Coolest Family on the Block

Help make this family complete

Jenn — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:00:12 +0000

Thank you so much to all who helped share this post and to those of you that may have donated!

Dear readers,

I have had a heart for adoption ever since I was a child and now it has become even nearer and dearer to me. One of my best friends from high school and her husband will be adding to their family through adoption!
Here is a little about them and their special situation.

Hello, Friends!

Just in case you haven’t met us or heard our story yet, our names are Ben and Kendra and our family is growing. Our very girly family of four (thanks to our two little princesses) is about to have a prince! We are nearing the final stages of adopting a 13-year-old boy – a teenager! Yikes!

Ben is a fifth grade teacher and Kendra has stayed at home with our two daughters for the past seven years. Our situation is unique, as we have known the child we are adopting for over four years now – he was actually a student of Ben’s when we first met him! We’ve been hoping to adopt him since that year he was a fifth grader. Now, thanks to diligent preparation and lots of faithful prayer, the time has come for him to join our family. We are truly blessed to see our family grow in this way. And our daughters, ages 7 and 3, are so very excited to have a new big brother!

As you may know, private adoptions come at a price. Although our son’s care was initially overseen by the foster system, he has not been a part of that system for over a year now. Therefore, as his adoptive family, we are not eligible for any financial assistance from the state. Many friends and family members have suggested that we host a fundraiser to help defray the numerous costs, and to that end, we have decided to host a donation page. Please know that your support is greatly, greatly appreciated!

I would greatly appreciate it if you could donate to this family and help them welcome their son into their family. No donation is too small. If each of my readers were to donate only $1.00 we could help them raise a quarter of their goal. You do not need PayPal to make a donation (You can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Bank, and Discover as well as PayPal).
Please prayerfully consider donating to help make this family complete.

Kendra and I in 10th Grade (1994)

~~I would also appreciate it if you could help me share this post through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets. Share buttons can be found at the bottom of this post.~~

Thank you so much for being a loyal reader of my blog and thank you in advance for considering donating. Your support through prayer is also greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Mister Postman!

Jenn — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:06:53 +0000

This is for Mama’s Kat Vlogging Workshop prompt
2.) Share something interesting you received in the mail.
And heck out my other vlog for Mama Kat’s prompt
3.) Make a video about anything…from a table in your kitchen.
How to Fold a Towel (A Pointless Video Tutorial)
(It was meant to be kinda sarcastic and “funny”, but may be helpful it you wanna learn how to rock a trifold like a boss.)

When Adaline was first born I was cloth diapering. I used fitted cloth diapers that needed a cover and I had bought some Gerber plastic pants second hand that I found worked the best. I couldn’t find any plastic pants in small sizes (under toddler) in any of the stores. I managed to find them on Amazon through a 3rd party seller (or something like that). When I received my order there was some of it missing so I had to email the company to send me the rest of my order. They did. I received two packages in the mail. One of them had the plastic pants that I ordered. The other package had something different…

Watch the video for the whole story and to see what interesting thing I received in the mail!
*Spoiler Alert: Don’t scroll down until you watch the video!*
Please watch the video before you scroll down and see the photos of this special “item”
(they’ll ruin the “surprise”)
(Email and feed readers click here to watch the video.)

Did you watch the video?

My hubby was taking the video and I didn’t think he got a good shot of the item, so I had him take some pictures of me with it so that you can get a better view.

Enjoy…

…and you are welcome.
Now you have the perfect photo for your desktop

Check out my other vlog for Mama Kat’s prompt #3
Make a video about anything…from a table in your kitchen.
How to fold a towel (A Pointless Tutorial)

Do you have an awesome adult onesie of your very own?
What’s something interesting you’ve received in the mail?
Tell me in the comments!

Other Writer’s Workshop Posts:
*03-21-2012 The last time you stayed in a hotel.: Me Time
*03-21-2012 A lie you told: Liar, liar, pants on fire
*09-21-2011 A time you felt wronged by a teacher: I sold my teacher what?!!!
*07-13-11 A bad day: Oh, no he didn’t!
*07-13-11 Has your child thrown a temper tantrum in public?
Create a video describing what happened and how you handled it.: And so it begins… (Video)
*07-06-11 A list of 10 old TV shows you’d like to make a comeback.:
10 Shows I’d Like to Make a Comeback
*06-15-11 Share a Summer Camp memory.: Youth Camp Stinks
*05-25-11 Write about a time you got in BIG trouble as a kid.
The Newsboys Wouldn’t Ditch Their Friends
*05-18-11 Describe a time when your child said or did something that made you laugh out loud.: Funny Things Adaline Says (Video)
*05-18-11 What was your big dream for yourself when you were 18 and had graduated from high school?: Dreams and Aspirations
*05-18-11 List ten favorite things about one of your favorite people.:
15 Reasons Why My Hubby is Awesome
*05-11-11 Write a love letter to someone (some thing?) you love.: The One That Got Away
*04-06-11 A rule I broke: In School Suspension

Coolest Family on the Block is committed to helping you find creative ways to have fun and make memories with your family all year-long. Don’t miss an idea, tip, or trick…subscribe and have updates sent directly to your email!

Ultimate Blog Party 2013

Jenn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:17:08 +0000

I’m using this post for the Ultimate Blog Party and North East Bloggers Network: Getting to Know You link up.

Hi, I’m Jenn! Welcome to my blog!
This is my 3rd year participating in the Ultimate Blog Party and I am so excited to meet some new bloggers and get re-acquainted with my favorites. I know how these blog parties can be. You’re trying to visit and comment on as many blogs as possible so there isn’t a lot of time to read a non-sensical diatribe by a long-winded stranger. For those of you in a rush here are the bullet points:

*Christian
*Wife
*Stay-at-Home-Mom
*1 preschool girl, 1 toddler boy, 1 small dog
*~~Domestically Challenged~~ Lazy = Dirty house
*Fashion = Pajamas
*Family = important, traditions = fun
*Funny, haha!

Me blog. You read.
Blog friends? Yay!
Follow? Thank you!

Comments =
Thanks for visiting!

For those of you with more time and a longer attention span, read on. Coolness, awesomeness, and hilarity will ensue. You don’t want to miss it. There will be much laughter…it will all be my laughter, but still…

ABOUT ME

I live near Pittsburgh, PA. I’m a wife to Cool Daddy and stay-at-home mom to 3.5 year old daughter, Adaline, and 14 month old son, Jonathan (my clomid vbac baby). We’re the coolest family on the block and we put the “fun” in dysFUNctional!

*I hate cooking. (I consider making a sandwich “cooking”.)
*Dirty dishes make me want to hurl on my shoes (and fyi, I’d rather clean those vomit shoes than the dishes…proof of how much dirty dishes gross me out).
*I love planning parties.
*I have a serious addiction to ice cream.
*I’m a birth and breastfeeding nerd. I think placentas are rad. I’ve never eaten one but it’s on my bucket list (just kidding…sorta).
*I totally crack myself up (I apologize in advance)!

ABOUT MY BLOG

I try to keep my blog focus on creating traditions and family fun and reasons to ditch the housework and spend time with your kids. Sometimes I post about myself and the kids and which pajamas I’m wearing underneath the boogers today (I’ll tell you now…I’m probably wearing the same pajamas that I wore yesterday. And the day before that.). The truth is that the actual “spend time with your kids” part kinda keeps me from blogging as often as I’d like…and that’s okay. Occasionally the blog will go silent while I tend to things in the real world.

Glued to Mommy

Each year in April I co-host the annual No Housework Party linky with Non-Domestic Mama. Be sure to stop by and link up any (new or old) housework or anti-housework related posts here. (Don’t forget to add a link back or a No Housework Party Button within your post.) If you don’t link up, that’s okay, I’ll just weep buckets of tears and eat snack cakes while I rock in the corner to take the pain away.

WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME

I’m prepared for the massive amounts of subscribers that I’m going to acquire any minute now begging me, “Please share your social media links with us, Cool Mama, so that I can follow you every minute in stalker-ish fashion and never miss a moment of your riveting and entertaining bloggy ways!” Well, for you, pretend random stalker-follower from the future, I will do anything. If you’ve fallen in love with me already (it happens, people…don’t fight it) and decided that you just can’t live without me another moment then I’ve made it very easy for you to stalk my every bloggy move.

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, You Tube and more. You can find follow and friend buttons, RSS, and email subscription in the header, on the top of the right sidebar, at the very bottom of the blog, and at the bottom of every post. You’ll probably want to subscribe or follow one of those ways. Or all of them…there’s no shame in being a little excessive. We applaud it around here.

I’m not desperate, I’m just thorough. Very, very thorough. Ahem.

If you do follow me please leave me your links in a comment or message where you’re following at so that I can follow back (as in an “@” on Twitter, post on my FB wall, etc.). Thanks!

