Pumpkin Patches!

We are in the midst of the most unbelievable stretch of beautiful, sunny weather in October that I can ever recall.  As a result, it has been so much more fun to head out to the pumpkin patches this week in glorious sunshine as opposed to the cloudy, rainy days that we normally have to face this time of year.  Thanks to Logan growing two pumpkin plants (that he planted at a gardening class last May that I transferred into our garden in June), we didn't have to go and buy pumpkins for the first time ever!  His two plants actually produced five pumpkins which was perfect for the size of our family.  However, the kids and I decided that we could still make our annual trip to Spooner Farms to enjoy all of the fun and free activities that the pumpkin patch has to offer every fall.  Instead of fighting the crowds on Saturday, we decided to go this past Wednesday which is our one free afternoon of the week after school when the kids do not have any activities.  We enjoyed tromping around the pumpkin patch, doing the duck races, and marveling at all of the animals in the barn.  Here are some pictures of our afternoon outing.

Since we went on a weekday afternoon, Ron was sadly not able to join us.  So, for the first time since we started going in 2010, we had to take our annual, family picture in the pumpkin house without papa.

The kids posing in one of the many picture cutouts around the pumpkin patch.

Another shot after the kids switched places.

A close-up of Logan par his request.

The kids and the giant spider.

Posing again in another pumpkin cutout.

Since it is usually hidden behind a wall of clouds, I have NEVER visited Spooner Farms in October with a view of Mt. Rainier in the background.  As a result, I just had to take this picture.  Simply stunning.

The kids, the pumpkins, and Mt. Rainier.

How tall this fall?  They sure are growing like weeds.

Logan, Lia, and Ella enjoying the duck races.  I think this is their favorite part of visiting the pumpkin patch every year.

Racing away!

Logan racing his 'duck parade' down the gutter.

The kids racing over the rows of pumpkins to get to the large bale of hale in the center of the field.

The kids and the giant bale of hay decorated like a pig.

A close-up of my cuties.

Posing on the giant pumpkins.

Playing on the toy tractors in the barn.

Riding the bales of hay.

Logan riding the tractor and a bale of hay at the same time.  Sounds about right.

Cute Ella riding her "horse."

Two days later, on Friday, October 19th, Ella and I drove out to Buckley together to attend her preschool's field trip to Maris Farms.  Lia and I went here together six years ago for her preschool field trip and Logan's got cancelled two years ago due to the Super Storm of 2016 that never happened (the weathermen had predicted a crazy, wind storm for the day of the field trip that never actually came to pass).  So, six years later, it was fun to finally return with my next little preschooler.

We started off the field trip by going on a hay ride around the farm.

We then ventured into the corn maze with Ella's class.

My cute girl running through the maze.

Giving me a look before turning the corner.

We wandered next into the pumpkin patch where every child got to choose a pumpkin to take home.  Here is Ella with her class and beloved teacher, Miss Vera.

Ella showing off the pumpkin she chose.

Ella ready to go for a ride in the 'cow train.'

And they're off!

Ella and Miss Vera posing with the goats in the barn right as one of the other students walked into the picture.

Ella walking into the barn with the giant corn box with the rest of her class.

Ella scooping away.