So I’ve already expressed my love for all things Halloween. And, naturally, visiting the pumpkin patch falls right in line with that particular holiday spirit. Since we’ve had kids we’ve tried to make it a priority to hit a local patch and support our farmers. Before we had kids we would hit the local Safeway and support big business. But times they are a’changing and so are our traditions. So it was off to the pumpkin patch for this bunch.
I should add, we had another reason to go the route of the pumpkin patch this year. Jer, in his wholesome attempt at organic gardening attempted to grow our pumpkins this year. He was out at his little raised garden day after day watering and pampering the little patch.
And…here’s the result. Hmmm. Jer presented the pumpkins to the kids and there was a lot of silence. Jack looked at them and said, “Where’s da punkins?” We knew then that we would need to leave it to the professionals. Poor Jer and his tiny little pumpkins.
So, this past weekend we drove out to the farm. All of us. The whole fam-damily. And it wasn’t raining. Thank God. My hair does not do well in rain.
There were farm animals.
There was a pumpkin pie eating contest.
There was a hay ride…and Jer learned the insider secret to growing mondo pumpkins…warm water. I have little doubt Jer will be instilling this new step into his pumpkin-pampering next year.
And of course, there were pumpkins. All in all, it was a beautiful day.
When we got home the kids helped Jer “gut out” the pumpkin to ready it for Jack o’ Lantern status.
Ta-da! The lighting of the pumpkin…the “official” start to Halloween. A little late. Jer’s manly resolve to provide pumpkins for his family threw us off schedule a tiny bit. I think he was hoping they might catch elephantitis of the gourd or something. They didn’t. You saw the pictures.
So, what have we learned today? We learned that it’s important to support your local farmers. We learned that “traditions” are an important part in raising a healthy family.
And most importantly, we learned that Jer has small pumpkins. Hehe.
Love to all, Mindy
Related posts:
Brandy
Tell Jer to give it up. It’s more fun to visit the pumpkin patch anyway. Great pics!
I told him…I don’t care if he grows a record-breaking pumpkin we will still be going to the pumpkin patch. =)
Mindy
They were great pics!! Your babies are adorable. I miss that whole trip to the pumkin patch! My kids are too old to want to go to the pumpkin patch and pick out pumpkins. I could cry. I guess I’ll have to wait for grandkids.
♥Spot
I would probably go to the pumpkin patch even if my kids didn’t go. Our local one has cider, and caramel apples and kettle corn. If it’s edible…I’m there. =)
Mindy
I grew pumpkins last year, but just ornamental ones, we still got bigger ones at the patch. I planted ones called “batwing pumpkins” they grew 1/2 green/black and 1/2 orange and they had the neatest “designs” grown into them… they were really fun!
Tell Jer great job on the garden, gotta start somewhere!
Wendy
Oh, Jer would be all over the batwing pumpkins! I’ll tell him about them and maybe we can settle for super-cool pumpkins rather than large ones. =)
Mindy
Great pics of the kiddos! I’ll have to go with you guys next time, Chris agreed to go this year but we had to do that stupid corn maze and then after that he wouldn’t even do the hayride out to the pumpkins! Geeze I got ripped off. LOL
You totally got ripped off! You stick with the Underwood clan next year and you’ll get the whole kit’n'kaboodle! You may have to enter a pumpkin pie eating contest but they’re small pieces. =)
Mindy
Aww man! Those teeny pumpkins are my favorite! They make great pie stuff!
I can understand your kids’ lack of enthusiasm over it. Something just isn’t as much fun about halving and baking them as it is making gookey faces with big knives.
I just posted about pumpkins too! Try not to be too jealous. We got lucky.
Don’t be jealous!?!?!?! Did you see the picture of my pumpkins? They’re like little mini baby punkins’ compared to your massive, mondo Jack o’ Lanterns. I didn’t show them your pictures because I knew it would severely damage their self-esteem.
Mindy
Mindy,
Cute pictures! I took my daughter to the pumpkin patch for the first time this year. EVER. She is 15! My boyfriend has taken his kids every year since they were babies (3 & 5 now). It was so much fun. They didn’t have a pie eating contest, but wonderful hot cider and kettle corn.
I like Jer’s pumpkins. They are adorable and the kids could color them with markers or stickers or something.
I think we have decided to let the kids color faces on them, since we don’t even have knives small enough to carve the little cartoon-like pumpkins. I’m glad you got yourself out to the pumpkin patch…after 15 years. =)
P.S. I didn’t mention how much I love your profile pic…it’s hilarious!
Mindy