This year they had so many things to do and had gotten so big that we had to park across the street and then walk across to the Pumpkin Patch. The girls were sooooo exciated and this next picture is a typical shot of the day . . . Taylor running off to something, Payden closely following her, and the rest of behind trying to catch up. After paying this was the first thing we came too . . . the pumpkin painting area.
We headed over to let the girls pick the pumpkins they wanted for painting.
Then we headed over and painted. Of course Taylor just jumped right in and started painting.
Papa went over with Shelby and Payden and helped Payden through the whole process.
Fortunately because we'd gotten there about 1 1/2 hours after it opened, it was busy, but not CRAZY busy.
Of course, Taylor and Payden finished, and we had to sit and wait while Shelby finished hers. This is how it works everytime we do any sort of craft. She is such a perfectionist and loves to put lots of colors on things, so sometimes it takes her a LONG while to get things just how she wants them.
Declan had fallen asleep in the car and had no problem continuing to sleep in his stroller even though we were walking over very bumpy fields. In fact, he slept well over an hour while we were walking around at the pumpkin patch.
Right by the pumpkin painting area, they had a whole bunch of different kinds of pumpkins and gourds for sale. Tom and I love looking at these sort of things. There were lots of interesting ones.
My dad and Tom thought it would be fun to make a pumpkin pie out of these pumpkins, but didn't want to pay $6 for the pumpkin. It would have been fun to do it. I'm not sure I could get past the color enough to actually try it. Looks really have a lot to do with the enjoyment of your food!!
Of course, these were are favorite ones . . . in honor of our nephew, Jack.
These next 2 kinds were really, really huge, but I forgot to get something in the shot to give you some perspective.
Next to the pumpkins and gourds was a little hay maze, so of course the girls headed straight in. They stayed together in this little line; it was so cute. I love how well they do things together. They went all the way through and then went back through the maze to finally come out the entrance. Then Taylor decided she wanted to go by herself, so she headed in. Shelby and Payden were going to wait, but then it took to long, so they headed back in. As soon as Taylor saw that Shelby and Payden had come in, she stopped where she was . . . which was right in the middle of the maze . . . and started yelling that she was NOT going to go until Shelby and Payden got out. Oh boy. Silly girl!!!
After the drama of the maze was finished, Taylor, of course, headed over to this area for picture taking. Here's our cute little pumpkin girls . . .
This area was right by the lake. Taylor saw the bridge and just HAD to go across, so we followed. The bridge had TONS and TONS of really cool spider webs all over them. They were awesome to look at. On the little island that the bridge took us to there was a gazebo . . . not really much over there, but going across the bridge was cool enough for the girls.
This area was right by the lake. Taylor saw the bridge and just HAD to go across, so we followed. The bridge had TONS and TONS of really cool spider webs all over them. They were awesome to look at. On the little island that the bridge took us to there was a gazebo . . . not really much over there, but going across the bridge was cool enough for the girls.
We headed back over the bridge, and the girls were just DYING to touch the water. Gross. The water looked pretty stagnant, so we wouldn't let them touch it, but they got awfully close.
While Shelby and Payden sat by the lake, Taylor looked across and saw some animals, so she started running around to go to them. Of course Payden jumped up and ran after her, while Shelby waited for the rest of us to catch up, and then we headed after the girls.
These horses belonged to a group that did something with horses and Jesus. Fortunately (not that I don't like Jesus, but I didn't come for that), they just let the kids pet the horses. They were all super, super excited. I've noticed that the toys that get played with in our house are all animals . . . dinosaurs, dogs, cats, etc. The girls have also said they want to be veterinarians when they grow up, and I honestly would not be surprised if they really did that. They LOVE animals, so this was completely exciting for them.
In the paddock, there was a horse and a pony to pet. The big horse walked away and was a bit too big for the girls (at least from a mom's perspective), so we headed over to the pony to pet. They had brushes to brush it with and the girls just LOVED sitting their brushing it. Payden initially picked THE biggest brush in the bucket. It was HUGE, and of course she had a hard time holding it. Fortunately, she decided to trade out for the smallest brush in the bucket, but then she traded another. I guess she wanted to use every brush in there.
We had to pull them away from this. They just wanted to stay forever, but I convinced them other kids needed a turn and there were other things for us to do. Outside the paddock a man had a dog, so of course Shelby had to stop and pet it.
Meanwhile Taylor and Payden had run off to another area with animals. In a fenced area were some goats that they reached through and pet.
