It's Pumpkin Time....

This past Saturday morning, we took a trip out to Papa's Pumpkin Patch -- not too far from where we live.



We wanted to visit this pumpkin patch for several reasons....

1) It's close to home -- about a 15 minute drive or so.

2) There is no admission charge -- one only pays for what one participates in or what one buys.

3) It's a small, family-run pumpkin patch.

4) Marc knows one of the son-in-laws of the owners (went to school with him from kindergarten through their senior year in college -- even was a roommate with him for a semester in college).

We were pleased when we got there (right after the patch opened) to find out that the first hayrack ride was about to leave. So, with a little instruction first -- we climbed on.

Luke pretty much wanted EVERYTHING to do with Daddy that day....which is VERY sweet for me to see. Luke's getting to the age where he so much wants to be like and do everything just like Daddy (James Dobson warned me of this in Bringing Up Boys so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised).



If you have never visited Kansas and would like to know more about the state, here's a good portion of what it is like -- flat farmland.



**As a side note: But yes, we do also have some very pretty and very hilly parts of Kansas -- they're just not where we live :)

And, through the sorghum field....



After the bumpy hayrack ride through mud (it had rained the night before), we went into the "kid play area."



Luke watched and briefly participated with Marc on the beanbag toss.





Luke then helped Marc de-kernal some corn (I guess that's what it's called).



In this "kid play area," there was a large stocktank filled with corn kernals and a few toys. We worked on getting Luke to get in....



Finally, he did for just a bit; however, he wouldn't ever sit down.



He wasn't scared or "freaked out." He was merely more interested in pushing around an old wheelbarrow. "Come on, Mom and Dad....Don't you know this is much more interesting?"

(And, if you know Luke at all, you shouldn't be too surprised to see Luke more interested in pushing something around).





At that point, we decided to grab one of the provided wagons and head out to the pumpkin patch.







It was pretty muddy, and we could tell the "good" pumpkins had already been picked through on previous weekends.





We ultimately ended up just saying that we'd pick out a good pumpkin that had already been cut out of the patch (the ones at the entrance to the pumpkin patch).

So instead, we went and saw "Ted" the donkey and "Silky" the horse (I only have a pic of the donkey).



We also saw some pigs.



Luke completely wanted his turn at pulling the wagon -- with Daddy, of course.



And then, Marc took his turn with an air-gun (I guess that's what you called it -- it's kind of a "modified potato gun").

And Luke had to stand right by him (where it was safe) and just watch.



By this time, Luke was BEGGING (in his own Luke way) to go and play with the wheelbarrow again (remember -- the "kid play area").

So, we obliged. Luke was happy.



By that time, it was close to lunch. We made our pumpkin purchase and headed out to a family lunch at Applebee's.

It was a really fun morning to spend together!