Pumpkin Popcorn Balls

We had a fun FHE activity tonight. I know FHE is supposed to be more than a game and treat, and we'll get there to having more spiritual stuff, but for today, I went to the store to figure out what the sugar fix would be. I was walking around Smiths trying to think what would be good. Root beer? That would be simple... I like sushi, but no, cause then I'd be sad to not eat any, and I had already brushed my teeth and was done eating for the day. I hadn't planned ahead enough to do candy corn jello. Do we do a repeat of one of the previous years and decorate donuts or make oreo spiders? We'll be carving pumpkins next  week, and I googled on my pone and saw - popcorn balls! I remember making carmel popcorn as a kid, so I can create that moment for my kids. This would be fun! I have a popcorn popper so we're half way there. I got popcorn kernels, and looked up a recipe. I thought these looked cute, but I couldn't bring myself to buy corn syrup. I also didn't want to buy tootsie rolls, but I didn't want licorice. This recipe looked easier with marshmallows, fewer ingredients, ok yeah that works. So I got marshmallows and candy corn, I couldn't find peanuts, so I bought pretzels to add to the mix. Then I saw big pretzels, yay, we did that instead of the tootsie rolls. Got home, got out the big bowls, lets do this! We popped the corn, and that was fun and magical to watch. We did 2 cups of kernels, which made like 6 cups of popcorn. We threw in candy corn, pretzel bits, and then melted some butter, marshmallows, and food coloring. 

They put some oil on their hands and started to form their pumpkin balls. 

We went to the table and played a few rounds of Yahtzee while kids ate their popcorn balls. Peter made a good pumpkin. Daniel loaded his up with extra marshmallows.

They are both saving their balls to take to school tomorrow for their snacks. Natalie and Owen with their balls. Natalie was generous with the green frosting vines.

Lily Katharine and Sophi, and my pumpkin there too! (An orange bell pepper).

I'll eat mine tomorrow. Abi ate hers tonight. 

Other things from today - the kids set up the trampoline that Wayne gave us. Now there are two, and it's a hit with boys and their friends. 

The girls are home for their last day of fall break, so Corey and I were able to go do toprope during the day. 10:44 am at Ft Union, then I also took a hike up the canyon at 1:30. I explored a new spot with a lot of rocks, and that was fun. I'd like to take the boys up there, I bet they'd love climbing all over it. 

There are still some bright fall colors. 

It was a good day.