 Fall Fun on Cape Cod By: Brianna Fall is in the air! That means farm visits, fall festivals, pumpkin and apple picking, cranberry harvesting, and an abundance of kids Halloween fun! Many of the orchards and events are off Cape, but worth the drive! Pumpkin/Apple Picking or Shopping and Cranberry Bog Visits First Congregational Church Chatham. Pumpkins for sale! 10/1-10/31 508-945-0800 or www.chathamcongregational.org. Proceeds benefit the Chatham Children's Fund and church missions. (For sale on lawn, not pick your own) Location: First Congregational Church, 650 Main Street at the Rotary Crow Farm 192 Old Kings Highway (Route 6A) Sandwich Check Facebook or call the farm stand for info 508-888-0690 CobWebb Farm Pumpkins October weekends to Halloween, 10-3. West Barnstable Tony Andrews Farm Pumpkins September - October 7 days a week 10am - 6pm East Falmouth Also: For sale at farm store, tomatoes, apples, corn, zucchini and summer squash, cornstalks, winter vegetables, fall decorations, hay rides. Tobey Farm Dennis Pumpkins, mums, gourds, and more. Also- children's Not-So-Scary Hayrides in October. They will be Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1-4pm Off Cape: Belkin Lookout Farm—South Natick Belkin Family Lookout Farm is one of the oldest continuously working farms in the country, but it's about as modern and organized a U-pick operation as you can find. Trains escort you to pick your own peaches, apples and pumpkins in the fall. Families can also enjoy a children’s play area, picnic tables, hay pyramid, and rides, and grown-ups might care to sample some of Lookout's hard cider in the taproom on the grounds. Note: You must pay a per-person admission fee to enter the farm, apple-picking is an additional cost. 508-651-1539 Boston Hill Farm—North Andover Boston Hill Farm offers pick-your-own apples on fall weekends from September 16 through October. There are apples to pick—including McIntosh, Ginger Gold, and Paula Red this year—but also cider doughnuts, live music, ice cream, and a petting farm complete with chickens, geese, bunnies, goats, sheep, and calves. 978-681-8556 Connors Farm—Danvers Not only apples, but a popular corn maze, too! And that's not all this farm has to offer: For younger kids, there's a play area, jumping pillows, hayrides and more. For teens, there's Zombie Paintball and a Haunted Farm. 978-777-1245 Davis Farmland—Sterling While this farm is a solid hour drive from Boston, we are confident it will not disappoint. Plan to spend the day, because along with a U-pick apples and pumpkins, this farm also boasts a splash pad, bounce pillow, multiple playgrounds, a tiny play town, an animal feeding area, and more. There’s even a special section where little farmers get to hold baby goats. Note: while the farm attractions are open daily, the U-pick area is only open on weekends. 978-422-6666 Honeypot Hill Orchard—Stow Honeypot's orchards yield about 12 varieties of apples, with different crops in the spotlight as they ripen throughout the season. The orchard offers other activities like hayrides, barnyard animals, and a hedge maze that’s great for kids ages four through 11. If you're looking for a simpler and less crowded apple picking experience, head down the street to Carver Hill (see above). 978-562-5666 Smolak Farm—North Andover After their berries and summer stone fruits are picked over, Smolak Farm offers plenty of varieties of apples for plucking later in September, across several demarcated orchards. Don't miss the private (secret) orchard nestled behind their Old Standard orchard. During fall weekends, enjoy the Children's Festival Area: Hop on a hay wagon ride and linger longer for time at the playground and petting farm, which costs extra but kids love. 978-682-6332 Cranberry Bog Tours 1601 Factory Road Harwich Daily Tours 508-432-0790 cranberrypig@comcast.net Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Tours Governor Prence Inn Orleans Tours daily at 4:00pm Call to schedule a walking tour with a grower 508-237-5478 PJ Cranberries 60A Roos Road Sandwich Tours available late September- late November Call for tour information 508-367-9951or pete@pjcranberries.com  *Event Calendar* September Barnstable Village Ghost Hunter’s Walking Tour 7:00 pm Monday and Friday nights thru November 15th Adults: $20 Children: 8-12 $10 Children Under 8: FREE Barnstable Village’s Haunted and History Walking Tour 7:00pm Nightly excluding Monday and Friday nights thru November 15th Adults: $15 Children: 8-12 $8 Children Under 8: FREE Provincetown Ghost Tours September TBD October 12th and 13th 8:00pm October 25th and 26th 8:00pm Adults: $18 Children 4-12 $15 Children Under 4: FREE Fall Fest Friday at Heritage Museums and Gardens Friday, September 20, 2019 2:00pm- 7:00pm Live music and food trucks! Lawn games, automobile displays, access to the gardens. Admission: Members are free; Non Member Adults $20; Non Member Kids (3-17) $10; Kids 2 and under are free Cape Cod Airfield's 90th Birthday Fly-InSaturday September 21 10-3 To celebrate 90 years of aviation we are opening the airfield up to all! September 21st, 2019 from 10-3 bring down the whole family. We'll have display aircraft, antique car show, biplane rides, skydiving, RC plane demos, banner pick up demos, food trucks, and more! Funktoberfest at Cape Cod Beer Saturday, September 21st 11:00am- 4:00pm Catered by the Casual Gourmet, music by Funktapus, Oktoberfest games with prizes, best dressed contest! Admission: $5 after 12:00pm or VIP Package Family Field WalkSunday September 22 12-1:30 Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Brewster Join one of our naturalists for an invigorating walk and explore the spectacular world outside the Museum! Our naturalists will explain the various plants, animals, habitats, and other ecological features along the John Wing Trail in springtime. These walks are approximately 90 minutes over somewhat challenging terrain. The walk is “weather permitting” so please check in at the Admissions desk to confirm the scheduled walk. Participants meet outside by the Aquarium door after check-in at the Admissions Desk. Free with Museum Admission. Fall Frolic with the Sound DunesFriday September 27 6-8pm at Harwich Community Center Enjoy live Big Band music, dancing, & refreshments with the Sound Dunes Swing Ensemble! This event is free. Preregistration is required. Contact the Council on Aging at 508-430-7550 or email emitchell@town.harwich.ma.us Back to School Beach Party 2019!Friday September 27 17:30 Red River Beach Harwich Come join us as we celebrate the start of school, meet up with old friends, and make new ones! All MRMS students and their families - including siblings, parents, and grandparents - are welcome To make it a true community event, we are lucky enough to have the Chatham and Harwich Police and Fire Departments come to grill burgers and hot dogs for attendees! And the Good Times Cape Cod truck will be there selling ice cream treats. Bring a ball to toss, a blanket or chair to sit on, and get ready for some fun! Touch a Truck Saturday September 28 11-3 Harwich Community Center This event is FREE and open to all ages! Kids of all ages are invited to climb up on and sit in the driver's seat of some of their favorite trucks & interact with the people who help protect and maintain our community. Touch-A-Truck is an interactive and educational event that gives children of all ages the chance to learn about their favorite trucks! For more information, call 508-430-7568. Harvest Festival at the Barnstable Fairgrounds Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29 10:00am-4:00pm Join us for two days of amazing fall food treats, local crafters and artisans, a maze, trolley rides, pumpkins, cider donuts, rides for the kids, beer, wine and so much more! Family Fun Day Saturday September 28 11am Join the Fall fun at Cape Abilities Farm! Build a scarecrow, make a corn silk doll, decorate a pumpkin, or do the farm scavenger hunt. There will be apple and cider tasting too. We will move indoors if it's raining. Admission is free. You pay only for some of the supplies, like pumpkins. 