Marvelous Monday

Today is a Federal Holiday and Michael had the day off. We took advantage of it to meet Matt, Rachel and Kids at Bishop's Pumpkin Farm.   The morning was cool and we could  pretend it was a typical fall day...for a couple of hours. ::grin:: 

This was a day of firsts! For all four of these it was their first trip to a pumpkin patch or corn maze. It was Stacia's first trip to a petting zoo - well the first she remembers; we didn't make it to petting zoos in Japan. 

We started the day wandering through the petting zoo. 

This boar was fun. He was making alarming sounds, which I mimicked. He responded. 

I told everyone we'd reached an understanding...I promised not to eat him or his relatives and he promised not to eat us. 

Classic family shot....two looking normal, one picking her nose, one looking the other way and I have no clue why I'm laughing.

We even enjoyed the train. This little train takes you around the grounds - which was a fun way to see it all.

It's been 14 years since we've lived near a real pumpkin patch or corn maze. I told them I need photos of them in the Pumpkin Patch since we'd missed those infant shots. 

Stacia (8)

Nolan (14)

 

Ours with the S's boys - Joy had run off

Um....who needs spelling for leadership? 

Stacia (8)

Zander - 11

 Joy discovers hay is lots of fun

Arielle likes it too

The big kids tried jumping....

Then everyone did....Seth and Nathan sort of face planted in the hay

The apple cider is awesome....but these aren't ALL mine...mom's job is to hold the drinks 

Next up was the corn maze! I am SO glad we had Matt and Michael with us. I'm not sure Rachel and I would have found our way out. ::snort::  I was sorely tempted to pluck a few ears of corn. 

Nah, we would have found a group to follow...but it was very comforting to know  no matter which way we went the guys would be able to figure out what this map meant.  I wish there had been an observation tower so we could have seen the maze from above as we did the tanbo/rice art last year in Inakadate. 

Here's a shot I found online - but I don't think it's this year's. 

Moment when the men took over navigating from the kids

So fun to have little ones to carry

We see the exit! We made it! 

A hay ride was the perfect way to rest our weary feet. It also showed how expansive the farm really is. We let the kids each get a pumpkin to bring home in honor of the first trip to a real patch.

I want a truck like this

A funny thing happened in the corn maze, on the hay ride, in the pumpkin patch....it seems my phone was self-dialing and calling all sorts of people. Oops. I apologize if you are one of them.

It was a lovely day. Spending time with Matt and Rachel's family reminds me of what it was like when we had 8 kids at home....their kids stair step right below ours...giving our younger four the opportunity to be the older four. LOL

Back at home all but Zander tried and approved of Caramel apples. I discovered  we've not tried many pumpkin or caramel things - they aren't Michael's favorites....but maybe I will explore for the rest of us. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...