Welcome to the 3rd Annual No Housework Party! Link Up!

Jenn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:00:24 +0000

Today is ”No Housework Day”! Welcome to the 3rd annual No Housework Party blog hop hosted by the Coolest Non-Domestic Mamas on the Block…Jenn and Rachael!

Whether you never lift a domestic finger or you are a dedicated domestic goddess…we’re giving you the day off!

(Click on the button above to get the code.)

Link up any of your housework related blog posts.
Here are a few writing prompts. Get creative!
-How are you celebrating No Housework Day?
-What do you do instead of housework?
-Tell us about that time you tried to clean something and it backfired on you.
-How did you become a Domestic Goddess / Domestically Challenged
-Share your housekeeping/organizing tips and tricks
-Confess your mess…be brave and show us pictures of your messy house
-Tell us your most/least favorite chore
-Why you hate/love housework
-How to you make housework fun (or at least bearable)
-Do your kids help with the housework?
(Link up as many related posts as you want, even ones that you linked last year, just include a link back!)

Link up here or at Non-Domestic Mama Friday April 05 through Friday April 12 to party!

RULES:
1. Family Friendly links only! Our blogs are the only things clean around here. We only have dirty houses, not dirty mouths.
2. ALL “housework” related posts are welcome (old or new)
3. Link up as many related posts as you like
4. Link directly to your post, not to your homepage
(Please do not link up giveaways).
5. LINK BACK! Grab one or more of our buttons and put it in your post with a link back, or simply link back to Coolest Family on the Block or Non-Domestic Mama in your post.
6. Hop and have fun!

Click below to add your link!

(Because I have a free WordPress.com blog that doesn’t accept javascript the links won’t be visible on my page. You have to click the link above to add/view links. Sorry )

If you’re a No Housework Party Facebook Fan we’ll be sharing the posts that you link up on our Facebook page. Click here to “like” us.

You can also party with us on Twitter at #nohousework where @coolfamilyblog and @nondomestic will be hanging out instead of cleaning, and follow our Non-Domestic and No Housework boards on Pinterest!

How to Fold a Towel (Video Tutorial)

Jenn — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:00:24 +0000

I’ve added this to Mama’s Kat Vlogging Workshop as prompt
3.) Make a video about anything…from a table in your kitchen.
Coincidentally I had just made this video last week for No Housework Day. Our kitchen light doesn’t work so I moved the table into the playroom to record the video. Enjoy

I dislike all housework but if I had to pick a favorite chore it would be the laundry. I don’t mind laundry so much. Maybe it’s because there’s really no gross factor like there is with dishes. Maybe it’s because there are only four of us and the laundry is pretty manageable. I don’t know.

I’m actually really good at folding laundry, so I thought I’d show you how to fold a towel. I know, it’s exciting isn’t it? I like to rock a nice, fancy tri-fold with my towels. Also, I fold in the shadows because I am mysterious (or because I have crappy lighting in my house). Watch and learn, my friends, watch and learn.

(Email and feed readers click here to see the video.)

…and. You. Are. Welcome.
I just changed your life.
Spread the word.

If you’re looking for another pointless tutorial you can check out this ooooold one of mine: How to build a jigsaw puzzle.

How do fold your towels? Tri-fold, square, origami elephant? Tell me in the comments!

Don’t forget to link up your housework (or anti-housework) related posts to the No Housework Party April 05-12, 2013!

You can “like” the No Housework Party on Facebook, party with @coolfamilyblog and @nondomestic on Twitter at #nohousework, and follow our Non-Domestic and No Housework boards on Pinterest!

Check out my other vlog for Mama Kat’s prompt #2
Something interesting you received in the mail

Announcing 3rd Annual No Housework Party

Jenn — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:00:08 +0000

No Housework Party hosted by the Coolest Non-Domestic Mamas on the Block!

Sunday, April 7, is a very important day. A day where women all over the country lay down their mops, clap their dish panned hands together and exclaim…”Today is No Housework Day!”

You, my dear readers, get to be part of something very special. In celebration of this most glorious day of all days on the calendar Rachael from Non-Domestic Mama and myself are teaming up to host the second annual No Housework Party! Oh yes.
Not much will be different for Rachael and I since we avoid housework every chance we get…but for those of you dedicated domestic goddesses…we’re giving you the day off!

From Friday, April 5 until Friday, April 12, stop by and link up your post.

Here are a few writing prompts. Get creative!
-How are you celebrating No Housework Day?
-What do you do instead of housework?
-Tell us about that time you tried to clean/cook something and it backfired on you.
-How did you become a Domestic Goddess / Domestically challenged
-Share your housekeeping/organizing tips and tricks
-Confess your mess…be brave and show us pictures of your messy house
-Tell us your most/least favorite chore
-Why you hate/love housework
-How to you make housework fun (or at least bearable)
-Do your kids help with the housework?

Need some examples?
2012 No Housework Party
2011 No Housework Party

For the Domestically Challenged

Do you hate housework, are you no good at it, or are there simply just not enough hours in the day to do it all? You’re not alone. All over the country non-domestics just like you are sweeping the cobwebs aside (figuratively…we don’t sweep for real, silly!), stepping out into the world and declaring, “I hate housework!”. We’re walking right past our piles of organized chaos and confessing to the world, “I have better things to do than dishes.” Join us on Saturday to link up any of your domestically challenged blog posts. Show us what you do instead of housework, how you plan on celebrating No Housework Day, or tell us about that time you tried to clean something and it backfired on you.

For the Domestic Goddesses

If you’re reading this while wiping your computer screen with a special cloth…you probably need to declare a holiday more than any of us (put the cloth down and back away, you weirdo!). Can’t take off a day of cleaning? You might feel like you don’t belong here, but you couldn’t be more wrong, my friend! You are welcome to link up any of your housework posts…make us feel guilty and show us your tips, tricks, and lovely organized closets. We’ll call you a show off and give you a winky to your face and then we’ll probably talk about you behind your back…but seriously, you’re totally welcome to link up!

Start planning how you’re going to celebrate No Housework Day (or if you’re a non-domestic…procrastinate and try to come up with something at the last minute ) and then meet back here or at Non-Domestic Mama April 5-12 to party!

See ya then (leave your broom at home!)

You can also party with us on Twitter at #nohousework where @coolfamilyblog and @nondomestic will be hanging out instead of cleaning, and follow my No Housework board and Rachael’s on Pinterest!

Beaver County Easter Egg Hunts and Events 2013 (Local)

Jenn — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:00:23 +0000

Welcome, local visitors! Click the button below for a list of Easter Egg Hunts and Easter events in Beaver County, PA and the Greater Pittsburgh Area for 2013
LOCAL EASTER EGG HUNTS AND EVENTS 2013

Half Birthday Celebrations

Jenn — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:00:20 +0000

Yesterday was Adaline’s Half Birthday!
She turned 3.5

I’ve always wanted to celebrate her half birthday but never have before. When she was younger I didn’t really want her to have the extra cake…and without the half-cake it seems kinda pointless to celebrate the half birthday. Last year I was super pregnant so we skipped it again.

This year seemed like the right time to start. Jonathan’s first birthday is a few days away (can you believe he’s already a year old?!) and Adaline was a little jealous and having a hard time understanding that this is not her birthday, or party, or cake. Giving her a little half-birthday celebration was something special for her before all of the focus shifts to Jonathan.

We celebrated with half of a cake, 3 and a half candles, and half plates.

We also sang Adaline “Halfie Birthday”.
It still sounds like “happy”. Oh well.
(Email and feed readers click here to watch the video.)

At the end of the video she’s running away from the candle smoke. She told us to “Get that stinky thing outta here!”

Adaline received half of a birthday card and a small present from the dollar store. We gave her the whole present. Only giving half of a present to a 3.5 year old would be a little cruel since she doesn’t quite understand it yet.

She was happy with her little celebration but she did get upset because there weren’t any balloons and she asked, “Where are all the people?”. All of those big birthday parties are coming back to haunt me.

In addition to measuring height on their birthday each year it has also been our tradition to measure height on each half birthday. Now I know why none of her clothes fit anymore!

Look how grown up she looks after just 6 months!

This half-birthday took me less than a half hour to plan All it took was a trip to the dollar store and making/buying a small cake.
(The cake looks deceiving big in the photos…it was very small.)

The scary part is that I only have 6 more months to plan her 4th birthday party!

Do you celebrate half birthdays in your family?
Let me know in the comments!

BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS

Shadow Puppets (Links)

Jenn — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:00:49 +0000

If you’d like to learn to make shadow puppets with your hands, shadow puppets with paper, or a shadow puppet theater…try one of the many links below. Shadow puppets are a great activity for Groundhog Day or Halloween and kids love them!

Click here for more Groundhog Day ideas

How to make Hand Shadow Puppets

*Shadow-Puppets.com
The most difficult hand puppet subject may be accomplished after only a few minutes.