9th Annual Eldredge Farm Foundation Saturday September 28 1pm at Eldredge Farm, Brewster Join us Saturday September 28th for the 9th Annual Friends of Eldredge Farm Foundation Party and support the foundation's mission - Locals Helping Locals. We'll have music courtesy of DJ Sants and SYNDICATE! Plus food and drinks, tractor rides, kid's games, face painting and more. Our commitment to "Locals Helping Locals" has grown over the years and the Annual Farm Party has become an important part of the fundraising effort. We want to thank all of you who have attended a farm party in the past and hope you plan to join us again this year! Together, we can continue to help our local friends in the extended D-Y Community who need a helping hand. Love Local Fest: September Edition Sunday, September 29th 11:00am-6:00pm Aselton Park, Hyannis Admission: Free October Not So Spooky Halloween October 4th-27th 10-6 Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays at Edaville Family Themepark, Carver Kid-Friendly, Parent-Approved Not So Spooky Halloween fun every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October, including Monday Columbus Day. Come dressed in your favorite costume and enjoy trick-or-treating at every ride. Tickets include all rides, attractions, and spooktacular activities. Costumes are strongly encouraged, but not required. The Spirits of Marstons Mills Saturday, October 5, 2019 7:00pm Marstons Mills Public Library 2160 Main Street, Marstons Mills * Adult only event 16-18 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult Fall Family Festival hosted by Ponderosa MarketplaceSaturday October 5 and Sunday October 6 at 10am at The Marketplace Home and Garden Center, Eastham Fall Family Festival hosted by Ponderosa Marketplace. Pumpkin Decorating, Face Painting, Games, Refreshments, and more!! Come on down to celebrate the fall, and pick a pumpkin for your stoop! Admission is Free on both days. Family Fun Day Saturday October 5th 11am Join the Fall fun at Cape Abilities Farm! Build a scarecrow, make a corn silk doll, decorate a pumpkin, or do the farm scavenger hunt. There will be apple and cider tasting too. We will move indoors if it's raining. Admission is free. You pay only for some of the supplies, like pumpkins. Jack O’Lantern Spectacular Celebrate the wonders of New England and all its glory and magic at the nationally acclaimed Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular presented by Citizens Bank at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Feast your senses on autumn’s beauty, winter’s swirling snow, spring’s first blossoms and summer’s ocean breezes intricately carved on thousands of pumpkins displayed along the Zoo’s beautiful Wetlands Trail. Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open rain or shine. In the case of light to moderate rain, the show will be open. NO REFUNDS OR RESCHEDULING. FAMILY FUN NIGHTS: All events are 6:00 - 8:00 pm and are included in the price of your Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular ticket. Fairy Tale Nights | October 9 & 10 Video Game Nights | October 16 & 17 Super Hero Nights | October 23 & 24 IMPORTANT INFO: 1. Prime Nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday): Available for purchase ONLINE ONLY and timed ticket entry requires pre-registration. 2. Value Nights (Monday through Thursday): Sold online and at Zoo admissions. 3. RWP Zoo Member Discount: Save $2 off all adult and $1 off child tickets. 4. AAA Member Discount (Tuesdays): Available for purchase at Zoo admissions ONLY. Current AAA members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets. (limit of two adults and two children) Pumpkin Day at Bourne Farm October 12, 2019, 9 to 3 at Bourne Farm, N. Falmouth Hgwy., North Falmouth Admission and parking are free; ticket sales per activity Get into the swing of autumn at Bourne Farm. Pumpkin Day is a great family outing featuring hayrides, pony rides, arts and crafts, kayaks and paddle boats, face painting ... and plenty of pumpkins ripe for the picking! Yarmouth Seaside Festival Saturday, October 12- Monday, October 14, 2019 Seaside Festival fairgrounds: Joshua Sears Memorial Field Bonfire and Sand Sculpture Contest location: Bass River Beach Canoe & Kayak Race launch: Wilbur Park Fireworks display: Seagull Beach Fall Festival: Autumn in Cotuit Saturday, October 12th, 2019 11:00am- 3:00pm Chili Fest; Pies, Pies, Pies; Open Hearth Cooking Demos; Artisan Demos; Soap Making 4th Annual Apple Pie Baking Contest Saturday, October 12th, 2019 1:00pm- 4:00pm 1801 Captain Baker House and Barn 90 Old Main Street West Dennis Fall Festival at Taylor Bray Farm Taylor Bray Road Yarmouth Port 774-251-1869 Saturday, October 12, 2019 10:00am- 3:00pm (rain date Sunday, October 13) Visit historic Taylor-Bray Farm for a wonderful day of autumn activities. Originally settled in 1639, the 22-acre farm will host all sorts of old-fashioned family fun including hayrides, games, hearth cooking, face painting, a free giant pumpkin raffle for the kids, live music, and refreshments. $5 suggested donation. Brewster Potato Festival First Parish Brewster Unitarian Universalist Church Saturday, October 12th, 2019 12:00pm- 4:00pm - RAIN DATE October 13th, 2019 Admission: Free Annie’s Crannies Cranberry Bog 36 Scarsdale Road Dennis Saturday, October 12th- Sunday, November 10th Gift shop open weekends 9:00am- 5:00pm Brewster Historical Society Harvest Market Windmill Park across from Drummer Boy Park, Brewster Sunday, October 13th, 2019 10:00am- 2:00pm Pumpkin People in the Park October 18-28th Kate Gould Park, Chatham Travel & Leisure Magazine listed Chatham as the 4th in America's Best Towns for Halloween, citing the Chatham Merchants' Association's Oktoberfest & Pumpkin People in the Park. A fabulous event where our members Chatham local businesses, and others create unique and fascinating display with Pumpkins. Every year the creativity gets better and better. Thousands of visitors pose for photo opps with the "People," who are on display beginning October 18 - 28, 2019. 8th Annual Pumpkin Fest at Sandwich Glass Museum 129 Main Street 508-888-0251 Saturday, October 19, 2019 Admission: Free Wellfleet Oysterfest Various locations around Wellfleet, mainly the Main Street area Saturday, October 19- Sunday, October 20, 2019 Admission: $10 daily, children under 12 are FREE; food is charged separately; no pets at this event please. Each year, OysterFest welcomes hundreds of locals and visitors from near and far for a celebration of the salty, succulent, world-renowned Wellfleet oyster. Fresh seafood is the star of the show, with fresh oysters, homemade chowder, and plenty of other delicacies purveyed in venues from the quaint town center to restaurants throughout town. Fest-goers of all ages will also enjoy arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, nature walks and talks, live music, kids activities, and much more ... including the weekend's feature event - an oyster-shucking contest where competitors vie to win the $1000 first prize by properly shucking 24 oysters in the quickest time. Enchanted Forest Friday October 25th 5:30-8:30 at Mass Audubon, Wellfleet For the Friday evening before Halloween, the woodlands will awaken. A guide will lead you along a lantern - lit trail where you will encounter creatures of the night - some strange, some silly and some who have much to say. Tours are roughly one hour in length. Warm clothing, sturdy shoes and a flashlight are recommended. Costumes are encouraged!! We recommend this program for children ages 3 through 12, but everyone is welcome. Registration is required. Sandwich Halloween Festival at Heritage Museums and Garden Grove Street, Sandwich Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26, 2019 5:00pm- 8:30pm Admission: $5 per person; $25 family limit; kids under 2 are free  Green Halloween
