Papa's Pumpkin Patch

Well, it just wouldn't be Fall in our world without taking an outing to the nearest pumpkin patch at the outset of the harvest season.  And since Emma's Joy School happened to be at our house the first week in October, we decided to once again combine our family outing to the pumpkin patch with a preschool field trip to the same.  Nick got the day off of work, Maddi took the day off of school, and we all met up at Papa's Pumpkin Patch for an Autumn Adventure to remember.

 

In truth, we've been to quite a few pumpkin patches over the years, but the little Bismarck patch held it's own with any of the others we have visited.  The kids began their outing with a train ride over to the kids center,

 

 

and then took an hour "swim" in the corn kernel swimming pool. It was amazingly fun, and a clever way to mix fun with food storage if you ask me! Made a mental note of it in case we put a sand box in our new backyard!

After finally getting the kids out of the "swimming pool," we headed over to the playground complete with play house, old farm equipment, and a kids' zip line.  The kids all had a blast, the the weather was about as beautiful as Fall weather could have been.

Then we capped of the preschool activities with a scavenger hunt, fresh apple cider, and Caramel apples for everyone.  It was Fall time at it's best!

The day didn't end for us there though.  After the preschool kids left, we decided to spend another two hours playing over in the hay bale area.  They had slides and tunnels galore, and Nick and the kids played hide and go seek over and over again until they were all so itchy they couldn't take it any more.  I can't remember a happier time. 

 

Fall weather+Fall colors+apple cider+children laughing and playing with Daddy=my perfect day. 

 

 

 

Every now and then I would join in all the fun, but mostly I just perched on the tallest hay bale offering refills on apple cider and watching with motherly adoration.

 

After all of the playing, we did what most people do at the pumpkin patch--picked some pumpkins, and then munched on the complimentary pumpkin cookies as we hauled the kids selections back to the car.   

 

In case you can't all tell, I just love Fall time!  And Bismarck seems to be a pretty good place to enjoy it, thank goodness!