*Fun with Shadows for Home Entertainers (Jan, 1930) @ Modern Mechanix
This feature explains how anyone can cast the shadows of sixteen different figures, an accomplishment which will provide many full evenings of entertainment for either children or adults.

*How to Make Shadow Puppets @ About.com/familycrafts
Teach your kids to have fun without their toys by bringing shadows to life. See how to make a dog, swan, and bunny rabbit with nothing but your hands, light, and a little imagination.

*Shadowy Days @ Little Page Turners
I stretched a sheet between two chairs, placed a naked lamp on the ground, and voila! We had ourselves a shadow puppet stage.

*Hand Shadows @ Apples 4 the Teacher
What a delightful way to expand on the concept of the Groundhog’s shadow – teach children how to make their own shadow characters! These can be made in front of an overhead projector or behind a hanging sheet with a light source.

*Showy Shadow Puppets @ Disney Family.com
Animal Hand Shadow Tips: Puppy Face, Spider, Goose, Elephant Head

How to make Paper Shadow Puppets

*Kid Craft: Make a Groundhog Shadow Puppet
by Modern Parents Messy Kids @ Momtastic
Here’s a fun kid craft that’s part art project, part puppet show

*Shadow Puppets for Kids @ Drawing Mom
Video

*Winter Shadow Puppets @ Little Wonders Days
They played with making the shadows bigger, smaller, and disappear altogether by moving their flashlight or the puppet.

*Shadow Shapes Craft @ Crayola.com
Regardless of whether the ground hog sees his shadow or not on February 2, kids can create their own Shadow Shapes—and make them all year ’round.

*Shadow Puppets @ Spoonful.com (formerly FamilyFun)
Your kids can cast a shadowy show of their own with just a few of these simplified paper puppets and a tabletop stage.

*Shadow Puppets (Free Printable) @ MarthaStewart.com
This craft is easy and fun plus it’s a great way to entertain young children! (Free printable polar bear or muskox puppet template.)

*How to Make a Shadow Puppet (Free Printable) @ Frolic Blog
The template for an octopus, a shark, a wolf eel and a ship.

*Halloween Shadow Makers (Free Printable) @ Mini Eco
The best thing is that they are very easy to make – all you need is some black paper, a craft knife, sticky tape and some wooden sticks.

*Shocking Silhouettes (Free Printables) @ Martha Stewart
As day turns to night, call on candles to cast an eerie glow throughout your home. When fierce silhouettes are propped above them, spectacular shadows dance across the walls.

*Shadow Puppets @ While Wearing Heels
The possibilities for making your own shadow puppets are endless and the cost involved is next to nothing.

*Shadow Puppets and Their Presentation
@ MagicalMoonshine.org
In shadow puppetry you are limited only by your imagination! Go make some fun puppets!

*Shadow Puppets @ Martha Stewart
More elaborate shapes require some supplementary materials, such as our templates for a shark, sea horse, angelfish, tuna, crab, and mermaid.

*How to Make Shadow Puppet @ The Organic Lemon
They are easy to make, affordable and provide hours of entertainment for little ones!

*Glow-in-the-Dark Star Shadow Puppets
by willowday @ The Crafty Crow
The shadow puppet can be used for: 1) a window shadow puppet 2) a flashlight shadow puppet (Something for summer nights in tents) and 3) a glow-in-the-dark toy or decoration.

*Make a Shadow Puppet Play @ Acorn Pies (also found here)
”For the theater, you could stretch a white sheet across a doorway, glue vellum to a wooden canvas stretcher, or like me, tape one-ply white paper to an old metal frame from the attic.”

*Shadow Puppets (Free Template) @ Education
Make the most of some ordinary household supplies to create this fun puppet craft that hails from Indonesia.

*Shadow Puppet Cutouts @ hvanrossum.com

*Shadow Puppets (free printable) @ National Wildlife Federation
Dolphin, fish, starfish, octopus, squirrel, rabbit, turtle, butterfly

*Easy Shadow Puppet Show @ Rhythm of the Home
”We stretched a sheet over two chairs in our living room. We attached the sheet to the chairs using clothespins, and stretched it all tight by using the weight of the chairs themselves.”

*Make Bedtime (even more) Theatrical with Shadow Puppets
@ Canadian Family
”We just lay down with our puppets close to the wall and shone a flashlight right on them.”

*Make Shadow Puppets @ Squidoo
Illustrated step by step directions how you can make your own shadow puppets, set up your stage, and put on a shadow puppet play.

*Kid Craft: Shadow Puppets @ Gardening without Skills
We got two barstools and stretched out a piece of freezer paper in between the stools and taped it in place. We put a halogen desk lamp behind the stools and turned off the lights in the room.

*Shadow Puppets @ Nuture Store
Puppets are a wonderful way for children to work out real-life relationships and develop their language – and so much fun to make!

Make a Shadow Puppet Theater

*Cereal Box Shadow Theater @ Mini-Eco
This cereal box shadow theater makes a great project for an older child. It’s really simple to make, and can be made from household scraps.

*Shadow Puppet Theater Tutorial @ Givers Log
Supplies: Freezer paper, Elmer’s Glue, Masking tape, permanent fabric paint (like textile paint or acrylic), sponge brayer for applying paint, Fabric that will let a little light through, Tulle (optional)

*DIY Shadow Puppet Theater @ Givers Log
”Tie a piece of string between two chairs and clothespin your theatre to the string. All you need is a flashlight and a puppeteer or two and you’re ready for a performance.”

*Little Light Theatre @ Home Adventurer
”At home we simply transformed our little entrance hall into the theatre; using a floor lamp for illumination, and a small table covered with a large sheet of baking parchment* as a screen.”

*Table Top Shadow Puppet Theater
@ Spoonful.com (formerly FamilyFun)
Your kids can cast a shadowy show of their own with just a few of these simplified paper puppets and a tabletop stage.

*How to Build a Simple Shadow Puppet Theater
@ Inner Child Fun
Shadow puppet theater was made from an empty cardboard box with the bottom cut out, and replaced with two sheets of white tissue paper held in place with packaging tape.

*Shadow Puppet Theater @ Make Monthly

*DIY Shadow Puppet Theatre @ Salsa Pie
Here’s an easy way you can turn a cardboard box and some freezer paper into a shadow puppet theatre!

*Shadow Puppets Cereal Box Theatre @ Red Ted Art

*Shadow Puppet Theatre @ Kirsten Rickert

*Shadow Puppet Theater @ Squidoo
Making a shadow puppet theater is an inexpensive family time activity that will build memories. All you need is a cardboard box (a cereal box works very well), scissors, tape, thin white paper or wax paper, and either straws, craft sticks, or skewers.

Have your kids ever tried shadow puppets?
Let me know in the comments!

RELATED POSTS:
*Fun Ideas for Groundhog Day

*Groundhog Day Goodies

*”I Love You” Shadow
Groundhog Day / Valentine’s Day Tradition

Merry Christmas 2012

Jenn — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:15:24 +0000

Merry Christmas!

Love,
The Cool Family

Adaline (3y) and Jonathan (10m)

Rocking our Ugly Christmas Sweaters!

I’ve been taking a long blogging break. Things have been really busy here in the real world and the family is my priority. I’ll be back eventually, but I’m not sure when. Until then check out my archives for great family fun ideas.

This post is linked to…

Related Posts:
*Merry Christmas 2011

*Merry Christmas 2010

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

Jenn — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:00:58 +0000

The Cool Family would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving

I didn’t really take that many photos this year so there wasn’t anything worth showing you other than this family photo. Adaline’s making a crazy face but it was still the best one of all of us together. If you’re very observant you’ll notice that Adaline and Cool Daddy are wearing the same shirts they wore in the 2011 Thanksgiving photo while Jonathan (wearing Adaline’s jammies) and I are sporting the same threads as the 2010 Thanksgiving photo. It’s all very exciting.

Thank you for being a loyal reader of my blog

Related Posts
*Happy Thanksgiving 2011

*Happy Thanksgiving 2010

Pittsburgh Area Pumpkin Patches 2012 (Local)

Jenn — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:00:17 +0000

*PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE WEATHER MANY/MOST EVENTS OUTDOORS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED OR POSTPONED. I HAVE NOT UPDATED THAT INFO IN THIS POST, YOU WILL NEED TO CHECK INDIVIDUAL WEBSITES AND FACEBOOK PAGES FOR INFO.*

Listed here are local farms hosting fall/harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, and fruit picking in Western PA’s greater Pittsburgh area during October 2012. A list of fall festival and events in Beaver County, PA and beyond can be found here

Please feel free to pin this blog post. Please pin the above image/button and be sure that you are pinning the post itself and not the blog homepage (use this link: http://coolestfamilyontheblock.com/2012/09/24/pittsburgh-area-pumkin-patches-2012), click on the post title or the above image to take you to the correct page for pinning. A “pin” button is located at the very bottom of this post above the comment box. Thank you for pinning responsibly .

