Grandma Kathy had asked her friends and researched online about the most fun pumpkin patches in the valley. Without question, it was the one on Sauvie's Island! Tons of pumpkins, a corn maze, a hay ride, the works! So Grandpa Randy calculates the GPS and we're on our way! The boys are excited about a stop at their favorite burgers and beer joint in the middle of nowhere after we find the perfect pumpkins, the Grandmas are excited about all the photo opportunities ahead of them, and I am just excited to have a reason to get out of the house with my favorite little man. As most of you know, I'm a little paranoid about flu season, as our pediatrician told us not to have Harper out in highly populated situations, so we spend a lot of time indoors, and when the gorgeous fall weather allows, we go on lots and lots of walks!! But all in all, we stick pretty close to home, and I resort to this blog as a means of showing off my handsome, handsome little boy!!
...Fast forward to our arrival on the island! We cross the bridge, and Grandma Jo sees tons of signs saying things like, "2 miles til hay rides" "3 miles to corn maze" and "1 mile to pumpkins"!! Her excitement increases ten-fold!! We continue driving and soon see fields filled with orange. We drive a little further and the fields of orange are replaced by fields of cars.......and cars.....and cars....and MORE CARS! My blood pressure increases a bit as I picture all the similar mini-vans filled with snotty, H1N1-harboring elementary school kids who are just as excited as us to be out pumpkin picking. I glance at Gus and he gives me a reassuring look. We fight for a parking space and everyone turns around looking back at me. I stare right back, unsure of what to say. Finally Grandpa Jack breaks the silence and says, "Ash, you know me, you know I'm not going to be upset at all if you don't want to get out of this van."...I sigh and say, I can't take him out here. There's got to be THOUSANDS of people here. Thousands....with the majority being young children."
I totally thought going to a pumpkin patch would be us...some other families...lots of open fresh air..not a cesspool of germs??!! It was my worst nightmare! So some of us ventured to the bathrooms and we all met back at the van where Harper stayed with Gus. We picnic-ed in the van in the parking lot. Grandpa Randy and the Grandmas brought back some caramel apples for dessert...and we were on our way. Back towards home...pumpkin-less, picture-less, and I was feeling horrible for dragging everyone out after church and not even leaving the car!
Gus ate his caramel apple in record time, and came up with a great idea. He saw a small farm on highway 26 before getting to Portland that looked more our speed. There were about twenty people visiting and we could still get pumpkins and photos! So back towards home we head!
Harper was due for a little lunch, so the guys and grandmas headed to their favorite bar in the middle of nowhere and had a pitcher of beer and toasted to Harper's first pumpkin patch experience! Harper and mom had a cocktail of their own out in the car...
We finally made it to the little patch along the highway, and had a great time. Everybody left in good spirits. The boys got their beer and onion rings. The grandmas got their photos....to which we should all be happy about considering the photos are to follow!! And Harper and I got our afternoon out in the real world!
Also, this weekend (7weeks1day) Harper rode in his stroller for the first time!! We all love it! Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa Molan!
My sleepy little pumpkin at the end of all of the festivities...He's the cutest!
Harper in the minivan....
Harper making the most of our day in the car without pumpkins...He's almost always in a good mood!
All the goods we came home with!
Harper...7 weeks old and ready for Halloween!
Harper getting strapped in his stroller!
On our walk at seven weeks! Harper's bundled in and Lily hitches a ride!
A close up of the little ones!
Harper at seven weeks old....all ready for his first halloween! He's showing off his muscles...Uncle Aaron taught him how to do that!
No comments:
Post a Comment