Saturday October 26 10-2 at Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Brewster Wear a costume and join the FUN at the annual CCMNH and Brewster Chamber of Commerce Cape Cod GREEN HALLOWEEN celebration! No Tricks…All Treats! All the favorites are back! The Local Scoop Pop Mobile, Agway of Cape Cod Maze, and Pirate Ship! Plus activity stations with crafts, games, treats and more surprises! $6 Children (3-16: must be accompanied by an adult) Adults with Children are FREE! General Admission for Adults without children. Please note: The entire Museum is a Halloween Haven, some regular exhibits will not be available to view. Halloween Costume Party Saturday October 26 1-4pm at Cape Pediatric Dentistry, Harwich Games, pizza, prizes and fun! Wear your costumes, best dressed wins an awesome gift from us! Party will be outside dress warm. RSVP by October 19th! Oktoberfest in Chatham Kate Gould Park, Main Street Chatham Saturday, October 26, 2019 12:00pm- 4:00pm German fare, beer, food trucks, entertainers, crafts, games for kids, the Chatham town band will perform Trunk or Treat Halloween Party Sunday, October 27th from 3:00-4:30 pm John Wesley Church, Falmouth A safe, family-friendly event for all ages! Children are encouraged and welcome to come in costume as they trick-or-treat from decorated vehicles in our front parking lot. There will be tons of candy to enjoy, carnival games, bouncy house, exotic animals, food and so much more. Invite family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. to join in on the fun! Trunk or Treat Sunday October 27 4-6 pm at Pilgrim Congregational Church, Harwichport Join us for our second annual Trunk or Treat! Bring your kids and families to our safe church parking lot and trick or treat! Enjoy fun games, food, and activities in Monbleau Hall. Hyannis Open Streets Sunday October 27, 12-5 Main St and Village Green, Hyannis All afternoon there'll be tons of family friendly activities on Main Street and at the Village Green, including: pumpkin decorating, face painting, a kids' bike rodeo, ballroom dance demos, a costume parade for kids and pets, balloon twisting, performances by Trevor the Juggler, and music music music. Fun for all ... and it's all free! Cape Cod Marathon Weekend Saturday and Sunday October 26-27, Falmouth Village Green No cost for spectators, registration/entry fees required for marathoners There's good reason that Runners' World named this as one of the "Ten Most Scenic" marathons in the world. Beginning and ending at the beautiful Village Green in Falmouth, the loop course takes runners along the shoreline, through farmlands and cranberry bogs, and past the imposing Nobska Light. Choose your spot along the course, and help cheer the runners on as they pass by! 8th Annual Dennis Police Halloween Hustle Mayflower Beach Dunes Road Dennis Sunday, October 27th, 2019 11:00am- 2:00pm $15-$35 to run Trunk or Treat Pilgrim Congressional Church, Harwich Sunday, October 27th, 2019 4:00pm- 6:00pm Trunk or Treat in the parking lot, family fun inside the hall Greg Williams Halloween Extravaganza Sturgis Library Main Street, Barnstable Village Tuesday, October 29, 2019 6:00pm-7:30pm Annual spooky evening with Greg Williams for Teens and Adults Slightly Spooky Halloween Fest Wednesday October 30 3:30-4:30 at Osterville Library 43 Wianno Avenue Wear your costume! Join us for Halloween stories and crafts! Ages 3-6 and siblings. A Grave Situation: A Walking Tour of the Brewster Cemetery Brewster Cemetery- Lower Road, Brewster Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 4:00pm-5:00pm Narrated tour- not suited for children under 8 Admission: Members: $12, Non- Members $15; Children 8-12: $10 Halloween in Provincetown Wednesday, October 30- Saturday, November 2 Kids Halloween Parade Thursday, October 31, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. beginning at the Brewster Ladies' Library. Come celebrate Halloween at the Brewster Ladies' Library! All ages are welcome to come in costume, and march down Main Street (6A) for our annual Halloween parade! From the Library, we will march to the Brewster General Store, to settle down for some snacks and songs from singer Cathy Hatch. After, we will march past First Parish Brewster Unitarian Universalist Church and collect candy along the way. Our parade route ends at Kinlin Grover Real Estate with more goodies! Trunk or Treat October 31st 4-7 at the Wellfleet Drive In Trunk or Treat is a fun and safe way for children of all ages to trick or treat on Halloween night. We host our Trunk or Treat at the Wellfleet Drive-In and Cinemas in Wellfleet. We line up vehicles in the wooded parking area where families can bring kids to trick or treat from trunk to trunk. All trunks are decorated and are excited to see all of the local families having a great time on Halloween night. Our Trunk or Treat Festival is open to families who reside in the towns of: Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham and Orleans. Yarmouth Port Commons Halloween Haunt at the Edward Gorey House Museum Edward Gorey House Museum 8 Strawberry Lane Yarmouth Port 508-362-3909 Thursday, October 31, 2019 4:30pm-8:30pm Candy, snacks, spectres, and free admission for those in costume after 4:30pm Admission: FREE after 4:30pm to costumed souls Safe Halloween Trick or Treat around the Yarmouth Port Green Thursday, October 31, 2019 4:00pm-7:00pm FREE Visit the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum, Edward Gorey Museum, the New Church, and The Compass Rose Inn for treats and some scary Halloween fun in a safe environment. All ages welcome! Halloween at the Batwood Thursday, October 31, 2019 Atwood Museum 347 Stage Harbor Road, Chatham (508) 945-2493 Safe Trick or Treat at the Cape Cod Mall Thursday, October 31, 2019 4:00pm- 6:00pm November Eastham Turnip Festival Saturday, November 23, 2019 Nauset Regional High school
0 Comments
 Happy World Breastfeeding Week! By: Brianna There is not a way to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week without the worry of making some moms feel left out, sad, or less than they'd like. But World Breastfeeding Week is for all moms, regardless of how you have fed your baby! Whether you breastfed for a day, a month, a year, or well in to the toddler years, this week is about celebrating your accomplishment. And if you never breastfed, for whatever reason, take your reason and remind yourself that there WAS a reason. As a parent, this is one of the first decisions we make, and often a hard one, and always a controversial one. Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, nurse for 6 months or 3 years, nurse exclusively or supplement, pump and bottle feed or only feed straight from the source, cover up or don't, or take in to account all the other factors involved in feeding, someone will have something to say about it. But this is about you and your baby and your family. So if you breastfed for 3 weeks and had to switch to formula because you were back to work and couldn't keep up, or because baby was losing weight any you had tried everything and weren't ready to give up, but wanted to do what was best for your baby, this week is for you. If you breastfed for six months and introduced formula alongside food as a transition period, this week is about you too! Six months is incredible, and you gave your baby an amazing start. If you fed to a year and transitioned to milk after that, you and baby made a great go at it and got beyond the expensive months of formula! If you fed well into the toddler years, you likely persevered through clogged ducts and mastitis and nursing aversion, potentially another pregnancy or tandem nursing, and you are giving your little one the comfort they have become so used to. And again, if you never breastfed, your reasons are important too. Think about them if they aren't triggering and give yourself credit for knowing that the best thing for baby was to be fed by a happy and healthy mom! A photo of my twin toddlers having a wiggly midday snack :)  Brianna is a native Cape Codder and homeschooling mom of 4, a six year old girl, three year old boy, and twin 7 month old boys. She enjoys nature exploration, beach days, snowboarding, baking, fishing, travel, crafting, and writing, as well as geocaching, hiking, and picnicking with her children. She runs a blog and Facebook page called "The Mostly Crunchy Mama" and owns a children's consignment shop in Orleans called Little Codders. She enjoys staying up late long after the kids have gone to sleep to indulge in homemade desserts, to sew, write, coupon, and generally catch up on life without little hands needing help. An avid volunteer with 14 years of experience working with the American Cancer Society, as well as several other organizations, she has a background in business management but left behind her career after deciding self employment was a better fit for family life and a good work/life balance.
