I’m not sure what it is about fall, but it’s like everyone in the world gets the words “Pumpkin Spice” semi-permanently tattooed across their foreheads, only to be scrubbed off as soon as December hits. Pumpkin is wonderful, don’t get me wrong. I love pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies more than I love almost anything in the world, including, but not limited to, the air I breathe. (Slightly dramatic, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say they’re closely tied.) But I have astonishing news: there is more to fall than pumpkin.
Before you throw me overboard for treason, let me explain myself. Yes, pumpkin is wonderful, but so is apple cider. And corn mazes. And scarves and sweaters and crocheted hats. There are so many things to be enjoyed about fall! That’s why we here at Mormon Hub have decided to help you out by creating a list of our favorite fall activities that you can enjoy for FHE with your family — FHE ideas that don’t involve you drinking your weight in pumpkin hot cocoa because you simply can’t think of any other fallsy activity that your loved ones would enjoy.
1. Lumberjack Party
When I was in college at BYU–Idaho, even the fall was often bordering somewhere on the line between frigid and freeze-your-tears-to-your-face-as-you-walk-to-class cold. Because of this, my roommates and I had to look for ways to have fun indoors.
One night, my roommate had a phenomenal idea: “Guys, we should have a lumberjack party.” Of course my first instinct was ‘I don’t even own an ax and as hard as I try, I can’t seem to grow a beard.’ But she quickly explained that all we would have to do in order to attend this party would be to wear flannel. And at the party, we’d make tons of different kinds of pancakes.
The party, naturally, was a success filled with people in plaid shirts and beanies, mouths full of red velvet and gingerbread pancakes. And that makes the perfect setting for a stellar FHE, don’t you think?
2. Camp Indoors
Perks to camping indoors: less bears (unless they are of the teddy variety); you can actually go sleep in your bed at the end of the evening instead of waking up to a sharp rock attempting to wage a war on your left shoulder blade at 2 a.m; and, of course, the real winner: central heating.
Set up a tent in your living room to share your FHE lesson in and surround the room with twinkle lights to give you the full indoor-camping experience. If you don’t have twinkle lights laying around or you’re simply not feeling the aesthetics, you might opt for glow-in-the-dark stars or simply lighting a fire in the fireplace. Or maybe just using the TV-fireplace that glows for hours, so generously supplied by Netflix. We are proud members of Team “Work With What You’ve Got.”
Then, should you feel so inclined, you might end this FHE with s’mores roasted in the oven, microwave, or over the stove-top. Trust us: any FHE that ends with s’mores is a good FHE.
3. Hot Cocoa/Apple Cider Bar
Remember how I said that these FHE ideas wouldn’t involve you drinking your weight in hot cocoa? Well, they don’t — except for this one. For FHE one night, have everyone create their own fall drink, whether it’s salted caramel hot cocoa or mulled apple cider with a hint of ginger and orange. Because what’s better than listening to a FHE lesson while sipping on something cinnamon-y and warm? In our humble opinion, nothing.
4. Decorate Your House for Fall
There are few things in the world cuter than seasonal DIY wreaths, especially fall ones. Or an orange, yellow, and red garland of leaves on your mantle. Or gold and white candles. Or basically every other fall decoration. #welovefall #canyoutell
Turn on your favorite music (I was going to say “fall music” but that would essentially just be listening to “Monster Mash” on repeat…) and get to decorating with your family. Have someone work on a wreath. Have someone else set to work on Modge Podge-ing leaves to a mason jar, creating the cutest candle holder ever. And have someone else invest a little time on making snickerdoodles, just because that’s ALWAYS a good idea.
Decorating for fall with your family is a win/win — it’s fun AND it saves you from doing the work of decorating all by your lonesome. Checkmate.
5. Chopped with Fall Foods
For those of you that have never seen the show Chopped, we’ll give you a quick summary: Ted Allen hosts this Food Network show where the contestants are given some bizarre ingredients (e.g. goat brains, haggis, and cactus pears) that they have to rather quickly concoct a dish with. Whoever makes the tastiest dish wins.
For your own purposes, we suggest leaving behind the goat brains and instead using a fall saeson fruit or vegetable (think squash, apples, sweet potatoes, etc.) to have everyone create his or her own unique dish. The winner is whoever’s dish tastes the best and least resembles something you’d find squashed (hah!) on your sidewalk.
6. Gratitude Box
Set up a box labeled “Gratitude Box” somewhere in your home. The box will need to have a slit at the top through which people can insert small pieces of paper. Next to the box, have a small mason jar filled with strips of paper and a few pens.
Each day throughout the fall season, your family members will write their names on a strip of paper along with one thing that they’re grateful for. At the end of fall, as a family you can go through the written strips in the box. Whoever has the most original (non-repeated) items in the box wins a prize!
Prizes may be things like tickets to a movie of their choice or, if you’re feeling really generous, giving them an extraordinary gift like not having to do the dishes after Thanksgiving dinner. Because (Harry Potter reference alert!) if I was to look in the mirror of Erised, I am confident that it would show me post-Thanksgiving dinner with a full belly and hands free of soap-and-turkey residue.
We love seasonal FHE activities, which is why we’ve also compiled a list of FHE ideas for the winter months. These are just a few FHE ideas for fall, but we’d love to hear yours! Comment below with some of your favorite fall FHE activities!
