Fabulous Fall

I've talked many times on here before about how Autumn is my favorite season of the year. Something about the crisp air, changing of the leaves, and earlier sunsets give me all the feels. And while Autumn is my favorite season, visiting the pumpkin patch is my favorite outing during Autumn!

Last year, you may remember that we missed visiting the pumpkin patch for the first time in a over a decade. I was SO sad, but with all the sickness we had it couldn't be helped. I was pretty determined to not let that happen again this year, so we visited the pumpkin patch a little earlier than we normally would . . . on the first Saturday in October! 

Two years ago, we broke tradition and went to a pumpkin patch we had never visited before. While I struggled with breaking tradition, it turned out to be a great decision as we loved the new place so much! So this year, we headed back to Pleasant Valley Farms with high hopes for a great experience.

The kids all know that the first thing we do when we get to the pumpkin patch is take pictures. I love my patch photos every year, and I want to get that out of the way before we do anything else. As usual, the photos this year are some of my very favorite!

Brecklyn

Brooke

Brenson

Brianna

Happy fall, indeed!

Cuties :-)

Cutest pumpkins in the patch, for sure!

Love my crew!

Brecklyn, Brenson, Brooke, and Brianna

This year, Brianna requested that I take a photo of her with each of her siblings. I thought this was so sweet and was happy to oblige. 

Brianna and Brooke

Brecklyn and Brianna

Brenson and Brianna

We also typically take photos with each child and parent individually. With four kids, it's easy to forget to do this, but this is one time a year I make sure it happens!

Daddy and Brooke

Daddy and Brianna

Daddy and Brenson

Daddy and Brecklyn

Notice how I work really hard to find good lighting and good angles for all the photos I take? Well, that doesn't always happen with the photos taken of me with the kids. I hate the angle of this photo, but I'm still thankful to have it (maybe, haha).

Momma and Bren

Brooke and Momma

Momma and Brianna

Momma and Brecklyn

A family photo at the pumpkin patch is also a priority to me, but this year was a bit more challenging. I usually just ask someone to take our photo . . . easy enough, right? However, with COVID everyone is waaaay more standoffish than usual and with social distancing it's difficult to even get close enough to someone to ask them. So this year, I propped my phone on a stack of pumpkins and used the timer. The photos aren't perfect, but I'm happy to have them!

Finally - and much to the kids' relief - I was satisfied with all the photos and it was time to PLAY!

Bren and Daddy playing a game of pumpkin checkers

The girls enjoying the corn pit

The kids begged us to pose for this pic, haha!

Oh no! Brooke and Bri are in jail!

Bren's favorite game . . . he tried to coach Brecklyn through it but she gave up easily!

Who doesn't love duck racing?

Brecklyn, Brooke, and Daddy playing pumpkin tic-tac-toe

My favorite thing to do at the pumpkin patch (aside from taking photos, of course) is the hayride. I don't really know why . . . it's uncomfortable, dusty, and loud, but I just love it. 

Brooke and Brecklyn love seeing the animals more than anything else. There weren't too many animals to see this year, but they really enjoyed watching the piglets eat.

While the kids had a ball on the giant tube slide, Chris and I just soaked up their laughter and the beautiful weather. 

We had gotten to the pumpkin patch right when it opened in effort to avoid crowds, and by the time we left we were ready for lunch. We decided to try a new-to-us restaurant and went to Arnold's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. It was pretty tasty!

Brianna, Daddy, and Brecklyn

Brooke, Momma, and Brenson

That evening - after some nice rest time and outdoor playtime - we roasted hot dogs over a fire in our backyard. The weather was just so perfect, and it was a great ending to a wonderful day!