Little Codders will be hosting our first seasonal pop up sale this Friday and Saturday at the Odd Fellows Hall in Orleans! It is located at 2 Namskaket Rd (the big white building up on the hill with the large lawn). Get great deals on all you need for your little ones from birth to teens! Baby gear from pack n plays to strollers to bouncers and exersaucers, clothes from preemie to teens and maternity, toys, games, books, and more! The sale hours will be as follows: Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 9am-12:30pm Half Price Sale 1pm-5pm Saturday! Come by for incredible deals on new and used kids items and get your kids ready for the cooler weather! Click here to get to the Facebook event page! If you can't make it this weekend, check out our store in the Emack and Bolio's plaza in Orleans at 82 Route 6a.   Fall Family Fun on Cape Cod & Beyond! By: Brianna It's back! Our annual list of events, festivals, and places to visit on Cape Cod and the surrounding area to celebrate the season! Many options are off Cape, but worth the drive, as options are limited here. Events by date: Harwich Cranberry Festival Saturday and Sunday, September 15 & 16 Arts, Crafts, Music and Food. NEW LOCATION, Behind the Harwich Community Center Harwich Center.www.harwichcranberryfestival.org Saturday: Crafts Fair, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Food Vendors 9:00AM-8:00PM CranJam Music Festival, 12:30 – 8:00 PM FIREWORKS… 8:00 PM Cider Fest Saturday September 22nd 2-4pm Ring Bros Market, Dennis Join us as we celebrate Fall with samples of hard apple ciders & apple treats! Celebrate Our Waters: Family Fun Tent Saturday, September 22 10am-3pm Rock Harbor, Orleans. Don't miss these free, fun-for-all activities! - "Sharktivities!" for kids with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy - “Captain Awesome” with microscopes and plankton educational activities - Make your own fish print T-shirt using frozen bycatch - yucky & fun! - Discover Cape Cod Eco-Tales with Heidi Clemmer - Meet the Turtle Sisters with Susan Baur - A Lifeguard’s Job is Keeping You Safe with a Nauset Lifeguard - Nature art with Mary Richmond - Science fun with Lucy Gilmore of the Cape Cod Children’s Place - Hop on board and explore the motor lifeboat CG36500 - Filter ocean water - activity with “Krill” Carson - Can you recognize Cape Cod Frogs? - Pick up your “Geocaching” map at the Tent and explore around Town - Yummy ice cream and food trucks - Sand sculpture contest (starts at 3 pm at Rock Harbor) Fall Harvest Festival at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23. Rte 151, East Falmouth, MA/Free Parking Come browse our extensive arts and crafts marketplace. Give the kids a thrill on our amusement rides. Check out all the farm animals, and our horse show. Take in our agricultural exhibits. Don’t miss our pony rides and trolley hayrides. And of course, enjoy seasonal treats! The gates open each day at 10am and the fun lasts all day until 4pm. The Harvest Festival - it’s everything you love about fall in one place! The Harvest Festival will also be the host to the 6th Annual Cape Cod Comedy Festival on Saturday night! Doors open at 5 and the laughs starts at 7PM! A portion of each ticket sale is donated to the Barnstable County Agricultural Society, Inc. Scholarship Program Tickets for the comedy festival can be purchased at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3556236 ADMISSION: $7 Adults/$3 Kids ages 6-11/Kids 5 and under: FREE $6 Senior/Military discount available Cape Cod Cranberry Day Saturday, September 29, 2018 - 11:00am to 4:00pm Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen, 6 Discovery Hill Road (off Route 6A), East Sandwich, MA 02537 Green Briar celebrates this native cranberry so prominent in the history of Cape Cod. See cooking demonstrations in the historic Jam Kitchen using traditional cranberry recipes. Enjoy a homemade cranberry dessert for a $5 fee served from 11am-4pm. Tour a neighboring cranberry bog at 11am and 1:15pm. Listen to "A Frog in the Bog" story time at 12pm. View the gallery exhibit featuring the life and works of children's author/naturalist Thornton W. Burgess. Mashpee Oktoberfest Saturday, September 29, 2018 - 10:00am to 4:00pm Mashpee’s Annual Oktoberfest on the Village Green (across from the Mashpee Library)! The day long celebration includes authentic German music, a beer garden, kids' activities and exhibits by local crafters & restaurants. Rain Date: Sunday September 30; 11 am to 4 pm. This event is sponsored by the Mashpee Recreation Department For more info:email: recreation@mashpeema.gov Love Live Local Fest Sunday September 30th 11am-6pm Aselton Park, Hyannis The 6th season of our free and fun-for-all-ages event continues! The Cape may slow down in September, but LoveLocal Fest shows no signs of stopping! Same great vibe, tons of local vendors, food and beverage purveyors, kids' activities, and music from local bands Chantal Joseph and Bittersweet Band Cape Cod, all while enjoying the beautiful views of Hyannis Harbor. Theme Park Open: Not So Spooky Halloween Monday, October 1, 2018 - 10:00am to Wednesday, October 31, 2018 - 10:00am Edaville Family Theme Park, 5 Pine St, Carver, MA 02330 Hours: 10:00AM - 6:00PM Come RIDE, ROAR, and EXPLORE at the exciting world of Edaville! With 3 PARKS IN 1, you can ride through Cran-Central, roar throughout Dino Land, and explore with Thomas & Friends through the magical Island of Sodor! Admission includes all rides & attractions. Not So Spooky Halloween  Jack o Lantern Spectacular October 4th-Noevember 4th (Daily) @ Rodger Williams Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, presented by Citizens Bank, at Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village is celebrating 30 years of Halloween magic. Called EXTRAORDINARY by both CNN and USA Today, this year’s show includes more than 5,000 intricately carved pumpkins featuring scenes of wizards, fairy tales, and the luminaries of great myths and legends, alongside superheroes, and historical figures who changed our world. Revel in the sights and sounds of the season, and celebrate this otherworldly experience! SPECIAL THEME NIGHT SCHEDULE: Fairy tale nights at Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular (Oct. 10 & 11) Wizarding nights at Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular (Oct. 17 & 18) Superhero nights at Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular (Oct. 24 & 25) Pumpkin Day at Bourne Farm When: October 6, 2018, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Bourne Farm, North Falmouth Hgwy., North Falmouth Admission: Admission and parking are free; ticket sales per activity More Info: Get into the swing of autumn at Bourne Farm. Pumpkin Day is a great family outing featuring hayrides, pony rides, arts and crafts, kayaks and paddle boats, face painting ... and plenty of pumpkins ripe for the picking! Osterville Fall Festival Saturday, October 6, 2018 Osterville Village, Barnstable Cranberry Harvest Celebration Saturday, October 6, 2018 - 10:00am to Sunday, October 7, 2018 - 4:00pm 158 Tihonet Rd, Wareham, MA 02571 The Cranberry Harvest Celebration is a great way to see and learn about the picturesque cranberry harvest while enjoying some old fashioned family fun. Watch as we harvest the crimson berries continuously each day. Family Fun Day Saturday October 6th 11am-4pm Cape Abilities Farm, Dennis Join the Fall fun at Cape Abilities Farm! Build a scarecrow, make