Here’s the quick-list of links.
For details on each farms activities, please scroll down.
Cheeseman Farm – Portersville, PA
Harvest Valley Farms – Valencia, PA
Hozak Farms – Clinton, PA
Janoski’s – Clinton, PA
Jodikinos – Clinton, PA
Port Farm – Waterford, PA
Pumpkin Patch Trolley – Washington, PA
Reilly’s Summerseat Farm – Pittsburgh, PA
Renshaw Family Farm – Freeport, PA
Schramm Farms – Jeannette, PA
Shenot Farm – Wexford, PA
Simmons Farm – McMurray, PA
Soergels Orchards – Wexford, PA
Spring House Market – Washington, PA
Trax Farms – Finleyville, PA
Triple B Farms – Monongahela, PA
Wooden Nickel Buffalo Corn Maze – Edinboro, PA
Woodward’s Orchard – Beaver Falls, PA (Chippewa Twp)
Columbiana Maze Craze – Columbiana, OH

PUMPKIN PATCHES
Listed alphabetically

CHEESEMAN FARM PUMPKIN FESTIVAL – Portersville, PA

SEPTEMBER 22 and 29, 2012 12PM-5PM
SATURDAYS and SUNDAYS OCTOBER 2012 12PM-5PM
Festival Hayrides: $4.00 per person ages 2 and up (does not include price of pumpkin
It’s time for harvest and here you can pickup your local favorites, Honey, Apple Butter and of course Pumpkins. The pumpkin festival is a great way to spend a day with the family and enjoy the fall weather. Start a new family tradition take a hay ride to our pumpkin patch and pick out this year’s holiday decorations. Hay Rides, Petting Zoo, Hay Jump, Pumpkin Video (upon request), Concession Stand, Holiday Items, Pumpkins and Gourds, Indiana Corn, Corn Stalks, Hay Bales
Cheeseman Fright Farm

HARVEST VALLEY FARMS FALL FESTIVAL – Valencia, PA
EVERY SATURDAY and SUNDAY OCTOBER 2012 10AM-5PM
FREE
2012 Calender Of Events
October 6 and 7 Live Music / Saturday 10/06: Rick Bruening
October 13 and 14 Live Music / Sunday 10/14: Eve Goodman
“Treasure in the Haystack” / Proceeds benefit Local Food Bank
October 20 and 21 Live Music: Rick Bruening
October 27 and 28: Pumpkin Bowling and Pumpkin Basketball / Proceeds benefit SBC Meals on Wheels
You can take the hayride up on the hill to get a full view of the “harvest” valley, take a walk through the great pumpkin patch, and much more! Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin, Hayrides, Cornstalk Maze, Farm Animals, Concession Stand, Straw Tunnel, Fall Decorations, Fresh Baked Pies, Face Painting, Pumpkin Patch Special Weekend Features, Live Folk Music, Straw Treasure, Pumpkin Bowling, Pumpkin Basketball. Try the hot apple cider! Facebook / Twitter

HOZAK FARMS FALL FESTIVAL – Clinton, PA
Free…Hayrides to the Pumpkin Patch
WEEKDAYS OCTOBER 2012 2PM-6PM
September 29 and 30, 2012 10AM-6PM
SATURDAYS and SUNDAYS OCTOBER 2012 10AM-6PM
COLUMBUS DAY October 08, 2012 10AM-6PM (No pony rides)
FREE
Weekday afternoons enjoy a short tractor drawn hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkins. Plus, pumpkin painting, straw pile, maze, and farm animals are open every weekday afternoon.
Saturdays and Sundays Pony Rides, Pumpkin Picking, Pumpkin Painting, Face Painting, Refreshments, Musical Entertainment, Fall Decorations, Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, Scenic Hayrides through the woods. Facebook

JANOSKI’S PUMPKINLAND – Clinton, PA
September 29 and 30th, 2012
EVERY WEEKEND OCTOBER 2012 10AM-5PM
October 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28
$5.00 per person
Enjoy with your family our Haunted Barn, Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Straw Jump, Pedal Bike Path, Pony Rides (for Children Only) Petting Zoo, Pumpkin Painting, face painting and much more. There are picnic tables and pavilions. Feel free to pack a lunch or visit our food booth. During this time our Farm Market, Gift Shop, Bakery, and Garden Center are open. Be sure to stop in and see our friendly staff and enjoy the bountiful fall harvest! Facebook

JODIKINOS PUMPKIN PATCH – Clinton, PA
Jodikinos Farm Market
195 Hanover Kendall Road Clinton, PA 15026
Currently no information available for Pumpkin Fest 2012. / Facebook

PORT FARM HARVEST FESTIVAL – Waterford, PA
September 15, 2012 through October 31, 2012
OPENING WEEKEND 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Saturday, September 15th: Many special surprises are in store to honor the most fabulous, favorite, fun part of the last nine years – YOU! It will be a giant party, Port-style, with giveaways, contests and adventures galore for our guests
Sunday, September 16th – Scavenger Hunt and Scarecrows by Scouts: Searching for clues is a tradition if you visit the farm during kick-off weekend!
Prizes awarded to all who succeed in finding those clues and solving the riddle. Also,
today we host our scouts in appreciation for their scarecrow-building talents.
THIRD ANNUAL GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF
Saturday, September 22nd: Third time is a charm! We are hoping to weigh-in a world record this year and have a TON of fun doing it. Witnessing these orange wonders is the ideal way to spend the first day of autumn.
FAMILY FUN AND GAMES along with MASCOT DAY
Saturday, September 29th: Jump right in and spit some seeds, be a wheelbarrow or balance a pumpkin on your head! Guaranteed fun for all who join in. Local mascots will be sharing this day with plenty of handshakes and hugs to go around.
LEGACY EXPERIENCE Columbus Day Weekend
Saturday, October 6th and Sunday October 7th: A homage to the heritage and history of our sacred ground here along French Creek. Encampments featuring storytelling, and traditional demonstrations are passionately expressed by French Creek Living History Association.
MUSIC MAKERS Saturday, October 13th: Traditional musicians share their talents and add a joyful element to the energy of the farm. Lend your ears, clap your hands and feel free to dance and sing if you’d like.
FARMER FOR A DAY Saturday, October 20th: Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get a li’l dirty! Farm chores are hard work, but can be quite satisfying. Be a part of our Children’s Garden by pitching in and contributing to it’s splendor.
PUMPKIN-MANIA PARTY Saturday, October 27th: Near the end of the season, things get a little kooky and we see nothing but orange! This day is ALL about pumpkins and ways to use them for entertainment. Pumpkin treats and antics await you.
Facebook

PUMPKIN PATCH TROLLEY – Washington, PA
1 Museum Rd Washington, PA 15301-6133 724-228-9256
OCTOBER 2012 Weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) 10AM-5PM
Also open Columbus Day Monday, October 08, 2012
Children (ages 1-15) $7 / Adults $9
Enjoy fall at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum with Pumpkin Patch Trolley, where
children can pick a pumpkin and then decorate it plus much more!
/ Twitter / Facebook / Facebook Page: Frank J. Sprague Official Cat of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Arts and Crafts Christmas Festival

REILLY’S SUMMER SEAT FARM HARVEST FESTIVAL OF FUN – Pittsburgh, PA
EVERY WEEKEND OCTOBER 2012 10AM-4PM
Cost $6.50 per person
Reilly’s is open every weekend for a Harvest Festival of Fun! Hayrides to the great pumpkin patch where you’ll find all sizes of pumpkins for your picking pleasure, Pumpkin Patch Hayrides, the New Boo Barn with added excitement, the Cornstalk maze, Marshmallow roast, Balloon Typhoon, Pedal Go Carts, Pony Rides and Petting Zoo, Face Painting, Cow Milking, Scarecrow-Making, Country Store, Wanda’s Games, Ducky Plucky, Carmel Apples, Refreshments. A one-price a super Harvest Festival ticket includes activities. No reservations needed, just come and have fun!
Facebook

RENSHAW FAMILY FARM – Freeport, PA
314 Ford City Rd, Freeport, PA 16229
Currently no information available for 2012 festival.

