Two weeks ago we went apple picking at Gilcrease Orchards. It is the only orchard/farm here in Las Vegas that allows to pick your own produce. It is nothing like NJ orchards, but it will suffice for our kids ages. Granny smiths were available when we went and we allowed the kids to pick the apples they liked. We ended up with about 26 pounds of apples. Needless to say we have been eating apples daily and the last two bbqs/functions we went to I made apple crisp. The kids loved to be able to pick their own apples and they are nice and tart and crispy. Some of the apples do cook right on the tree if in the one spot facing morning sun, but for the most part they were nice and ripe and big. 
They also had pumpkins available, but in years past the pumpkins have always been picked over (even if going opening weekend) and they are usually rotted or too small to pick. The farm is so small that you literally park at the side of the sandy pumpkin plot and walk into the patch to pick out your pumpkin. Lame. We skipped that all together this year. They also had other veggies available, but they are right next to the pumpkins and we wanted to avoid the kids seeing that area all together. Although it is nothing like what I grew up going to, it definitely serves its purpose. ;) I cannot wait until next fall when Devin and Riley will get to go to Johnson's Farm and take a hayride to the patch where they can pick their pumpkin off the vine in a field over flowing with bright orange pumpkins! 
The kids decorated two different "spooky" gingerbread houses so far this fall. I bought one from Smiths which is our local Kroger and it was the traditional self assemble house and decorate...then I stumbled over the BEST creation for gingerbread houses at Walmart. Pre-assembled house that you just have to decorate. Good heaven was I excited. Everytime Frank or I try and assemble the gingerbread houses, you are stuck holding the walls together. Once that dries, you then have to hold the roof on until the icing sets. This came all in once piece and for only $9! SCORE! I had to pick one up for my friend Tina and her 3 year old to do since it was such a great deal and her daughter loves crafts like my two do. Walmart started to put out their Christmas stuff, and if I see a preassembled Christmas gingerbread house kit; I am buying it now. Frank piped the first house and let the Devin help a little bit with the icing and let him decorate it, and the second one (preassembled) we let the kids pipe the icing and decorate it. I gave Riley a little Tupperware smidget with icing and a paint brush. She took turns painting the roof then painting her tongue with the icing. She then had the icing bag and piped it into her mouth. Devin did a great job decorating it and being creative. Riley did stick some candies on it, but really wanted to eat it all.  |
| A frame was the one from Kroger we had to assemble. one on right was from Walmart that came put together |
I bought three huge pumpkins to carve this weekend. Walmart had this super sharp serrated spoon to carve the inside of the pumpkins out. That should help big time as that is the hardest and messiest part. In Las Vegas you cannot carve them too early since they will rot right away. This whole week's high is in the upper 80's and the lows only are in the mid 60's so we need to hold off until a week before Halloween. Frank wants me to get the mini sawzall they sell to help us carve. I may have to considering the size of these pumpkins I bought. I will upload pics after we are all done.
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