a corn silk doll, decorate a pumpkin, or do the farm scavenger hunt. There will be apple and cider tasting too. We will move indoors if it's raining. Taylor Bray Farm Fall Festival October 6, 2018, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date October 7) Where: Taylor Bray Farm, 108 Bray Farm Road, Yarmouthport Admission: Suggested parking donation $5 Visit historic Taylor-Bray Farm for a wonderful day of autumn activities. Originally settled in 1639, the 22-acre farm will host all sorts of old-fashioned family fun including hayrides, games, hearth cooking, face painting, a free giant pumpkin raffle for the kids, live music, and refreshments. Yarmouth Seaside Festival October 6-8, 2018, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat. & Sun., fireworks 8 p.m. Sunday, morning events on Monday with various events around town. Columbus Day weekend means it’s time for the Yarmouth Seaside Festival. This annual three-day extravaganza has tons of fun activities for the whole family including a craft fair, kids rides and games, a one-of-a-kind haunted maze, 5K road race, canoe and kayak race, sand-sculpting contest, a beach bonfire, and a fantastic fireworks display at Seagull Beach. Pumpkin People in the Park Friday, October 12, 2018 to Wednesday, October 31, 2018 Kate Gould Park, Chatham Travel & Leisure Magazine listed Chatham as the 4th in America’s Best Towns for Halloween, citing the Chatham Merchants’ Association’s Oktoberfest & Pumpkin People in the Park. A fabulous event where our members Chatham local businesses, and others create unique and fascinating display with Pumpkins. Every year the creativity gets better and better. Thousands of visitors pose for photo opps with the “People,” who are on display until Halloween Lantern Tours. Saturday, October 13 Start at dusk. Meet the “spirits” of Harwich past on these guided lantern tours of the Harwich Center Cemetery, with costumed re-enactors. Admission & Registration Required. Brooks Academy Museum. www.harwichhistoricalsocity.org. Family Fun Day Saturday October 13th 11am-4pm Cape Abilities Farm, Dennis Join the Fall fun at Cape Abilities Farm! Build a scarecrow, make a corn silk doll, decorate a pumpkin, or do the farm scavenger hunt. There will be apple and cider tasting too. We will move indoors if it's raining. Wellfleet Oyster Fest October 13-14th $10 admission. There is something for everyone at the Wellfleet OysterFest. There’s music, storytelling, cooking demonstrations, nature walks, oyster grant tours and much more. Take a fun fall weekend get-away and experience:
 Harvest Fest Sunday October 14th at Southwick Zoo Celebrate Autumn at Southwick’s Zoo with our Harvest Fest! This fall festival will feature activities such as live music, face painting, touch a truck, a farmers market and craft vendors, and even a beer garden featuring beer, cider, and wine from local vendors. This event is included with admission*. Harvest Fest takes place during our annual Zoo Boo Days, so children ages 3-12 in costume will receive free general admission! http://southwickszoo.com/harvest-fest/ *Beer Garden will require a separate ticket. 7TH ANNUAL PUMPKINFEST Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 9:30am to 5:30pm Sandwich Glass Museum, 129 Main Street, Sandwich, MA 02563 Catch the fever and start building your own collection with the wonderful assortment found at the Sandwich Glass Museum gift shop and at the Museum's 7th Annual PumpkinFest on October 20, 2018! Free with Admission. Halloween Candy Showdown Saturday October 20th 2-3pm @ Brewster Ladies Library Halloween is almost here, and you know what that means—the great Halloween candy dilemma is upon us! Which to buy, which to give away, and which to save for ourselves? This year, the Library is doing the hard work for you. Kids of all ages are invited to come and sample a wide selection of Halloween candy, after which we will vote on our favorites. No tricks here—only treats! If your child has any other allergies we should be made aware of, please call the Library at 508-896-3913 and inform us at least one week in advance of the program. The Library will make every effort to accommodate any and all allergies, but ultimate responsibility rests with the parents in attendance. Autumn Gathering at the Benjamin Nye Homestead & Museum Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 12:00pm to 4:00pm Benjamin Nye Homestead & Museum 85 Old County Road, East Sandwich Free admission, docents in costume, antiques, fireplaces in use, hearth cooking, wool spinning and an Artisan Craft Fair will be held in the Grange Hall next door. Lantern Tours. Saturday October 20th Start at dusk. Meet the “spirits” of Harwich past on these guided lantern tours of the Harwich Center Cemetery, with costumed re-enactors. Admission & Registration Required. Brooks Academy Museum. www.harwichhistoricalsocity.org. Hyannis Open Streets October 21, 2018, noon to 5 p.m. Main Street and Village Green, Hyannis- Free! Remember when your parents told you, "Don't play in the street!"? Well, this is one day when it's okay - encouraged, actually - for you to do just that. Beginning at noon this Sunday, Main Street in downtown Hyannis will be closed to auto traffic, allowing everyone to walk, run, bike, dance and play in the street! All afternoon there'll be tons of family friendly activities on Main Street and at the Village Green, including: pumpkin decorating, face painting, a kids' bike rodeo, ballroom dance demos, a costume parade for kids and pets, balloon twisting, performances by Trevor the Juggler, and music music music. Fun for all ... and it's all free! Boo Bash at Battleship Cove Thursday, October 25 Fall River Trick-or-treat aboard the historic naval vessels at Battleship Cove, and meet friendly costumed sailors as your tour the museum! Fun activities and more for the whole family! $9.00 per person. Members are free. Price includes candy, activities and admission to the museum. 4:30-7:30pm Halloween Parade Thursday October 26th 10-11:30am @ Brewster Ladies Library Come celebrate Halloween at the Brewster Ladies’ Library! All ages are invited. Wear your costume! We will have a Halloween parade, walk over to the Brewster Store, stop for songs with Cathy Hatch, and then head to Kinlin Grover Real Estate for snacks. Trunk or Treat Friday October 26th 5:30-6:30pm 239 Main St. Buzzards Bay at Bourne Community Center Volunteers from the community & local businesses decorate their trunks or bed of their trucks and hand out treats to the children! Limited amount of candy provided by the Bourne Recreation Department to the volunteers! To register your trunk please visit www.bournerec.com Parking will not be available at the Community Building. Please park along Main Street, or in the parking lot at town hall. A police detail will assist you in crossing Main Street at the cross walk directly in front of the Community Building. This is a free family for residents of the Town of Bourne Due to the large crowd of people at this event, please no dogs. Rain Date: Monday, October 29th Halloween Family Festival Saturday, October 27 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Heritage Museums & Gardens is the place to be for Halloween fun in the Sandwich community! We are proud to partner with the STEM Academy/Sandwich High School Parent Teacher Student Association and Sandwich Soul to put on (not-too) Spooktacular family festival! Activities included with admission: Join the Halloween