Fall is both my favorite season and the most hectic. I love welcoming the crisp air with a sweater and a mug of hot cider, and watching the leaves change color. It’s also the time when we say goodbye to summer and prepare for winter by harvesting the last of the summer veggies and going through our summer clothes to make room for bulky knits. We have a checklist of 5 things we do every fall since we have busy routines and tend to get off track easily. I am the type of person that loves a to do list.

1. Get flu shots and make sure we are up to date on our vaccinations – This year we went to get our flu shots as a family. It was a fun experience and my kids were relaxed. We went to a local drug store, and I let my kids pick out one treat each after their shots. With a new baby in our house, we want to do everything we can to stay healthy. I make sure we are up to date on all our vaccines and for my husband and I, to get any that may have lapsed. Vaccines are safe, effective and help protect everyone. If you have questions about vaccines, that is totally normal and makes you a great parent – it just means you want to have all the knowledge before making an important decision about your kids health. We choose to vaccinate because when 90–95 percent of a community is protected, it is nearly impossible for a vaccine-preventable disease to spread.

2. Do a fall activity that brings us joy – Weekends can be full of scheduled practices, so we always make a time for a fall activity that brings us joy. Our favorite – or maybe my favorite – is a visit to the apple orchard. I think I was a farmer in a previous life. I love picking apples straight from the tree, and toting bushels (and bushels) home. It figures that this year, I restrained myself from picking too many apples and found that with extra time at home – I wanted to make allll the apple-y things. From apple bread, to apple pie to applesauce, the kids and I had a lot of fun in the kitchen. This was actually the first year I made applesauce and I’m now on my fourth batch. It is insanely good. We tried smooth, chunky and even pink – you just leave the skins on!

3. Clean out summer clothes and go through winter wardrobes – I have a good size closet, but still lack the room I want. We also live in an older home with small closets in my kids rooms – so we need to switch between summer and winter clothes. I like to go and check for items that don’t fit any longer and set those aside for charity pick-up. This year I went a step further and placed my boots on shelves that had been stacked with flip flops and sandals, moving those to plastic bins for the season.

4. Clean out our garden – Our garden is always home to a plethora of green tomatoes just before Michigan’s first frost. When I see the temperature starting to dip, I let the kids pick all the tomatoes I told them to leave earlier in the season. From there it’s a pickling and fried green tomato frenzy. I can’t let all that produce go to waste, and a pickled green tomato is so delicious. This year I’m trying pickled cherry tomatoes. I also remove the tomato plants and make sure the space is clean for next year’s planting. Pro-tip: choose a mild day to do this. It’s no fun to garden in freezing temps.

5. Rake leaves and make a giant leaf pile – My kids love to rake leaves, and I love they love to rake leaves. Anything to get them moving outside! Our maple trees give us the most beautiful leaves to jump in. We make a big pile and the kids jump for what I’d like to say is until they are out of energy, but they always have energy. It’s a great “job” for the kids to take on, and they often go to neighbors houses looking to get hired. We go to my parents house and help rake their lawn since there are so many leaves. We can make a giant pile and invite the cousins over to jump. Turning a chore into a family event makes it see like less of a job.

So while it’s always sad to see summer come to and end, fall is a time to snuggle and get cozy and I’m all about that. Our fall check list items help me feel organized and ready to tackle the next season. Cleaning out and getting ready for chilly weather, and helping my family stay healthy and connected is a great way to usher in winter. What are some items on your fall checklist?

I’ve partnered with I Vaccinate to share my story and this content is sponsored by I Vaccinate. I Vaccinate provides information and tools based on real medical science and research to help Michigan parents protect their kids. Head here for more information.