SCHRAMM FARMS FALL FEST – Jeannette, PA
OCTOBER 2012
WEEKDAYS M-F 9AM-7PM
WEEKENDS SAT 9AM-7\6PM / SUN 10AM-6PM
We have play hay, and a corn stalk maze free of charge. For a few dollars we offer pony rides and hay rides around the pumpkin patch. Facebook

SHENOT FARM HAYRIDES – Wexford, PA
September 29, 2012
WEEKENDS OCTOBER 2012 11AM-5PM
COLUMBUS DAY October 08, 2012 1PM-5PM
We offer hayrides to our pumpkin patch and corn maze. It is a great way to spend an afternoon with your family, and it’s the perfect time to get your jack-o-lanterns, cornstalks, straw bales, decorative Indian corn–as well as our delicious sweet corn, apples, cider, and vegetables. Of course don’t forget to stop at the fudge counter! Facebook

SIMMONS FARM FALL ACTIVITIES – McMurray, PA
170 Simmons Road, McMurray PA 15317
7 Days a week OCTOBER 2012 M-F 9AM-6:45PM Weekends 9AM-5:45PM
Scenic Hayride and Field Pass: $8.50
Pumpkin Scenic Hayride & Field Pass: $11.00
Over five acres of pumpkins, Free Apple sample and cup of cider, Hay maze and 3 acre corn maze and 1 acre corn maze, 100ft slide and smaller Fire Truck slide!, farm animals. Weekend Extra Activities Include: Food Concessions, Pumpkin Carving Display, Pony Rides, Pumpkin Typhoon, Apple Sling Shot, Music by Fiddlin’ Mike and the Fiddlin’ Around Band, Apple Picking (weekend activity availability due to weather may vary call ahead). Facebook

SOERGEL ORCHARDS FALL FESTIVAL – Wexford, PA
SATURDAYS and SUNDAYS OCTOBER 11AM-5PM
September 22-23, 2012 to October 27-28, 2012
EAT: There will be a ton a great food every fall festival weekend including Amish donuts every Saturday for $1 each (cash only Amish donuts).
PLAY: Come play all your favorite festival games and try some new ones too! We have games suited for children of all ages and some free activities as well! Pumpkin Painting, Face Painting, Cornstalk Maze, Straw Tunnel, Duck Pond, Duck Race, Sluice, Ring Toss, Bounce House, Train, Spin Art, Tiny Town play area*, Straw Stack*, Pirate Ship play area*, Farm Animals*
*denotes free activity
ENJOY: Pick your own pumpkins 11AM-5PM, Hayrides to the pumpkin patch 11AM-5PM, Pony rides 1PM-3PM, Horse drawn wagon rides 2PM-4PM, Free samples and demonstrations
Facebook / Facebook: Garden Center / Facebook: Naturally Soergels / Twitter / Pinterest

SPRING HOUSE MARKET PUMPKIN PATCH HAYRIDES – Washington, PA
EVERY SATURDAY and SUNDAY OCTOBER 2012 11AM-4PM
$6 per person + $3 to pick a pumpkin
Hayride to Pumpkin Patch, Pick your perfect pumpkin, Pumpkin Land Characters, Corn Maze, Petting Zoo,…and MORE! Facebook

TRAX FARMS 43rd FALL FESTIVAL – Finleyville, PA
EVERY WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 22 to OCTOBER 28, 2012 10AM-5PM

FREE Admission
Hayrides: Adult $8, Children (3-12) $6, Children 2 and under are FREE
Enjoy a hayride to our pumpkin patch to pick-your-own pumpkin or see if you can find your way through our giant, 4-acre corn maze! There are fun things to do and great things to eat and drink including fresh apple cider and over 15 varieties of apples grown at Trax Farm, candy apples, heavenly pumpkin gobs and other seasonal treats from our bakery. Apple Cider and Caramel Apple Dip during fall festival only!
(Free Petting Zoo; Ticketed Activities include: Rainbow Express Train, Trax Challenge/ Corn Bin Mini Maze, Balloon Chase, Slide, Bounce House, Spin Art, Land Ball, Bungee Jumper, Wall Climb; Cash Activities include: Pony Rides and Glitter Tattoos) Facebook

TRIPLE B FARMS FAMILY FALL APPLE and PUMPKIN FESTIVAL – Monongahela, PA
September 29, 2012 to October 31, 2012
WEEKENDS 10AM-6PM (begininng September 29th)
M-F 10AM-4PM Only Pumpkinland and Cornmaze ($2.50 each)
W-TH-F 4PM-7PM (beginning October 5th)
Open Columbus Day, October 08, 2012 12PM-6PM
Activity Wristband: $11.00 per child; $7.00 per adult
Children 2 and under FREE
Wristband includes: Boo Barn, Rope Maze, Pumpkinland, Funny Farm, Hayride, 2 Giant Slides, Barnyard Carnival, Cornmaze, Farm Flinger, Duck Derby, Duck Slide Facebook

WOODWARD’S ORCHARD – Chippewa Twp, PA
727 Achortown Rd Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Monday-Saturday 10AM-5PM
Welcome to Woodward’s Orchard. We are a family owned orchard located in Chippewa Township. (Above Brady’s Run Park) Our store will open for the season August 1st 2012 Hope to see you. God bless you. 724-891-0102

CORN MAZES
Many of the above pumpkin patches include corn mazes, please check the descriptions. The following are corn mazes only.

COLUMBIANA MAZE CRAZE – Columbiana, OH
45107 State Route 14 Columbiana, Ohio 44408
(Corner of State Routes 7 and 14)

OCTOBER 2012
Wednesdays: 5PM-10PM (last ticket sold at 8pm)
Fridays: 5PM-12AM midnight (last ticket sold at 10pm)
Saturdays: 11AM-12AM midnight (last ticket sold at 10pm)
Sundays: 11AM-9PM (last ticket sold at 7pm)
(Check website for weekend weather closures.)
Ages 12 and Over $9.00 Children 5 to 11 $7.00
Hayrides: $3.00 Ages 4 and up / Barrel train rides: $1.00 per ride (S/S 12PM-5PM)
(Check website for group rates and other rates/discounts.)
NEW THIS YEAR…GEM STONE MINING ATTRACTION!!!
The maze this season is 20 amazing acres, 4 separate mazes in 2012, 18 checkpoints to locate! Play FSI and Farm Tracks. Gemstone Mining Attraction, Straw Pyramids, Corn Box, Corn Hole, Wood Cut-outs for Photos, Swingset, Hayrides and Barrel Train rides (Saturdays and Sundays check prices), Concessions by GandG (sausage sandwiches, steak hoagies, corn dogs, great french fries, apple dumplings, lemon shakes, ice cream, popcorn, and more! This is not a haunted maze, but you are welcome to come after dark and bring your own flashlight, or you can purchase one for $3.00 when you arrive.
*Pumpkins supplied by local farmers are available to purchase / Facebook

WOODEN NICKEL BUFFALO FARM CORN MAZE
5970 Koman Road Edinboro, PA 16412
(814)734-2833 Toll Free: 1-866-203-5268

Open Friday August 31, 2012
Website / Facebook

LINKS TO LINKS
Fairs/Festivals – Western PA
Pumpkin Patches and more – Western PA

FALL IN PA
Fall in PA
Pittsburgh Fall Foliage Driving Tours

VISIT BEAVER COUNTY/PA
VisitBeaverCounty.com
PAvisnet.com – Beaver
VisitPA.com

Have you attended one of the events listed here? Please tell us about your experience in the comments section.

Feel free to email pictures if you would like them featured on the blog. I hope your family has a fantastically fun-filled fall!

Beaver County PA Fall Festivals October 2012 (Local)

Jenn — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 10:00:53 +0000

*ALMOST ALL BEAVER COUNTY TRICK-OR-TREAT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO SATURDAY NOVEMBER 03, 2012 (times vary).*
Updates can be found here.
(I did not preview the video included in that post, so I do not know what it contains. Please use caution around little eyes and ears.)

If you’re looking for a place to have some fall family fun in Beaver County, PA this October…you’ve come to the right place! Fall, autumn, harvest, and Halloween festivals, fairs, celebrations, craft shows, parades, and trick-or-treat in Western PA’s greater Pittsburgh area. Who knew there was so much to do in Beaver County?!

I’ve also added a few festivals and events that are happening in Western, PA but they’re outside of Beaver County. They might be worth the drive!

Please feel free to pin this blog post. Please pin the above image/button and be sure that you are pinning the post itself and not the blog homepage (use this link: http://coolestfamilyontheblock.com/2012/09/22/beaver-county-fall-festivals-2012), click on the post title or the above image to take you to the correct page for pinning. A “pin” button is located at the very bottom of this post above the comment box. Thank you for pinning responsibly .

Check the Local: Beaver County, PA page for updates and a “Quick List” of October events. Click here for a list of Pittsburgh Area Pumpkin Patches.

*New events that have been added since the original post was published on 9/22/2012 will be in red text until the event is over. This should make it easy to scroll down the list to find new events.

Bookmark this link as I’ll be adding more events to the list as information becomes available. Continue to check my blog (subscribe here) as I’ll be posting information about pumpkin patches in the Pittsburgh area.

(If you know of an event in Beaver County not listed here and would like to add it to this list, please email me at coolfamilyblog (at) yahoo (dot) com. Sending a website link or flier (pdf or jpeg) with more information is appreciated!)