dance party with DJ Ooch Snap a family photo in our spooky Model T Take a ride on the vintage carousel Create a Halloween-themed craft Participate in STEM activities at The Hundred Acre School Fee: $5 per person with a $25 family maximum; free for infants 2 and younger. Sheep Pasture Spectuacular Saturday October 27th 3:30-6:30pm 307 Main St. N. Easton, MA Sheep Pasture Spooktacular A great family-friendly event that will have special fall activities for visitors of all ages! Everyone loves to get outside and do special fall family activities in October, and we are glad that people have come to love our late October programs at Sheep Pasture! Rain Date: Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 3:30-6:30 pm Cost: $20/ family (up to 5 individuals) Additional people at $5/person. Price includes: All activities, hayrides, crafts, and events. Food items and pumpkins may be sold for an additional fee. Cash only. Family Hayrides throughout the Event! Hayrides will be scheduled during the Spooktacular in both daylight and dark. This will be a family-friendly hayride, with no spooky costumed characters, frightening effects, or scary scenes. Hayrides last 10-15 minutes and take place completely on the grounds of Sheep Pasture's paths and fields. Last hayride begins approximately 15 minutes before the end of the event. Skull Station!- Come explore NRT's collection of animal skulls and biofacts and learn what makes each one special! Nature Hikes at Sheep Pasture!- Join an NRT educator on a 20 minute hike into the dark on the Rhododendron Trail or other Sheep Pasture paths and learn how to explore the dark with your senses. Hike will be accessible and appropriate for children and adults of all ages. Night Hikes will be scheduled throughout the evening. Face Painting, Pumpkin Decorating (bring your own, or some will be for sale!), Arts & Crafts, Roast marshmallows by the fire pit, and more! Nrtofeaston.org for more info!  9th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration Saturday, October 27th 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM @ Patriot Place The ninth annual Fall Harvest Celebration at Patriot Place begins behind Bass Pro Shops as Ocean Spray harvests the real working cranberry bog at Patriot Place on Saturday, October 27. The day is filled with fall activities for all ages including pumpkin painting, live music, sidewalk sales and more from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. www.patriot-place.com/fallharvest Halloween Cruise Saturday October 27th 4-6pm 184 Onset Ave, Onset MA Come and join us dressed as your favorite Halloween character on a spooky cruise through the Cape Cod Canal. Tickets are available for $12.00 per person. Neatladyfishing.com Fall Wine Pairing Dinner / Parents Night Out Saturday October 27th 6-10pmSea Crest Beach Hotel 350 Quaker Rd. FalmouthSpend a picture-perfect evening at Sea Crest Beach Hotel at our Fall Wine Pairing Dinner! Our Chefs will lend their considerable expertise via a four-course meal highlighted by stunning seasonal wines. Providing a spectacular view of Buzzard's Bay, expect a true feast for the senses. $40 per person MAKE IT A PARENTS NIGHT OUT! Kids programs available for children 4-12 years old from 6-10pm for $25 a child. Dinner included. https://www.seacrestbeachhotel.com/explore/calendar-and-events/fall-wine-pairing Fall Fest Sunday October 28th 12-4pmSea Crest Beach Hotel 350 Quaker Rd. FalmouthGather your family for Fall Fest, where you'll enjoy a variety of seasonal activities including pumpkin painting, fall crafts, laser tag and a costume contest with access to the pool and hotel amenities. $20 for Adults $10 for Kids ages 4-12 Free for Children 3 and under https://www.seacrestbeachhotel.com/explore/calendar-and-events/fall-fest Trick or Treat Wednesday, October 31, 2018 Cape Cod Mall- Sears Wing, 769 Iyannough Road, Hyannis, MA 02601 Trunk or Treat October 31st 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre: Route 6, South Wellfleet. FREE and includes FREE HOT DOGS & CIDER Lunch ‘n Learn Vampires of New England October 31st 12:30pm @ Cape Cod Museum of Natural HistoryNew England’s vampire history emerged a full century after the region’s more infamous Salem witch trials, and although Rhode Island was ostensibly the epicenter, it was a region-wide phenomenon. Susan has been interested in legends and lores for many years. She first learned about New England’s vampires when her parents gave her a book that contained an article about them. Join Susan at our very special Halloween Lunch ‘n Learn for fascinating tales of true case histories and her analysis of Vampires of New England. For more information please call: 508-896-3867, ext. 133 Admission: Non-Member $25 / Member $15 / Includes Program, Box Lunch & Museum Advance Tickets Recommended: 508-896-3867, ext. 133 Sandwich choices include Roast Beef, Turkey Club or Tomato Basil Fall Wine Pairing Dinner / Parents Night Out Saturday November 17th 6-10pmSea Crest Beach Hotel 350 Quaker Rd. FalmouthSpend a picture-perfect evening at Sea Crest Beach Hotel at our Fall Wine Pairing Dinner! Our Chefs will lend their considerable expertise via a four-course meal highlighted by stunning seasonal wines. Providing a spectacular view of Buzzard's Bay, expect a true feast for the senses. $40 per person MAKE IT A PARENTS NIGHT OUT! Kids programs available for children 4-12 years old from 6-10pm for $25 a child. Dinner included. https://www.seacrestbeachhotel.com/explore/calendar-and-events/fall-wine-pairing  Pumpkin/Apple Picking First Congregational Church Chatham. Pumpkins for sale! 10/1-10/31 508-945-0800 or www.chathamcongregational.org. Proceeds benefit the Chatham Children's Fund an church missions. (For sale on lawn, not pick your own) Location: First Congregational Church, 650 Main Street at the Rotary CobWebb Farm Pumpkins October weekends to Halloween, 10-3. West Barnstable Tony Andrews Farm Pumpkins September - October 7 days a week 10am - 6pm East Falmouth Also: For sale at farm store, tomatoes, apples, corn, zucchini and summer squash, cornstalks, winter vegetables, fall decorations, hay rides. Tobey Farm Dennis Pumpkins, mums, gourds, and more. Also- children's Not-So-Scary Hayrides in October. They will be Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1-4pm  Off Cape: Belkin Lookout Farm—South Natick Belkin Family Lookout Farm is one of the oldest continuously working farms in the country, but it's about as modern and organized a U-pick operation as you can find. Trains escort you to pick your own peaches, apples and pumpkins in the fall. Families can also enjoy a children’s play area, picnic tables, hay pyramid, and rides, and grown-ups might care to sample some of Lookout's hard cider in the taproom on the grounds. Note: You must pay a per-person admission fee to enter the farm, apple-picking is an additional cost. 508-651-1539 Boston Hill Farm—North Andover Boston Hill Farm offers pick-your-own apples on fall weekends from September 16 through October. There are apples to pick—including McIntosh, Ginger Gold, and Paula Red this year—but also cider doughnuts, live music, ice cream, and a petting farm complete with chickens, geese, bunnies, goats, sheep, and calves. 