends will NOT be in our yard....they are way too scary for me!!!!

I am so thankful I have found my match.  This man is truly unbelievable.  I am so thankful for his support and unconditional daily love.  I can't wait to share another year of fall memories.  

In 20 days you can....

....officially decorate for FALL!!!!!   I know...it's the most wonderful time of the year!!!  We have had an extremely hot summer with very little rain.  But times they are a change'n......well, maybe not that much at this very moment but we have temperatures predicted in the 80's this week.  This is HUGE!!! 
All good things must come at a price....so here I am sitting on my couch, a pile of blankets on top of me, tissues up the nose, and a throat as red as a tomato.  Cooler weather is just what Texas needs...but to teachers it usually means it's right about the time all those little yuckies get passed around.  So, in between my napping and hacking.....I'm thinking about all my Fall Favorites. 
Here's what we usually get Fall Crazy about in this house:

The State Fair of Texas     
We love the State Fair for many reasons.... but the main events are   1.the car show   2.the food
A Fletcher's Corny Dog is hands down a MUST!!!!

 If you decide to eat two...don't worry...people at the fair don't judge you for what you eat.  :)  Next,  you must get a fried item.  I got fried chocolate last year...but The Mister always get a funnel cake. Ummm, he added strawberries to it.....so it's not AS BAD...right?!?!

Football Season
Okay, to be honest....I'm just not a girl who can watch sports.  I get bored....mostly because I don't know what's going on.  But I do loooove the spirit of Football season.  I love the fall finger foods that go with football, the sound of a Monday Night Football games on t.v. while I cook dinner, and going to my students football games.  I do enjoy going to games but Jerry World is a little too much for us.....  we went to the first Cowboy game there when it first opened.

It was tons of fun but we decided we have so much more fun with our friends, at someones house, not fighting traffic, not paying outrageous $ for munchies and drinks, and not sitting the car for over an hour trying to get home.  Maybe we're just getting cranky and old......but regardless I do love the football season.

Long Sleeves   
Yep, it's all about the small treasures in life.  Fall clothes make me happy.  Look at how happy we are...I mean, it must be the long sleeves!!!!

 Okay, the smiles in that picture aren't really from the long sleeves as much as they are from the fact that The Mister proposed to me the night before.(two years ago)  But seriously, cool air just makes your cheeks all rosy and it makes people snuggle up more. 

Fall Food
I saved my personal favorite for last.  True story:  We were watching the weather report and when the meteorologist said a cool front would be coming in town and we would have temps in the 80's.....oh geez......I told my hubs that I couldn't wait to start meal planning for next week!!!!  Okay, the leaves may not be changing colors yet but I'll take any excuse to make a Fall casserole. 

Hearty heavy meals are my favorite.  I wish it wasn't true.  I started off last Fall with those two casseroles.  Ritz cracker chicken casserole and homemade Mac'n'cheese.  Maybe this should be a new Fall tradition!!!!!

Now that Pinterest is around....my Fall Fav. list just tripled.  I have so many projects I want to try this year.  We are already Griswold's when it comes to any holiday......so the foliage will be strung, scarecrows will be posted up, harvest veggies will be bought, a cinnamon and spice scentsy will be burning, and pumpkins will line our front yard.......in 20 days.    What are your Fall Favorites?