Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival

Pumpkin Patch

We have had such a fun fall weekend. The trees are beautiful, and the temps perfect. Fall is my favorite season!

We wisely chose to go to Boyd's pumpkin patch Saturday morning. There was only one other family there. Anna Claire could run all over the grounds, up and down the rows of pumpkins, freely. She did enjoy that.

Anna Claire always enjoys when we go to Boyd's. She remembered us bringing her for corn during the summer and was telling us about it when we pulled up. She remembered the swings, and immediately began looking for them as soon as we got out of the car. She remembered sitting on the porch steps, waiting us to pay for the corn, and thought it important to re-live that as well.

I do think she was frustrated that the pumpkins were so heavy. We found a small one that I thought she could hold, but even it got the reaction, "No, Mommy carry it. It heavy."

She loves seeing the large pumpkin on our front porch as we come and go, and we also have a small one just for her upstairs which she enjoys. She has been asking me when we are going to cut it and put on a face. Answer: When Daddy is ready to do this!


Fall Festival

The Owen Fall Festival is fabulous. I'd recommend it to anyone with kids. We love Riverview Mounds Century Farms as well, and some say they think Owen is much better. I would just say it is a different experience. They both have their advantages!

Owen had inflatables, which AC wanted to get in, but ultimately told us she was too scared once we got her shoes off. We didn't force the issue.

Anna Claire enjoyed seeing all of the animals: chickens, ducks, goats, donkeys, pigs, cows, and rabbits. Our favorite was the "stunt goat." He would climb across a super high bridge with nothing below to catch him, should he fall. Over by the baby goat's pen was a big pile of mud. I remember thinking, "Knowing our luck she will fall right in that with her white shirt." I was later proven correct. Thank God for Shout.

The corn box (sand box type situation) was a big hit! Anna Claire loved walking in the corn, scooping it, and just holding it and lining kernels up along the railing. I was much less leery of the corn vs. sand, since you don't have to worry about them getting it in their eyes.

While we were there, we hit up the concession stand. Got her some Sun Chips and a hot dog, both of which were a hit, and drinks for us all.

They had a barrel train, pulled by a tractor. Anna Claire ran over to it many times while we were there and said, "I ride train." Then once we would lift her to put her in a train car, she would cry, "No! I don't!" As we were leaving, she finally got up the nerve to ride it. Good brave girl!

There was a little area with inflatable horses that the children could sit on and bounce on. Once again, Anna Claire wanted to, but cried when we attempted to put her on a horse.

Owen also had a painted wooden cow with faux udders filled with water that you could "milk." Anna Claire was amused by this. We explained to her that this is where milk comes from and reminded her that cows make milk, at which point she held her head under the udder and said, "Mmmm! Milk! Yum!" Larry and I both cried, "Nooooooo!"

We did not explore everything Owen had to offer, but it was enough to leave us with one happy child in the end.