978-681-8556 Connors Farm—Danvers Not only apples, but a popular corn maze, too! And that's not all this farm has to offer: For younger kids, there's a play area, jumping pillows, hayrides and more. For teens, there's Zombie Paintball and a Haunted Farm. 978-777-1245 Davis Farmland—Sterling While this farm is a solid hour drive from Boston, we are confident it will not disappoint. Plan to spend the day, because along with a U-pick apples and pumpkins, this farm also boasts a splash pad, bounce pillow, multiple playgrounds, a tiny play town, an animal feeding area, and more. There’s even a special section where little farmers get to hold baby goats. Note: while the farm attractions are open daily, the U-pick area is only open on weekends. 978-422-6666 Honeypot Hill Orchard—Stow Honeypot's orchards yield about 12 varieties of apples, with different crops in the spotlight as they ripen throughout the season. The orchard offers other activities like hayrides, barnyard animals, and a hedge maze that’s great for kids ages four through 11. If you're looking for a simpler and less crowded apple picking experience, head down the street to Carver Hill (see above). 978-562-5666 Smolak Farm—North Andover After their berries and summer stone fruits are picked over, Smolak Farm offers plenty of varieties of apples for plucking later in September, across several demarcated orchards. Don't miss the private (secret) orchard nestled behind their Old Standard orchard. During fall weekends, enjoy the Children's Festival Area: Hop on a hay wagon ride and linger longer for time at the playground and petting farm, which costs extra but kids love. 978-682-6332  Brianna is a native Cape Codder and homeschooling mom of 4, a six year old girl, three year old boy, and twin 7 month old boys. She enjoys nature exploration, beach days, snowboarding, baking, fishing, travel, crafting, and writing, as well as geocaching, hiking, and picnicking with her children. She runs a blog and Facebook page called "The Mostly Crunchy Mama" and owns a children's consignment shop in Orleans called Little Codders. She enjoys staying up late long after the kids have gone to sleep to indulge in homemade desserts, to sew, write, coupon, and generally catch up on life without little hands needing help. An avid volunteer with 14 years of experience working with the American Cancer Society, as well as several other organizations, she has a background in business management but left behind her career after deciding self employment was a better fit for family life and a good work/life balance.
 Falling Out of Summer By: Brianna Inevitably, most of us are eagerly anticipating fall and all the joys it brings by these last weeks of summer. We are ready for less traffic, kids back to school (if they go), cooler weather, and fun fall activities. We are compiling a list of the closest harvest favorites that will be posted here soon. Many will be off Cape, but are worth the drive! If you have an activity or a place to recommend, reach out to us so we can make sure it gets on the list! We wish you all a happy Labor Day weekend and first week back to school! In case you are eager to get your fall baking going, below is a delicious pumpkin cranberry muffin recipe our family loves. Hope you enjoy trying it too! Pumpkin Cranberry MuffinsIngredients: 1.5 cups cooked pumpkin puree (or canned pumpkin) 2 eggs 1/4 cup oil or applesauce 1/4 cup molasses 1/4 cup orange juice 3 tsp ginger root grated (or 2 tsp ginger spice) 2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1.25 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp ground cloves 3/4 cup dried cranberries (or fresh crushed/finely diced) 1. Mix all dry ingredients together EXCEPT brown sugar 2. Mix all wet ingredients together 3. Combine them, adding small amounts of the dry ingredients into the wet to incorporate 4. Do not overmix! 5. Mix together brown sugar and cranberries 6. Fold in cranberry mixture (you can add walnuts, raisins, pumpkin seeds, ect too!) 7. Spoon into muffin liners/tins 8. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. ENJOY!  Brianna is a native Cape Codder and homeschooling mom of 4, a six year old girl, three year old boy, and twin 7 month old boys. She enjoys nature exploration, beach days, snowboarding, baking, fishing, travel, crafting, and writing, as well as geocaching, hiking, and picnicking with her children. She runs a blog and Facebook page called "The Mostly Crunchy Mama" and owns a children's consignment shop in Orleans called Little Codders. She enjoys staying up late long after the kids have gone to sleep to indulge in homemade desserts, to sew, write, coupon, and generally catch up on life without little hands needing help. An avid volunteer with 14 years of experience working with the American Cancer Society, as well as several other organizations, she has a background in business management but left behind her career after deciding self employment was a better fit for family life and a good work/life balance.
End of Summer Blues By: Brianna Are you or your kids not ready for summer to end? The good news is that it doesn’t have to (just yet!). On the Cape we get the most wonderful fall season to enjoy anything we were too busy for or unable to do during the heat of the summer. So if you are feeling down that you didn’t get to do everything on your list before the cooler weather sets in, take five minutes and make an end of summer bucket list! We made one at the beginning of the summer and got through most of it, but still have some items to check off. I decided we’d take this heatwave as a reminder that summer is still here and we can still finish up some of the activities we didn’t get around to! Grab a pen and paper and sit down with your kids to see if there is anything they want to do before the summer is really over. Mini golf? Ice cream date? Walking the flats at low tide? Collecting and painting shells? Come up with some ideas and pull together a last hoorah! 👙🏄♂️🎳  While you are at it, make a fall bucket list! Think pumpkin carving, trick or treating, decorating paper ghosts, baking spooky treats, and drinking some mulled cider. We all have our own traditions and favorite parts of each season, use the opportunity to make the list and stick it on the fridge where you will see it. Let your kids remind you of the list, and revel in their joy of Halloween and the weeks that surround it. 🎃👻 Take the good with the bad as with all things parenting! Pumpkin painting go awry? Turn the pumpkin around and carve it! Tantrum while apple picking during nap time? Plan to bake an apple pie together later. Our plans don’t have to be the perfection we picture, they are all a part of building memories and traditions that will last a lifetime. What’s on your end of season and fall bucket lists?  Brianna is a native Cape Codder and homeschooling mom of 4, a six year old girl, three year old boy, and twin 7 month old boys. She enjoys nature exploration, beach days, snowboarding, baking, fishing, travel, crafting, and writing, as well as geocaching, hiking, and picnicking with her children. She runs a blog and Facebook page called "The Mostly Crunchy Mama" and owns a children's consignment shop in Orleans called Little Codders. She enjoys staying up late long after the kids have gone to sleep to indulge in homemade desserts, to sew, write, coupon, and generally catch up on life without little hands needing help. An avid volunteer with 14 years of experience working with the American Cancer Society, as well as several other organizations, she has a background in business management but left behind her career after deciding self employment was a better fit for family life and a good work/life balance.