VISIT BEAVER COUNTY, PA
PA Vendors: Beaver County Events
VisitBeaverCounty.com
PAvisnet.com – Beaver
VisitPA.com
BEAVER COUNTY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Farmers Markets listed here

FALL in PA
Fall in PA
Pittsburgh Fall Foliage Driving Tours

EVENTS BY DATE

SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

NEW BRIGHTON CHILDREN’S HARVEST FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 29, 2012 11AM-2PM
Townsend Park 600 block of 3rd Ave, New Brighton, PA
Come join us at Townsend Park for the Children’s Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 29, 2012. The Harvest Festival will take place from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Fun for the entire family including pumpkin painting, children’s games, cider, cookies, music, scariest pumpkin fax drawing contest, scare crow making, and fun for the entire family (Also found here)

ERNFEST HARMONIST HARVEST FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 29, 2012 10AM-5PM
Sunday, September 30, 2012 12PM-5PM
Old Economy Village
270 Sixteenth Street, Ambridge
$10 Adults $9 Seniors $6 Children <2 Free
Learn how the Harmonists celebrated the harvest and prepared for the long winter. Churn butter, make Apple Schnitz, press apples for cider, watch craftsmen demonstrate their skills and much more! Enjoy Village tours, Harmonist music, family friendly activities, carriage rides, hot dogs, ice cream and lemonade. Homemade German food will be available at St. John’s Lutheran Church across the street from the Village. Also here

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

ERNFEST HARMONIST HARVEST FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 29, 2012 10AM-5PM
Sunday, September 30, 2012 12PM-5PM
Old Economy Village
270 Sixteenth Street, Ambridge
Churn butter, make Apple Schnitz, press apples for cider, watch craftsmen demonstrate their skills and much more! Enjoy Village tours, Harmonist music, family friendly activities, carriage rides, hot dogs, ice cream and lemonade. Homemade German food will be available at St. John’s Lutheran Church across the street from the Village.

OCTOBER 05, 2012

CHIPPEWA UNITED METHODIST FALL FESTIVAL

Friday, October 05, 2012 11AM-8PM
Saturday, October 06, 2012 9AM-5:30PM
Chippewa United Methodist Church, 2545 Darlington Road, Chippewa Twp, Beaver Falls, PA
Free for all ages
It’s an outside carnival. Great family fun with food, live entertainment, talent show, petting zoo, pony rides, balloon artist, crafts, gifts and lots more. 724-843-4828 Website / Facebook

FRANKLIN APPLEFEST
Located in beautiful Victorian Downtown Franklin, PA

Friday, October 05, 2012
Saturday, October 06, 2012
Sunday, October 07, 2012
*Arts & Crafts – Over 300 Vendors*Antique & Classic Car Show*5K Race for Any Pace*Kids’ Korner*Farmers’ Market*Free Entertainment*Food, Food & More Food

SMICKSBURG FALL FESTIVAL (Armstrong County)

Friday, October 05, 2012
Saturday, October 06, 2012
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Apple Cider making demonstration, Local Apples and Pumpkins for Sale, Amish Buggy available for great pictures, Kettle Corn, Entertainment, Pumpkin butter, Apple cider, Sample Fall Dips, Free wagon rides through the Amish countryside, Clowns, Balloon Sculptures, Face Painting, Bake Sale, Fresh Baked Apple Dumplings, Homemade Ice Cream, Throwing Demonstrations and Smicksburg Crocks, Wine Tasting, Festival Foods, Pottery Demonstrations, DJ all weekend, Candle Dipping demonstrations on Friday and Saturday!
Potters Tour: October 20-21, 2012

OCTOBER 06, 2012

WHITE TOWNSHIP (BEAVER FALLS) COMMUNITY DAYS
Saturday, October 06, 2012 12PM
Minnemeyer Memorial Playground
Clayton Road in White Township Beaver Falls, PA 15010
FREE
The celebration begins at 12 noon and includes food, games, and fall fun.

VANPORT FALL FESTIVAL
Vanport Volunteer Fire Station Social Hall
435 Jefferson Street, Vanport
Saturday, October 06, 2012 7AM-5PM
FREE
Pancake Breakfast $5.50 7AM-11AM
Fun for the whole family. Entertainment, food booths, dunk tank, funhouse, children’s games and lots more! 724-774-6420

FALL CRAFT SHOW & SALE
Hookstown American Legion, 1265 State Route 168, Georgetown
Saturday, October 06, 2012 10AM-3PM
Sunday, October 07, 2012 10AM-3PM
FREE
Many local crafters. Seasonal candles, handmade wooden items, pet toys, dolls and more. Ladies Auxiliary will have homemade food for sale. 412-897-0100

FRANKLIN APPLEFEST
Located in beautiful Victorian Downtown Franklin, PA

Friday October 05, 2012
Saturday October 06, 2012
Sunday October 07, 2012
*Arts & Crafts – Over 300 Vendors*Antique & Classic Car Show*5K Race for Any Pace*Kids’ Korner*Farmers’ Market*Free Entertainment*Food, Food & More Food

SMICKBURG FALL FESTIVAL (Armstrong County)

Friday October 05, 2012
Saturday October 06, 2012
Sunday October 07, 2012
Potters Tour: October 20-21, 2012

HOMEWOOD 23rd ANNUAL HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVAL

Saturday October 06, 2012 10AM-6PM
Sunday October 07, 2012 10AM-6PM
Village of Homewood Junction, Village Center & Buttermilk Falls
Homewood Borough, Beaver Falls, PA
FREE
Annual festival held the first weekend in October with living history area encampment (Civil War period), food, crafts, vendor booths, wagon and pony rides, live entertainment and music, all-you-can-eat fireman’s breakfast, Civil War re-enactments, car cruise both days, children’s area with amusements and more. Campfire gathering at Buttermilk Falls. Free shuttle. 724-846-8022 Heritage Days

ST. ELIJAH SERBIAN FOOD FESTIVAL

Saturday October 06, 2012
Sunday October 07, 2012
St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, 2200 Main Street, Aliquippa

29th Annual HICKORY APPLE FESTIVAL
Firehall Grounds 106 Main Street (Route 50) Hickory, Pa. 15340

Saturday, October 06, 2012 10AM-6PM (Pancake Breakfast 7AM)
Sunday, October 07, 2012 10AM-6PM (Pancake Breakfast 7AM)
Kettle Corn, Homemade Food, Homemade Crafts, Craft Demonstrations, Children’s Activities, Live Entertainment
Watch Crafters Demonstrate Their Skills: Wood Burning, Rug Making, Wood Carving, Basket Weaving, Pottery Wheel, Quilting and Spinning, Broom Making, Tole Painting, Plus More…
Children’s Activities: Apple Bobbing Contest, Apple Pie Eating Contest, Petting Zoo, Hay Rides (Parents ride also), Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Moon Walk, Fire Safety House, Plus More…

OCTOBER 07, 2012

SMICKBURG FALL FESTIVAL (Armstrong County)

Friday October 05, 2012
Saturday October 06, 2012
Sunday October 07, 2012
Potters Tour: October 20-21, 2012

HOMEWOOD 23rd ANNUAL HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVAL

Saturday October 06, 2012 8AM-5PM
Sunday October 07, 2012 8AM-5PM
Village of Homewood Junction, Village Center & Buttermilk Falls, Homewood Borough, Beaver Falls, PA
Free for all ages
Annual festival held the first weekend in October with living history area, food, crafts, vendor booths, wagon and pony rides, live entertainment and music, all-you-can-eat fireman’s breakfast, Civil War re-enactments, car cruise both days. Campfire gathering at Buttermilk Falls. Free shuttle. 724-843-1246 Heritage Days

ST. ELIJAH SERBIAN FOOD FESTIVAL

Saturday October 06, 2012
Sunday October 07, 2012
St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, 2200 Main Street, Aliquippa

OCTOBER 12, 2012

18th Annual QUILT SHOW
HOLY FAMILY PARISH 1851 3rd Ave New Brighton, PA 15066

Friday October 12, 2012 10AM-5PM
Saturday October 13, 2012 10AM-5PM
Sunday October 14, 2012 11AM-4PM
Admission $7 / Children 12 & under Free

OCTOBER 13, 2012

MONACA APPLE FEST
Saturday October 13, 2012 10AM-2PM
Monaca United Methodist Church
813 Indiana Avenue Monaca, PA 15061
Free for all ages
Apple Butter, Apple Dumplings, Bake Sale, Food, Rummage Sale, Craft Vendors, Face Painting by Kathy’s Clown, Pumpkin decorating, Kids Korner. Fun for the whole family. 724-775-6702 http://www.timesonline.com/calendar/holiday/apple-fest/event_91b5afb6-ff83-11e1-a0f6-101f742c6b0c.html

