Last year we missed it. Last year I somehow forgot, or life was too busy, or I kept putting it off…. and we missed it. And it made me feel awful. So this year I made sure we took time out of our busy week, and we went!
The Pumpkin Patch
2011
The thing about going to the Pumpkin Patch is this: if you bring more than two kids along, it can get pretty expensive. Everything costs a “ticket” or two, or four – face painting, the games, pony rides, train rides, hay rides, bounce houses. I mean, it could really add up! So we always have rules: we ride the train or the hay ride, not both. We do not pay to go into bounce houses (we get enough of those at birthday parties) and we skip the face painting. If the kids know all this going into it, then they are pretty good about it. And we always manage to have fun, despite our budget.
My Little Monsters
There were pumpkins everywhere at this place; in every corner, under every tree. Oh yes, and we have another rule that we always adhere to: we don’t buy any pumpkins while at the pumpkin patch! I know, I know… sounds like we just completely ruin the fun, doesn’t it? Well again, if the kids know that going into it, they are fine with it. The thing is, they always mark up the prices so much at these pumpkin patches, and we can get the same size pumpkin at our local grocery store for much, much less. Again: budget. A large family simply has to have one.
My goal when visiting the Pumpkin Patch?
Taking some great photos, of course!
So Halloween is next Monday. That means my kids are all about one thing right now: costumes. What are they going to be? It’s the big talk around here right now. We’ve got plans for Princesses, Boxers, Ninja fighters… but no one has made a decision yet. Well, except Avery. Avery is going to be Alice in Wonderland. But so far that’s the only decision that has been made.
We have boxes of costumes for the kids to choose from, but sometimes I have to go buy a new one for someone who wants to be something that we don’t have. Such was the case with the Alice in Wonderland. And see, next Halloween, someone will be Alice in Wonderland. Either Avery (again) or Aislynn. It’s all about recycling around here!
When I was little, my mom always made our Halloween costumes. She would spend hours sewing them, and they always turned out so nice! I never had a store-bought costume growing up. Not once. My mom turned her nose up at the store-bought stuff, so we knew better than to ask for one. So it makes me feel a little like a loser mom that I buy my kids costumes instead of hand-sewing them, but hey… my time is limited. And not only that, but I also don’t know how to sew.
Littlest sister’s first visit to the Pumpkin Patch!
Halloween is always such a thrill in our family. Getting all dressed up, walking around the neighborhood, going door to door with the little ones, collecting all the candy and seeing how excited they get when new candy is dropped into their bags – it’s something that we look forward to each year. It’s been twenty years of Trick or Treating with our kids. Twenty years! So hard to believe so much time has passed since we took Tony around the neighborhood for the first time! Okay, I’m gonna say it: Where does the time go?
great pictures of your little darlings, and yes it sure can cost a fortune to go just about anywhere with a large family.
And you are not a loser mom for buying your kids their costumes, how can you possibly find the time to do it all?
Man girl you have some photography skills!! Love the pictures but when you have a darling family I guess you can’t go wrong!!
The photos are gorgeous! I love all of the vibrant orange!
Happy Fall!
You just do not know how to raise spoiled brats do you!
Cranky Old Man
Love the pics especially the one with the single colour.
Happy Tuesday!