Finally, Success at the Pumpkin Patch

We hit the jackpot Sunday, pumpkin patch-wise. After two less-than-stellar visits to the pumpkin patch we've frequented for several years, we found a prize at Weakland Farms. The weather was perfect, everything about the farm was fabulous and the whole family had a great time.

We started at the petting zoo portion of the farm. They had chickens, two calves, several pigs and two goats. This was one of Gabe's favorite parts.

The goat's pen was attached to this strange tower thing. The goats could walk up a plank to a platform. On the far end of the platform they would wait for someone to put some cheerios in a little container that was attached to a belt on a pulley. You'd crank the pulley and it would take the cheerios up to the waiting goat. This goat ate a lot of corn and cheerios. Drew thought this part of the farm was a complete blast.

Before heading into the corn maze, we stopped for a couple pictures.

The corn maze is HUGE. There were 12 stations inside, but we only found four before Drew successfully led us out of the maze. It was better off that we didn't spend more time in there. It was very muddy and Gabe hated every second, and everyone within fifty feet knew Gabe hated every second.

Yeah, he REALLY hated it.

After the maze, we waited a long time to take a hayride. They were very patient, especially Gabe (go figure.) The ride took us to a real pumpkin patch where we could pick out a pumpkin. The kids had never seen a green pumpkin, and were very curious. Unfortunately, I didn't snap a picture at the actual pumpkin patch. A serious oversight on my part.

This picture cracks me up.

This was where he was happiest.

About 1/3 of the maze. It's immense.

While Gabe went back to check on the animals, Drew and Caroline milked the cow. Caroline giggled the entire time.

This was so cute. It was an entire trailer full of corn. It was about two and a half feet deep. Every kid who came near it, loved it. Mine included.

By far, Caroline's favorite part was the straw maze. They could run through it, and needed a flashlight, as it is not lit. She was hesitant at first, but she must have gone through it upwards of thirty times. I didn't realize how dusty it was in the barn until I uploaded these pics. You can see the reflection of the flash off the dust.

An attempt to get a good picture of the three of them. I should have learned from last year's failed attempts. It's just not possible to get a good picture of the three of them, at least not with me working the camera.

Another picture of the maze. It's seriously huge.

Two huge ponds sit on the edge of the farm. There were a ton of geese. We had to stop Gabe, who wanted to go feed the 'ducks'.

It was a great way to spend a crisp, fall afternoon. We were a bit disappointed that the leaves were well past peak. but when you have three days of record snow falls and low temperatures in mid-October, it shortens the color season considerably. Rob and I have decided this will be our pumpkin patch of choice from now on. It was a lot of fun.