Pumpkin Picking Pickers 2011

We went back to our favorite October spot again this year, Diana's Pumpkin Patch. It is a little out of the way, but we love it, so it is worth the drive. We had absolutely perfect weather, too! I loved the photo spot-"How tall this fall?". It will be fun to watch the kids grow from year to year-especially since I don't think our landlord would appreciate us marking heights on the door frame.

The corn maze was amazing this year! I have never seen it so tall and thick. You felt like you were in a hidden forest. Josie gives you a good idea of how big it was.

It is hard to get lost with Joel, though. He has a terrific sense of direction. The game in the maze this year was "Clue" and you were searching for the characters and weapons from the game. However, everything had cute farm twists like the "Dairy Barn" and the "Pig Pen" and the weapons were things like a pitchfork!

Carson led the way most of the time, and I have to say he did a pretty good job. I can only hope he inherits his dad's sense of direction and not mine!

Jocelyn does pretty well, too. She found a scarecrow-they offered helpful hints about the maze. She was so excited!

The Picker "Go Team!". We successfully completed the maze-in record time for us. The kids did great; they weren't giving up.

I thought this would be a funny picture, but it didn't work out quite the way I wanted because *of course* the kids weren't cooperating! Where have the photogenic babies I had gone? But, it is a decent picture of me, which are as scarce as hen's teeth, so I kept it.

Joel got the hint. I showed him the last ridiculous photo I posted of him, so I think he is on a roll now.

I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to go into the actual pumpkin patch. Instead they grew the pumpkins down the road (literally) and then placed them in this field for the customers. They practice crop rotation, and this year the regular field wasn't available. I guess I would rather have superior pumpkins and good farming practices, but it sure is fun to go into the real field.

Carson made a beeline towards his pumpkin as if it had a neon sign over it. He was so happy! He did not want a huge one, this one was just his size. Although he still made me carry it.

Jocelyn was a little more choosy. She wanted a big one and this was the winner. I do not direct pumpkin choices at all. I love to see what interests them.

Jocelyn was put in charge of pumpkin transport. Can you see how happy she was about it?

The hay slide was new. The kids loved it. I thought it was so fun and old fashioned. The pyramid was really tall!

It actually went really fast, especially if you used the sack. (I know, because I tried it, but only once. The landing was really hard!)

Definite hit, and such a nice simple pleasure.

Jocelyn loved the bunnies, and they seemed to be equally fond of her. She still really misses S'mores, her rabbit. Maybe when she is older she can have another bunny, she loves them so much. It was nice to have a little visit.

Carson bypassed the rabbits in favor of plunging into the corn bin. It is always a hit with him, and I like it because it is not nearly as messy as sand! Although, I am pretty sure we brought a kernel or two home...

A final treat is to get rootbeer in a real bottle. I DO NOT like rootbeer, but I have to say, IBC in a bottle is not horrible. Not good, but not horrible, either.

Another not so terrible picture of me. Maybe someday I will remember to take off my sunglasses. It is just so bright out in the sunshine!

The final family photo. One of the sweet women who worked there offered to take this for us. I love that it is a family owned place. They are so nice there! I love that it is our special fall tradition, and I am guessing we will be going back as long as we live here. See you next October!