Quick Relaxation for a Busy Mom By: Brianna We hear it all the time-"enjoy every minute", "treasure this time", "it goes by so fast" and so on. What we don't hear is to remember to take time for ourselves, time to recharge, time to become better mothers. Time when our hearts are full but our hands are not.  It has been nearly nine months since my twins were born, and relaxation with four kids under six is hard to come by. So I take what I can get. And I've learned from other moms that this can be taken even further. Daily yoga, meditations, reading, whatever it may be that gives you a few minutes of peace to recharge. Carrying lavender oil and sachets of it under my pillow are my saving grace. I have a necklace that can hold essential oil in the pendant, and keep a scent stick in my purse. A few deep breaths of that can be like heaven on a hectic day. We must take care of ourselves to take care of our littles. Much like putting on the airplane mask for yourself before putting it on for your children you need to take care of you first, so you are present to take care of others. So each time you catch yourself feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, overtouched, or alone in a quiet moment, take the time to stop and be aware of the feeling. Then take three deep breaths before acting, talking, or moving on from whatever it is you have paused. Sometimes I find myself rushing through everything, that's what we do as mothers right? We rush home from the store, we rush home from work, we rush to shower and brush our teeth and fold the laundry. It never ends.  So the next time you go to turn off the shower, or get in to the car after buckling in your kids, or sneak out of their beds after tucking them in, stop for just a minute. Acknowledge the peace in that moment and allow yourself three deep breaths. The same can go for the other moments that aren't so peaceful. The meltdowns over the wrong cereal, the fights over cleaning up, the nights where the kids are up hours past bedtime and the day seems like it will never end. Close your eyes and take thee deep breaths. It may be little, but it can put an entire new perspective on your day. Then go enjoy your kids, or your scroll through social media, or your loud car ride home. Treasure the moments you can and get through the moments that seem like they will go on forever. After all, these moments really are fleeting.  Brianna is a native Cape Codder and homeschooling mom of 4, a six year old girl, three year old boy, and twin 7 month old boys. She enjoys nature exploration, beach days, snowboarding, baking, fishing, travel, crafting, and writing, as well as geocaching, hiking, and picnicking with her children. She runs a blog and Facebook page called "The Mostly Crunchy Mama" and owns a children's consignment shop in Orleans called Little Codders. She enjoys staying up late long after the kids have gone to sleep to indulge in homemade desserts, to sew, write, coupon, and generally catch up on life without little hands needing help. An avid volunteer with 14 years of experience working with the American Cancer Society, as well as several other organizations, she has a background in business management but left behind her career after deciding self employment was a better fit for family life and a good work/life balance.
 More than a Toy Store By: Brianna Like so many of the moms of our generation, I grew up a “Toys R Us Kid”. We went there for birthday presents, Christmas presents, last minute birthday gifts, and on special occasions like preschool graduation and mother daughter outings. Many years went by where I didn’t have a reason to go there. Then came baby showers, pregnancy, and motherhood, and it took on a new meaning. We drove two hours to the closest full size Babies R Us to register for our firstborn after over a year of trying so hard for her. Over the years that followed, it became a regular place for me to visit for urgent pumping supplies, Black Friday sales, Christmas and birthday presents, baby shower gifts, and wandering aisles on maternity leave to keep me busy. It was also the parking lot I was sitting in when I accidentally found out our firstborn was a girl. Eight months into my pregnancy, I decided to switch to a birth center and had picked up my records from my OB to bring to the new center. On the way, I stopped at Babies R Us to pick up some things, and decided to look over the records before bringing them to my midwife. We had not found out the sex, and not planned to. But our miracle baby had kidney disease, and they left the gender out of all but one report. The one from Children’s Hospital. You see, with most conditions, gender does not matter. But with kidney disease, it does. So there it was “singleton female fetus”. Out poured tears and tears and tears of pure joy. I was so sure my sweet baby was a boy. I was wrong, and I was elated. Then I had to let my husband know I ruined the surprise, but that is another story.  It may just be a store, but it is a store so full of memories lasting decades. Wandering the aisles with my parents, hearing their stories of shopping then staying up until the wee hours of the night putting gifts together, then taking on those same roles myself as a parent. So much of my mothering experience was rooted in time there. Walking the aisles with the scanner as we eagerly picked out the perfect gender neutral baby items. We had waited until after the anatomy scan, a scan at which we got devastating news about our rainbow baby. So then we waited. Eventually, we registered. Hopeful, optimistic, and praying that our baby would be just fine. Aisles I had walked prior to that pregnancy while facing infertility and miscarriage searching for hope like I’m sure so many others have. Thumbing through tiny clothes, maternity wear, testing out strollers, and wandering aimlessly wondering if you will ever need these things. Month after month. And then we were finally there for our baby, a miracle baby, but also a sick baby. A baby we weren’t sure at that time would make it. It was such a joyous, bittersweet, emotion filled experience.  To fast forward, over two more pregnancies and three more babies, there were dozens more visits for all the reasons listed above. Each new baby brought new needs, and the excitement of shopping for gifts for new babies to be of our friends and families. So many merry trips with my children climbing in and out of the ride on cars, just as I had as a kid, picking out toys that brought them hours of entertainment. Flipping through the Big Book of Toys at Christmas time and circling all the toys they wanted. Playing in the ride ons at the exit, putting coins in the tattoo and toy machines. It was a dream world for my children, like so many others. And today we said goodbye. Goodbye forever. With two carts full and then some (Baby #4 not pictured.) Not just to a store, but to a lifetime of memories.   Brianna is a native Cape Codder and homeschooling mom of 4, a six year old girl, three year old boy, and twin 7 month old boys. She enjoys nature exploration, beach days, snowboarding, baking, fishing, travel, crafting, and writing, as well as geocaching, hiking, and picnicking with her children. She runs a blog and Facebook page called "The Mostly Crunchy Mama" and owns a children's consignment shop in Orleans called Little Codders. She enjoys staying up late long after the kids have gone to sleep to indulge in homemade desserts, to sew, write, coupon, and generally catch up on life without little hands needing help. An avid volunteer with 14 years of experience working with the American Cancer Society, as well as several other organizations, she has a background in business management but left behind her career after deciding self employment was a better fit for family life and a good work/life balance.
|
Parent Resource GuideTravel & VacationsCape Cod BirthdaysCape Cod Family
|
Cape Cod Moms Blog Mommies Mom Blog Parenting Blog Product Reviews, Stories, Resources, Calendar, Local, Support, Events
- Home
-
Mommy Blog
- The Parent Pod
- Cape Kids Cast
- Dads' Den
- Family Climate Series
- Family Dynamics Series
- Navigating Separation & Divorce Series
- Travel & Vacations
- Sex Abuse Series
- Book Reviews
- Interviews With ShopLocal Bussinesses
- Babysitting Safety Series
- Etiquette Series
- Home-School Series
- Love Series
- Infant Sleep Series
- PTSD Series
- About Us
- Calendar
- Parent Resource Fair
- Resources
- Directory
RSS Feed