BADEN APPLEFEST
Saturday October 13, 2012 10AM-6PM
Baden Borough Building Complex, State Street, Baden PA
Applefest event with ethnic food, music, live entertainment, art show, farmer’s market, community flea market, car cruise, children’s Old World art and craft stations, pony rides, petting zoo, artisans and crafters. 724-630-3418 or badenapplefest (at) gmail.com

CENTER TWP FALL FEST

Saturday, October 13, 2012 12PM-6PM Rain or Shine
Fred Taddeo Municipal Park
224 Center Grange Road, Center Township
FREE
Plenty of food, great games, pumpkin patch, hay rides and lots of fun for the whole family. Inflatable bounce houses, face painting, pumpkin patch, spin art, rock wall, hay rides, kid crafts, music, games, funnel cakes, food/refreshments
11AM Parade (Parade will meet at St. Frances Cabrini Church upper parking lot)
2PM Chili Contest
3PM Hot dog eating contest
4PM Corn hole contest
Website / Facebook Page / Facebook Post

BRIDGEWATER PUMPKINFEST
http://bridgewaterpa.com/Bridgewater,_PA/Pumpkinfest.html

Saturday October 13, 2012 10AM-3PM
Bridge Street, Bridgewater, PA
FREE for all ages
The annual Pumpkinfest event is a family fun day held the second Saturday in October with music, ventriloquist, vendors, arts and crafts, food, games and hayrides. New in 2012! Petting zoo! Pumpkinfest features a number of fun activities for the entire family to enjoy. Plus, there’s always plenty to eat while you’re enjoying live entertainment by some of our area’s most talented musicians. Be sure to bring the kids down for this wonderful celebration of the season! 724-775-1335 / (Also found here and here)
Check out the Cool Family’s experience at the 2009 Bridgewater Pumpkinfest

HOPEWELL FALLFEST 2012

Saturday October 13, 2012 11AM-5PM
Hopewell Community Park, 2500 Laird Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001
FREE All Ages
Hayrides, Crafters and Food Vendors, Paddleboats, Pumpkin Painting Contest, Wild Animal Show 4-5 pm, Petting Zoo, Games, Treats and Crafts for Kids 724-462-6236 / Website / Also here

Edgewood Baptist Church FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL

Saturday October 13, 2012 11AM-4PM
Fall Harvest Festival is a free event.
Edgewood Baptist Church, Beaver Falls
Fall festival family day (rain or shine) at Edgewood Baptist Church is a blast for the whole family! Free food, ice cream, hay rides, games, prizes, fire truck, drama, music, bouncie houses, and lots of fun!

CCBC 25th ANNUAL AMERICAN INDIAN GATHERING

Saturday October 13, 2012 10AM-10PM
Sunday October 14, 2012 10AM-5PM
The Dome at Community College of Beaver County, 1 Campus Drive, Monaca, PA
All ages. Spectators $4; children 5-12, $2; children under 5 free.
Native American dancing, food, crafters, traders, youth and scout programs, exhibits and educational seminars. / (Found here and here)

ZELIENOPLE COUNTRY FALL FESTIVAL

Saturday October 13, 2012 9AM-7PM
Sunday October 14, 2012 12PM-5PM
Admission: Free
Arts, Crafts & Entertainment, Live Music at the Gazebo, Farmer’s Market Market Tent Foods & Fall Decorations, Yoder’s homemade apple butter being made over an open fire, Visit Bob Geresti’s Musical Tent, Antiques & Collectible Market, The Cutt’ N Hut Chainsaw Carving, Pony Rides and Farm Friends, Homemade Hot Soup, Sandwich and Beverages! By “The Willing Workers” (11:00 am-7 pm Sat.)(Noon-5 pm Sun.), Homemade Foods and More Foods, Historic Encampments (Visit http://www.immofpa.com), Civil War Historians Encampment, Ambrose’s Antique Corn Grinding Machine, Beekeeper – Bee Displays, Antique Farm Equipment (Stand up Corn Sheller, Wooden Wheel Barrow, Walking Plow), Native American Historical Re-Creationist
FREE Horse Drawn Trolley/Wagon Rides: 11AM-7PM (Sat) / 12PM-5PM (Sun)
Kids Game Activity Alley, Bounces, Face Painting, Rock Climbing Wall/Euro Bungee: 10AM-7PM (Sat) 12PM-5PM (Sun)

FALL SOCIAL AT SOUTH SIDE VILLAGE

Saturday, October 13, 2012 11AM-3PM
Hookstown Fairgounds, 1198 State Route 168, Hookstown
Stroll through the village and visit the one-room school house, the blacksmith shop, the log cabin, the doctor’s office, the barn and the covered bridge. Enjoy the music of country and bluegrass music. Homemade pies, baked goods and sandwiches available. All welcome. Donations accepted. 724-899-4165 / Website / Facebook / (Also found here)

APPLE CASTLE FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL & CRAFT FAIR
Apple Castle, New Wilmington, PA

Saturday, October 13, 2012 9AM-5PM
*Bag-Your-Own Apples*Horse Drawn Wagon Rides*Dozens of Craft Exhibitors*Live Music & Entertainment*Fall Decorations-Pumpkins, Corn Stalks, Gourds*Fresh Cider, Donuts, and Much More!
Check out the Cool Family’s experience at the 2010 Apple Castle Fall Harvest Festival

VOLANT AUTUMN PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
Volant, PA

Saturday, October 13, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Volant is the place to be for peak autumn color! Enjoy the sights and smells of the season viewing craft demonstrations. The days events will include apple butter making demo, pumpkin decorating for the kids, a chili cook-off, a harvest market, and much more. It will be an enjoyable day for all.
Check out the Cool Family’s experience at the 2009 and 2011 Volant Autumn Pumpkin Festival

OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS IN THE WOODS
Shaker Woods, Columbiana, OH

Saturdays and Sundays
October 13-14, 20-21, 2012 10AM-5PM
General admissions tickets will be on sale at the gate.
$7.00 per day Ages 13 and up (On sale at the gate) / FREE parking
The woods will be transformed into a holiday wonderland with each booth beautifully decorated in an old-fashioned holiday theme. Woodworkers, floral designers, blacksmiths, potters, tole painters, basket weavers and many others, delicious foods cooked in the old-fashioned way. Come and have an old-fashioned good time!

OCTOBER 14, 2012

OCTOBER 20, 2012

CHIPPEWA TWP OCTOBERFEST
Chippewa Park on Klein Street

Saturday, October 20, 2012 1PM-3PM
Puppet Show starts at 1:30
Candy, prizes, face painting, crafts
Popcorn and refreshments provided
Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Events” for details.

Beaver County YMCA TRICK OR TREAT
2236 Third Avenue, New Brighton, PA

Saturday, October 20, 2012 1PM-1:45PM and 1:45PM-2:30PM
FREE: Preregistration is required
Website / Facebook Post

TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL

Saturday October 20, 2012 6PM
Green Valley Park, 184 Snyder Drive, New Sewickley Township
Free for all ages
New Sewickley Township’s Recreation Board will hold their annual Trick or Treat Trail on October 20th at Green Valley Park starting at 6:00pm. This year’s event will be organized by Zoe Zayre a student at Freedom High School as her senior project.

MONACA FALLFEST

Saturday, October 20, 2012 10AM-5PM
PA Ave, Monaca, PA
Free for all ages
9:30AM: 5K Race
11:30AM: Halloween Parade
12:30PM-2PM: Chili Cook Off Contest in the firehouse
12:30pm-4:30pm: Live entertainment at the plaza
Features a 5-K Race, Halloween parade, entertainment, car cruise, D.J., children’s games, crafts, chili cook-off, food booths, pony rides, games, Children’s Pumpkin Patch, train rides, and car cruise. 724-775-9600 (Also here)

VICARY MANSION APPLEBUTTER FEST

Saturday, October 20, 2012 10AM-5PM
Vicary Mansion, 1235 Third Avenue, Freedom, PA
All ages/donations accepted.
Self-guided tours of the Vicary Mansion. Demonstrations of making apple butter in an outdoor kettle and bread making in a 19th century oven! View a special presentation on the history of Beaver County bridges. This year learn something new while our delicious applebutter is bubbling in the pot over an open fire! Instructors will be available to give you an introductory hands on experience in: Bobbin Lace, Tatting, Cross Stitch, Rug Hooking, Weaving, Spinning, Quilting/patchwork, Crochet, Knitting, Sewing a button, Basic Knots 724-775-1848

OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS IN THE WOODS
Shaker Woods – Columbiana, OH

Saturdays and Sundays
October 13-14, 20-21, 2012 10AM-5PM
General admissions tickets will be on sale at the gate.
$7.00 per day Ages 13 and up (On sale at the gate) / FREE parking
The woods will be transformed into a holiday wonderland with each booth beautifully decorated in an old-fashioned holiday theme. Woodworkers, floral designers, blacksmiths, potters, tole painters, basket weavers and many others, delicious foods cooked in the old-fashioned way. Come and have an old-fashioned good time!

