Pumpkin Walk

Another tradition was born.  Every year the local high school has all of their students carve a pumpkin which are then displayed along the cross country running trails in the woods near our house.  It's a perfect family-friendly Halloween event because it's free and who doesn't love walking through the woods at night?  I don't know how we heard about it last year but we had a great time as we discovered all the awesome trails through the woods and around a pond that we didn't we even know existed, and it was all practically in our backyard.
This year we decided to invite some of our friends to join us which added to the fun.  Everyone bundled up in their coats and we gave each a kid a glow stick or two so we could spot our large group of kids.  After the walk we came back to the house for homemade hot chocolate with whipping cream {made by a friend}, and yummy apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.  We can't wait to do it again next year when hopefully I will remember to take a few pictures.  But at least I managed to get one of Parker helping Randy prep the apples and you can enjoy a couple pics from last year.

Last year's pumpkin walk where we had to take a pic of the Seattle pumpkin. (yes, I was homesick for WA)

The boys' favorite pumpkin

And here is the best apple crisp recipe around, {the butterscotch pudding is the secret to the yuminess} from Ellen:

Apple Crisp
8 cups peeled and sliced apples
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 T flour
1/2 cup milk
1 cup water
Mix together and pour into ungreased 9x13 inch pan.

Topping:
1 1/3 cup flour
1 cup oats
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup butter, melted
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 packages dry Butterscotch pudding (not instan!)
Mix topping ingredients together and crumble on top of apple mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown, approximately 45-50 minutes.