Our favorite day

We always look forward to our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and this year was no exception. Luckily it was a beautiful day because Jordis also had a football game. In two separate cars the kids, Jason, my mom and I headed out. We made sure the camera was working and the fun began.

After a few runs on the zip line, my mom and I left for a few hours to get Jordis changed and to her game. Xander enjoyed chatting with the baby animals while we were gone.

After the game Jason went home to sleep since he had worked all night and Xander spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with the ladies. Our first order of business was lunch. It was a healthy affair.

With full stomachs we were able to continue on for the rest of the afternoon. Here are some highlights:

And the obligatory annual photos I make the kids take.....

We left tired and with goodies, a successful day indeed.

Hayride

Two Fridays ago both of the kids had the opportunity to go on a hayride. Xander's was his first field trip that I desperately wanted to attend, but they won't let you chaperone if you have other children with you, so I wasn't able to go. However, my bible study had a hayride scheduled at a local farm, so Jordis and I went to that.

When I went to get Jordis out of the car I saw that she was wearing flip flops after I had told her to put on socks and shoes. The mom in me thought I should just let her stay that way so she'd learn a lesson about following directions, but the police wife in me figured someone would probably call Children's Services on me if they saw my 4-year-old out in flip flops when it was 42 degrees. Luckily we got there early enough that I had time to run home and grab her some socks and shoes.

I know, right, you're still not believing I was early somewhere.

We each got to pick two Indian corns and one pumpkin.

Someone was pretty feisty most of the time.

Then we had a potluck.

Junk food makes everything better, doesn't it?

The pumpkin patch

Last month I took the kids to the pumpkin patch we typically go to, so today we decided to try somewhere new. Living close to some rural areas is nice because it gives us multiple locations to choose from. The first thing we did was go on a hayride.

Then we navigated our way through an 8 acre corn maze.

After the maze we went to the front of the property where the kids jumped in an inflatable, sat on some tractors, grudgingly posed for pictures, and picked out a few pumpkins and some homemade black raspberry preserves.

After leaving we decided to go check out a new BBQ restaurant that came to town. I didn't want to go there because I hate that their name is Dickey's, but Jason wanted to try it so we were going to go get something and take it home. Turns out that kids eat free on Sundays if you dine in, and they also have free soft-serve ice cream. So it ended up being pretty economical.

The kids even sat next to each other without fighting. It wasn't amazing food, but it was good enough that we'll go back. Especially if it's somewhere that the kids will cooperate. We had such a fun time!

Pumpkin Patch

It's that time of year! The pumpkin patch is open. They kindly open early the first day for families with children who have autism and we always have such a great time. Jason couldn't go so I took my mom. We got in line for the hayride early so it wasn't crowded, and we had the whole ride to ourselves.

I love my little man's eyebrows!

They enjoyed lots of other fun stuff, too.

It was such a great time the kids are already asking when we can go back with their dad. It's one of their favorite events of the year.

Our trip to the pumpkin patch

Typically we don't go to the pumpkin patch until October, because I like it to be chilly out and for the leaves to have changed. But last Saturday was the opening day, where all activities were free to families with children who have autism, so we decided to go and check it out early this year.

Xander remembered the big area full of corn kernels from last year and ran to that first. Jordis didn't get to do it last year so he convinced her to get in as well. She took to it quickly, pelting her brother in the face with corn while giving him one of her ornery looks.


After that we went to some slides and to play in the barn. The slides were a big hit! The barn full of hay, not so much. I think they just didn't like how it felt. But they did like climbing on the tractor.



Then we went on a hayride and I went with the kids on the banana train. I barely fit in that thing with Jordis so I don't know how Jason did it last year with Xan. It was Jordis' first time to ride and Xander got to ride by himself. They got to pick out their own cart and really had fun. Xander sang the whole time.


After some snacks Xander rode the zip cord and we fed some goats. The kids also got to pet some donkeys. They were so friendly!





Then we got Jason to ride the big-kid zip cord. I used the camera to take a video, so I only got pictures of him after he was making his way back to get down.


The kids each got a free pie pumpkin and they look great sitting on our kitchen table.

Thanks to Leeds Farm for a great day! http://www.leedsfarm.com/