KDKA ZOOBOO

Saturday October 20, 2012 11AM-4PM
Sunday October 21, 2012 11AM-4PM
Saturday October 27, 2012 11AM-4PM
Sunday October 28, 2012 11AM-4PM
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Pittsburgh, PA
Activities free with general admission
Enjoy Gymkhana’s Haunted Hideaway, the Docent Council Haunted House, all of your favorite animals, candy, and much more! While costumes are not required, they are certainly recommended! There is even a costume contest at Water’s Edge. Lots of candy stations will be set up along the Zoo path where you can collect treats. We will provide treat bags to children under the age of 13 until 3PM. The animals get special treats, toys, and pumpkins during the ZooBoo event. Have fun watching the animals enjoy the holiday, too!

OCTOBER 21, 2012

OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS IN THE WOODS

Shaker Woods – Columbiana, OH
Saturdays and Sundays
October 13-14, 20-21, 2012 10AM-5PM
General admissions tickets will be on sale at the gate.
$7.00 per day Ages 13 and up (On sale at the gate) / FREE parking
The woods will be transformed into a holiday wonderland with each booth beautifully decorated in an old-fashioned holiday theme. Woodworkers, floral designers, blacksmiths, potters, tole painters, basket weavers and many others, delicious foods cooked in the old-fashioned way. Come and have an old-fashioned good time!

OCTOBER 24, 2012

NEW BRIGHTON HALLOWEEN PARADE

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 6:30PM
3rd Ave 15th St to Townsend Park, Downtown New Brighton, PA
All welcome. 724-846-1870

OCTOBER 27, 2012

BEAVER FALL FESTIVAL/HALLOWEEN HOP
Downtown, Beaver, PA

Saturday, October 27, 2012 10AM-4PM
9AM Parade begins at Snitger’s Bicycle Store
FREE
Children visit downtown businesses for treats and enjoy entertainment, pony rides, food, games and lots more. 724-773-6700

BEAVER FALLS 3rd ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL/TRICK-OR-TREAT PARADE

Saturday, October 27, 2012 12PM-5PM
Sunday, October 28, 2012 12PM
FREE
In the Municipal Parking Lot on 8th Ave and 12th St Beaver Falls, PA
The parade beings the day with children 12 and younger marching in costumes on 7th Avenue for treats. Great entertainment, children activities, food booths, pumpkin painting, wild world of animals costume contest and more. 724-709-3386 / BF Recreation Board / Beaver Falls Events

AN EVENING of TALES & HAUNTINGS

Saturday October 27, 2012 6:30PM
Vicary Mansion, 1235 Third Avenue, Freedom, PA
All ages/donation.
Share your personal ghost stories with moderator Bob Bauder. The Vicary Mansion will be decorated with a haunting atmosphere. Two guided sessions will be held 9 P.M. and 10:30 P.M. by the International Parapsychology Research Foundation on exploring the methods of conducting a paranormal investigation. Pre-registration and fee for guided session only. 724-775-1848

BEAVER-LAWRENCE COUNCIL CRAFT SHOW

Saturday October 27, 2012
Sunday October 28, 2012
Beaver Valley Mall, Monaca, PA
Annual Labor Council Fall Craft Show 724-658-8528

OCTOBER 28, 2012

BEAVER-LAWRENCE COUNCIL CRAFT SHOW

Saturday October 27, 2012
Sunday October 28, 2012
Beaver Valley Mall, Monaca, PA
Annual Labor Council Fall Craft Show 724-658-8528

OCTOBER 29, 2012

ROSS PARK MALL WIDE TRICK OR TREAT

Monday October 29, 2012 6PM-8PM
Come on out to Ross Park Mall’s biggest Kidgit event of the year, the Halloween Kidgit Trick or Treat, on Monday, October 29th, from 6-8 pm! Jake and all the Kidgits are getting excited already. Radio Disney and the crew will be in Center Court providing music and fun activities as well! Who do YOU want to be???

BEAVER COUNTY TRICK OR TREAT

*ALMOST ALL BEAVER COUNTY TRICK-OR-TREAT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO SATURDAY NOVEMBER 03, 2012 (times vary).*
Updates can be found here.
(I did not preview the video included in that post, so I do not know what it contains. Please use caution around little eyes and ears.)

*BEAVER VALLEY MALL WIDE TRICK OR TREAT
Wednesday October 31, 2012 6PM-7:30PM (This event is still scheduled (source here). Check their Facebook page for updates.)

*ROSS PARK MALL WIDE TRICK OR TREAT
Monday October 29, 2012 6PM-8PM

*Ambridge, PA Wednesday, October 31, 2012 6PM-8PM
*Beaver, PA Wednesday, October 31, 2012 6PM-8PM
*Bridgewater, PA Wednesday, October 31, 2012 6PM-8PM
*New Sewickley, PA Wednesday, October 31, 2012 6PM-8PM

Check out the Cool Family’s 2011 Trick-or-Treat experience at the Beaver Valley Mall!

FARMS and PUMPKIN PATCHES
A post with dates and information on fall festivals at the following farms and orchards is available here!
Cheeseman Farm – Portersville, PA
Harvest Valley Farms – Valencia, PA
Hozak Farms – Clinton, PA
Janoski’s – Clinton, PA
Jodikinos – Clinton, PA
Port Farm – Waterford, PA
Pumpkin Patch Trolley – Washington, PA
Reilly’s Summerseat Farm – Pittsburgh, PA
Renshaw Family Farm – Freeport, PA
Schramm Farms – Jeanette, PA
Shenot Farm – Wexford, PA
Simmons Farm – McMurray, PA
Soergels Orchards – Wexford, PA
Spring House Market – Washington, PA
Trax Farms – Finleyville, PA
Triple B Farms – Monongahela, PA
Wooden Nickel Buffalo Corn Maze Edinboro, PA
Woodward’s Orchard Beaver Falls, PA (Chippewa Twp)
Columbiana Maze Craze Columbiana, OH

LINKS TO LINKS
Fairs/Festivals – Western PA
Pumpkin Patches and more – Western PA

Have you attended one of the events listed here? Please tell us about your experience in the comments section.

Feel free to email pictures if you would like them featured on the blog. I hope your family has a fantastically fun-filled fall!

(If you know of an event in Beaver County not listed here and would like to add it to this list, please email me at coolfamilyblog (at) yahoo (dot) com. Sending an website link or flier (pdf or jpeg) with more information is appreciated!)

Happy 4th of July!

Jenn — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:52:30 +0000

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Here’s a video of Adaline saying the Pledge of Allegiance today.
(Email and feed readers click here to view)

Cool Daddy actually taught this to her a few months ago, but I wanted to wait until I got her in patriotic gear before sharing it with you She’ll be 3 years old in just one month!

Here are the kids and my nephew after church this past Sunday.
Jonathan (5 months), Adaline (3 years), Dominic (2 years)

How to Celebrate LEON Day!

Jenn — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:00:58 +0000

Happy LEON Day! Leon is “Noel” spelled backwards and Leon Day, June 25, marks the halfway point to Christmas…just 6 more months!

Here are some ideas of how to make Leon Day special!

1. Celebrate a mini-Christmas: Get out some of the Christmas decorations, Santa hats, and Christmas books, movies, and music, put on those Christmas jammies and ugly holiday sweaters and get into the Christmas Spirit a little early this year!
(The easiest way to do this is to get some cheap, tacky Christmas decorations on clearance after the holidays and stash them in their own little box just for this occasion!)

2. Christmas Luau: To really celebrate a summer Christmas, have a Christmas Luau! Use silk poinsettia flowers in your hair, tinsel garland for leis and grass skirts, and hula away to Mele Kalikimaka.

Mele Kalikimaka Hawaiian Christmas Party @ Lynlee’s Petite Cakes
Also featured here

Mele Kalikimaka Christmas Freebie Tag @ Loralee Lewis

Tips on Hosting a Hawaii Theme Christmas Party!
Planning a Hawaiian Christmas Luau

3. Have a backwards day: Since Leon is “Noel” spelled backwards you can have a backwards day.
(You can incorporate this with the Christmas stuff or do it alone.)
A few backwards ideas:
*Write backwards, read backwards
*Wear your shirt/clothes backwards
*Walk backwards, talk backwards, sing backwards
*Turn the furniture backwards or sit backwards in your chairs
*Backwards meals:
-Serve breakfast for dinner or serve dessert first.
-Set the dinner table with all of the plates, cups and utensils upside down or backwards (cups where plates would go, etc.)
-Serve food in a glass and drinks in a bowl or on a plate?! (Messy!)
-Sit on the floor and eat off of your chair.

Enjoy LEON day and I can’t wait to see you back here in about 5 months for some great Christmas posts!

*Originally posted on June 25, 2011