Pumpkin Patch

Phil and I figured that the kids needed a little bit of fun, and I found a great coupon for a pumpkin patch in Tigard which included the corn maze, the hay maze and a ride out to the pumpkin patch from the main farm. Buy one, get one (and Ceana, under 5, was free). So, on one slightly overcast (but DRY) day, we headed out. Joey wasn't planning on going, until Liam expressed his disappointment. He got his shoes, and off we went :)

We had a great time. We headed for the corn maze first, not having any idea how long it would take us to get through it. The average time (according to the signs posted) was about 45 minutes. So, maps in hand, we took a few photos and then headed in.

 
Liam, being the adventurer he is, just took off. He had no intention of using that silly map. Ceana, of course, followed.

As did we. Blindly. Around and around we went, as Liam randomly chose directions to go. 

Then, after a while, he started asking what the rest of us thought. Phil was convinced we were in one place, while Joey was certain we were somewhere else. Every time Liam would ask which way to go, Phil would say one way and Joey would say "No, No" and laugh and politely keep walking with us. If I were to ask you which one ended up being right - which would you say? If you guessed NOT Phil, you've earned a Brownie Button for the day!

Joey finally convinced Phil he knew where we were (Phil had us on the other side of the pumpkin at the top), and off we went.

Liam and Ceana led, with Joey yelling out directions as they came to an intersection. I think we probably set some kind of land speed record. I was sorely tempted to make some extra money by hiring Joey out as a guide, but thought that might not go over very well :)

After the corn maze, we sat down to have a small snack and figure out our next move. We decided to do some pumpkin bowling (except for Phil, who is turning into an old fogey). Ceana, Liam, myself and Joey all went "bowling", with Joey donating his candy "prize" to Ceana.

As the day was progressing (and the farm was becoming a madhouse), we decided it was time to get our pumpkins before anything else. So we stood in line and rode the tractor-pulled wagons out to the pumpkin patch.

Then it was back and forth between this pumpkin and that one, bigger or smaller, oval or round, orange or greenish...too many choices! Joey even got one, though he ended up being much more fascinated by the 50 cent baby pumpkins back at the farm :)

After that we decided to call it a day. The sky was clearing up and the people were coming out in droves - and we still had a 30-minute drive to get back home. But we all had a great time, and the kids got their pumpkins to decorate for Halloween. Which they just did yesterday. Which is another post :)