Doesn't it feel like summer was just kicked out the door by Autumn? Now that the kids are back to school we have a healthy lunch post for you. There's a chill in the air and soccer season is upon us. Feels like Fall to me! One of the best things about Fall is apple and pumpkin picking and we have the start of a few posts about where to go. As we all know, the 9/11 10th year anniversary is this Sunday and we've written about places to commemorate with your family. Speaking of family, it's also Grandparent's Day so don't forget them on Sunday too.

We are happy to have another GIVEAWAY for our CT readers: 4 adult tickets (kids are free) to the Norwalk Boat Show that starts 9/22. Subscribe to our newsletter and leave a comment here or on our Facebook page to enter the drawing.

This weekend you can bring your pet or just meet and watch them at the Applause for Paws event in Shelton. You can also see cute and cuddly farm animals at the Cornwall Agricultural Fair. If eating is more your thing you won't want to miss the Norwalk Oyster Festival or the Taste of Danbury. Both have plenty of fun planned for you and the kids. Read more to see our top picks for the weekend.

[UPDATED: August 10, 2012]

It's back to school time, and if you anticipate busy days and busier mornings, we want to help remove one challenge from the list, lunch. We've gathered some easy and healthy lunch ideas here. And we've provided a few links to our sister sites to ensure that we cover any school lunch option that you may need. Happy back to school, here's to a great year.

Getting haircuts, shopping for clothes and supplies, menu planning, and picking out classes and after-school programs—these are my fall rituals. And I suspect many of you are going through the same thing right about now. 

We can help you plan your back-to-school season with our updated Classes Guide, which is filled with myriad options for NYC kids. And we can help you save money, too, with our Big Deal Fall Classes Sale. Read on for all of the details.

The Norwalk Boat Show starts September 22 and runs through the 25th. It sounds like a really fun weekend in the Norwalk Cove Marina for water and boating enthusiasts. They have tons to do with the kids and guess what? We have 4 adult tickets to give away as well as 4 Blackbear pirate books and toy bears (kids get in for free). That means your family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) can bring another pair of adults with you. If you would like to win tickets through Mommy Poppins CT please subscribe to our weekly newsletter and write a comment below. You can also leave a comment on our Facebook page. You have a really good chance of winning so don't wait. Enter now. Drawing begins today and ends Friday, Sept. 9th at 5pm. Good luck!!

Things to do with the kids at the Norwalk Boat Show:

Meet 17 year old Ammy Sunderland, the youngest solo sailor ever to attempt to circumnavigate the globe. We all heard her story last year when her boat capsized in the Indian Ocean 12,500 miles into her journey and she was presumed lost-at-sea for two anxious days. She'll be on hand at the festival sharing her new book Unsinkable.

It’s that time of the year again. Time to choose new lunch boxes and get ready for the big day. While your kids may be more interested in what’s on the outside of their lunch boxes, what’s more important is what they’ll find when they open them at lunchtime.

The best time to implement any new ideas and guidelines on what goes in your kids’ lunch boxes is now—at the beginning of the school year. While some of these ideas may seem to create more work for you, in the long run, a few extra minutes of work will create a lifetime of healthy eating habits for your family. 

Here are some tips on how and what to pack inside lunch boxes to make both you and your kids happy!

[UPDATED: July 18, 2012]

When I was researching music classes for my two-year-old, a friend of mine recommended I try City Stomp. She said it was as a more interesting and affordable alternative to the ubiquitous Music Together programs.

I was intrigued by the fact that City Stomp was created specifically for New York City kids. Plus, I loved that the class could accommodate my toddler and my newborn. So all three of us hopped aboard the City Stomp train, and boy were we glad we did. This parent-child music class is great fun for little kids (up to about age five), so it really works for sibling pairs!

The After School Arts Program (ASAP), in its thirteenth year, is offering September workshops throughout Northwest Connecticut for residents and non-residents of Region 12 (Washington, Roxbury, and Bridgewater). I like the interesting and different after school activities that they offer at a reasonable price. Even better, all classes are taught by professional artists. Besides classes, ASAP offers many workshops. In October you and your child can join them on a field trip to Soho for the day. Listed below are the September workshops for all ages. You do not need to be a resident of Region 12 to attend.

Preschool (Ages 3-5)
Singing, Rhythm & Movement with Tom Hanford

Wersebe Hall, Washington

Wednesdays, 1:00-1:45pm

September 21, 28, October 5, 12

4 Sessions: $45

Vocal exercises, animal sound choral singing, simple traditional singing games, large movement with scarves, and rhythmic play with drums, bells, and shakers are just some of the fun elements of this musical movement experience.

Primary: Grades K-2
Storytelling with Lisa Worth Huber

Booth Free School Library, Roxbury

Tuesdays, 3:40-4:40pm

September 20, 27, October 4, 11, 18

5 Sessions: $55 for Residents; $75 for Nonresidents

Come celebrate the magic of stories.  We will create a storytelling circle where Lisa will share some traditional folk and fairy tales sure to spark the imagination. Together we will use the story threads from these ancient tales to weave our own stories, creating characters and situations that will delight, while laying the foundation for more advanced story construction.