These horses belonged to a group that did something with horses and Jesus. Fortunately (not that I don't like Jesus, but I didn't come for that), they just let the kids pet the horses. They were all super, super excited. I've noticed that the toys that get played with in our house are all animals . . . dinosaurs, dogs, cats, etc. The girls have also said they want to be veterinarians when they grow up, and I honestly would not be surprised if they really did that. They LOVE animals, so this was completely exciting for them.
In the paddock, there was a horse and a pony to pet. The big horse walked away and was a bit too big for the girls (at least from a mom's perspective), so we headed over to the pony to pet. They had brushes to brush it with and the girls just LOVED sitting their brushing it. Payden initially picked THE biggest brush in the bucket. It was HUGE, and of course she had a hard time holding it. Fortunately, she decided to trade out for the smallest brush in the bucket, but then she traded another. I guess she wanted to use every brush in there.
We had to pull them away from this. They just wanted to stay forever, but I convinced them other kids needed a turn and there were other things for us to do. Outside the paddock a man had a dog, so of course Shelby had to stop and pet it.
Meanwhile Taylor and Payden had run off to another area with animals. In a fenced area were some goats that they reached through and pet.
Then we went to look at the chickens. There were some pretty cool looking chickens. One had a poofy bunch of feathers on its head. Another had cool looking feathers coming off its feet like shoes or something.
Then there were some of the classic looking chickens . . . like the kinds you see in books.
Then there were some of the classic looking chickens . . . like the kinds you see in books.
Then we noticed the area where we could pet chicks. The girls tried to go pet them on their own, but they needed me around before the boy would let them have a chick, which I completely understand because little kids can love animals to death . . . literally.
After much pleading and begging, I let them hold the chick. Of course my hand was right there, which they all wanted me to move. In fact Taylor and Payden had to be convinced they were actually holding the chick because they figured if my hand was there then they weren't holding it. There was no way I was going to let them hold it by itself, especially after all the smothering it got when I was holding it. Anyways, they were very excited. Payden even started talking to it like she talks to Declan . . . too cute.
Shelby was funny because she just sat next to me looking around while waiting patiently for her turn. Taylor and Payden were so excited and all over the chick that Shelby, fortunately, just sat back and chilled until it was her turn. I did give her a little more freedom with the chick, but kept my hand close by just in case.
Next we headed over to this cage to look at the rabbits . . . or in Payden's case to bang on the cage and scare the rabbits.
You can see the rabbit behind Shelby in this picture. After Payden and other kids banged on the cage, someone's comment was that now they knew why the rabbit was sitting in the middle of the cage. Yep. We sure do.
Before we'd gotten to the animals, we'd gotten a caramel apple to eat. Unfortunately the caramel wasn't made correctly so it was really grainy. The girls enjoyed it. Poor Shelby is still growing her two front teeth (she's been missing them for almost this entire year), so it made eating the apple a little difficult and a little messy.
We then headed over to go look at this tepee. Of course I mentioned to Taylor that we were going to go there next and off she ran. While we were over there, we saw one of the girl's from Tom's dental class.
For some reason, Taylor decided when she got out of the car that she was going to be a velociraptor. The entire time we were there, she ran around in the funniest positions. Honestly, she looked like she was handicapped because of the awkward position she held herself. It was really funny. It took me forever, but I finally got her to stop and to stay close enough for me to snap a few pictures.
We decided to go stop in the barn where they make apple cider. We bought a sample; it tastes exactly like what an apple would taste like if you drank (unlike apple juice, which is delicious, but not exactly like drinking an apple). Again, Taylor ran off ahead of us. The crazy thing was that I looked up and couldn't see her. I looked around and around and finally found her. She had seen a dog behind us and had ran back over to it. I have NO clue how she ran back past us without us seeing, but she did. It scared me for a second, but then again it seemed I had a million of those moments as she was often running ahead and out of sight.
By the time we finished in the barn, Declan finally woke up, so we headed back over to the pumpkins to get a picture. Taylor was NOT happy because she still had places to go and things to do, but fortunately she got over it and we got some cute shots of them. The oddest thing happened while we were taking their pictures. This man was trying to get pumpkins right where we were. Even though he knew we were taking pictures, he'd cautiously lean forward to look a pumpkin and then move back, so in a lot of the photos we have his shadow or his arm and head reaching for the pumpkins. Honestly, is it really that difficult to wait for us to finish? This one was one of my favorites. Shelby's eyes are so sensitive that she's always squinting and therefore giving a funny smile, but we certainly caught some big smiles on Payden and Taylor. Declan was still trying to wake up (and possibly a bit uncomfortable), so we weren't able to get any smiles out of him.
