Running from the Law: Pumpkin Patching

Monday, October 24, 2016

Pumpkin Patching

After multiple scheduling snafus and weeks of trying to get our act together, we finally found a free morning to make it to the pumpkin patch. The weather here in the Midwest has been exceptionally mild these past few months and while I'm not complaining about warm sunny days through October, it certainly hasn't felt like fall. It's hard to get in a warm, cozy, pumpkin-spiced mood when it's 90 degrees outside and the kids are begging to go to the pool! However, the winds of change blew in last Wednesday and after a heavy rain (while I running and got totally drenched) the temperatures dropped dramatically. It's finally looking and feeling like fall and we couldn't be happier about it! 

We only had about an hour to make the most of our short venture out to Rombach's Pumpkin Patch on Sunday. It was a beautiful day and I believe everyone in the city had the same idea because the place was packed. The kids (and parents) were a bit overwhelmed with how busy and chaotic the place was. The lines for the train, hayride and ponies were long and the kids were impatient. Mac was pumpkin crazy and wanted to buy every pumpkin he saw. We were constantly asking him to put the pumpkins down (GENTLY!) and not throw them like basketballs. I'm shocked that he didn't burst any. Mimmy wanted nothing to do with anything there except the ponies. Girlfriend is crazy about riding the horses and we had to go back again and again so she could see them, pet them, talk to them and hug them. I think she'll be asking Santa for a pony this year. 

And then, being the evil, horrible, torturous parents that we are, we had the audacity to try to get a photo of all four of us on the pumpkins. What were we thinking?! That was the last straw and it sent both kids into such hysterics that we immediately had to leave. There's nothing like dragging two screaming crying children through the pumpkin patch and out to your car a million miles away to make you feel like you're winning at parenting. Why did I think this was a good idea? Also, didn't the same thing happen last year and the year before and the year before? Will I never learn? Yeah, so maybe we'll try again this weekend?  


(worth it!)

Anyone else have pumpkin patch disaster stories? 

17 comments:

  1. We haven't had a pumpkin patch meltdown but we did have to take her kicking and screaming from cheer camp one night because she wasn't listening to us. Heartbreaking/mortifying at the same time.

    Also I adore Mim's dress!

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  2. Oh yes - I asked P to stand next to a pumpkin and that was cause for a full blown crying session. Ours was jam packed too and I wasn't sad to leave!

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  3. Man, I'm not going to lie.....that sounds so stressful! haha! Don't you just love planning these lovely moments for the kiddos to create memories and then you just wind up wanting to pull your hair out. You did capture beautiful photos and that pumpkin patch looks awesome!

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  4. You'd never know your trip was so stressful based off of your photos! It looks like it was an amazing time! :p kudos to you for telling the whole story :) we've all been there!

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  5. Not going to lie... I needed a glass of wine after reading that, hahaha! I would have never known your trip was so stressful by the pictures. As always, they're gorgeous!

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  6. Ha ha! Girl you always crack me up with your honesty! I love it so much. The photos don't show impatient kids, so I call it a win. :) Our trip was good until both kids got "hangry" and then shit hit the fan. We quickly made our way to the van and headed to lunch.

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  7. Oh man, I have anxiety just reading this! But wow, you still got plenty of stunning photos. I seriously can't handle crowds. I demand that Conor leave work early on a week day just to avoid the masses!

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  8. Who knew pumpkins were such drama?! Yikes!! You've got some keeper photos though... Including some blackmail for teenage Mim. ;)

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  9. Your photos are all so good! I would have been none the wiser about your trip based on your pics.
    Let's also talk about how awesome all your farms and patches and orchards are around you. Beyond jealous. I mean, there's an actual FIELD there!

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  10. Aw, at least you got some good photos out of it! We're not even attempting the pumpkin patch this year (hello waaaaay too pregnant for that) but now I'm scared of what next year will hold with two kids in tow.....

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  11. I just took a trip through memory lane and read your last few years worth of pumpkin patch stories. I'm pretty sure I said almost this exact same thing verbatim to Declan yesterday (and everyday since he could walk): "toddlers' only mission in life is to ruin everything and possibly cause you to have a heart attack at an early age." I'd say that about sums it up! At least you got a cute photo of all four of you for all your efforts :)

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  12. I love Mim's lil dress & Mac is quite the lil man in his shades. :)

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  13. You would never know it was a stressful day by these pictures. You got so many great ones! And no worries, you are not the first to drag a screaming kid away in the middle of a million and one people. We’ve all been there. PS - I love your sweater!

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  14. I love your sweater, Sara! You would never guess that you guys had a trying day there from the pictures. :)

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  15. First, I love your shirt! Second, nothing like trying to do something fun with kids, only to have it dissolve into craziness! It's funny how we have these ideas in our head of how something will go, and then it always goes the opposite direction! :) Still, it looks like you all had a good time, and you got a lot of great photos! Thankful that it's finally starting to feel like fall around here too!

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  16. Such a fun pumpkin patch! Your pictures turned out so cute--looks like a perfect day! ;) We didn't have meltdowns but it was so hot we were all sweating the day we went. Ugh...where's fall??

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