Since we were back by the maze to take the pumpkin pictures, Taylor immediately jumped up and ran into the maze to try to get her Taylor-only turn again.
Payden then ran in after her, but couldn't find her, so we had Shelby run in to find Payden.
Eventually they finished the maze, and we headed over to pick up their painted pumpkins that we had left to dry.
After much pleading and begging, I let them hold the chick. Of course my hand was right there, which they all wanted me to move. In fact Taylor and Payden had to be convinced they were actually holding the chick because they figured if my hand was there then they weren't holding it. There was no way I was going to let them hold it by itself, especially after all the smothering it got when I was holding it. Anyways, they were very excited. Payden even started talking to it like she talks to Declan . . . too cute.
Taylor was so excited, but kept giving it smothering hugs like she does to Declan . . . the kind where you can't see Declan's head at all or in the chick's case you could hardly see the chick at all. Of course, my hand was right there to help the chick out.
Shelby was funny because she just sat next to me looking around while waiting patiently for her turn. Taylor and Payden were so excited and all over the chick that Shelby, fortunately, just sat back and chilled until it was her turn. I did give her a little more freedom with the chick, but kept my hand close by just in case.
Next we headed over to this cage to look at the rabbits . . . or in Payden's case to bang on the cage and scare the rabbits.
You can see the rabbit behind Shelby in this picture. After Payden and other kids banged on the cage, someone's comment was that now they knew why the rabbit was sitting in the middle of the cage. Yep. We sure do.
Before we'd gotten to the animals, we'd gotten a caramel apple to eat. Unfortunately the caramel wasn't made correctly so it was really grainy. The girls enjoyed it. Poor Shelby is still growing her two front teeth (she's been missing them for almost this entire year), so it made eating the apple a little difficult and a little messy.
We then headed over to go look at this tepee. Of course I mentioned to Taylor that we were going to go there next and off she ran. While we were over there, we saw one of the girl's from Tom's dental class.
For some reason, Taylor decided when she got out of the car that she was going to be a velociraptor. The entire time we were there, she ran around in the funniest positions. Honestly, she looked like she was handicapped because of the awkward position she held herself. It was really funny. It took me forever, but I finally got her to stop and to stay close enough for me to snap a few pictures.
We decided to go stop in the barn where they make apple cider. We bought a sample; it tastes exactly like what an apple would taste like if you drank (unlike apple juice, which is delicious, but not exactly like drinking an apple). Again, Taylor ran off ahead of us. The crazy thing was that I looked up and couldn't see her. I looked around and around and finally found her. She had seen a dog behind us and had ran back over to it. I have NO clue how she ran back past us without us seeing, but she did. It scared me for a second, but then again it seemed I had a million of those moments as she was often running ahead and out of sight.
By the time we finished in the barn, Declan finally woke up, so we headed back over to the pumpkins to get a picture. Taylor was NOT happy because she still had places to go and things to do, but fortunately she got over it and we got some cute shots of them. The oddest thing happened while we were taking their pictures. This man was trying to get pumpkins right where we were. Even though he knew we were taking pictures, he'd cautiously lean forward to look a pumpkin and then move back, so in a lot of the photos we have his shadow or his arm and head reaching for the pumpkins. Honestly, is it really that difficult to wait for us to finish? This one was one of my favorites. Shelby's eyes are so sensitive that she's always squinting and therefore giving a funny smile, but we certainly caught some big smiles on Payden and Taylor. Declan was still trying to wake up (and possibly a bit uncomfortable), so we weren't able to get any smiles out of him.
Since we were back by the maze to take the pumpkin pictures, Taylor immediately jumped up and ran into the maze to try to get her Taylor-only turn again.
Payden then ran in after her, but couldn't find her, so we had Shelby run in to find Payden.
Eventually they finished the maze, and we headed over to pick up their painted pumpkins that we had left to dry.
It worked out perfectly because their pumpkins were dry, we were back by the entrance, and we were ready to go home. To top it off, the hay ride transport between the entrance and the parking lot was loading up to take people to the parking lot, so we finished the day with a hay ride to our car. Perfect. Now we missed out on dressing a scarecrow, riding a pony, taking a hay ride through the apple orchards, and some other things, but we had a nice family outing with Papa. What a great day!
1 comment:
WHAT VARIETY OF PUMPKINS!!!! that patch looks dreamy and I LOVE the gals outfits--what a cute family!!!!
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