Pumpkin Patch Excursions
Pumpkin Patch season is officially over, but wow was it a good one this year. We visited way to many times, but we had oh so much fun! Thank goodness for season passes!
In the month of October, we visited Vala's Pumpkin Patch (in Gretna) three times and Sunwest Farms (in Lincoln) once. With each trip to Vala's we'd venture out to experience things we hadn't experienced the trip before.
The first trip was on a Sunday afternoon, October 16th. We were off to experience Vala's. What a bad bad idea that was. It was a beautiful day and we weren't the only one's to think a trip to the pumpkin patch was a good idea. After a few hours, we were out of there! After that trip we learned that on average approximately 14,000 (yes, thousand) people visit Vala's on a weekend. I'd also guess that this count is only for paid visitors, kids 2 and under are free. So, you do the math :). We still had a good time that day. We did the traditional; ride the ponies, swing on the pony swings, ride the trikes/tractors along the path, slide on the slides, climb on the tractors, play in the hay, run in and out of the tee pee, eat funnel cakes and other not so good for you delectables. We investigated other options, but ultimately decided we were tired and tired of the crowds so we left.
The second trip was on a Sunday afternoon, October 23rd. On this chilly chilly day we bundled up and made a quick visit to Sunwest farms in Lincoln with cousin Mykinze. The girls' were excited to pick out their own pumpkins. They could pick whatever pumpkin they wanted, but they had to carry it. The girls' picked out their own, Ellie picked out one for Spencer, and then we all picked out one for the family... perfect for carving.
The third trip was on a Thursday afternoon, after our Zoo trip, October 27th. We returned to Vala's. Again the weather was to die for. A beautiful fall afternoon we couldn't pass up the idea of going to the pumpkin patch. Turned out to be a fantastic idea. There was hardly anyone else there. After arriving we stopped to get some yummy fresh mini-chocolate chip cookies for a snack then headed on over to watch the pig races. The girls' were excited about the pig races! We enjoyed our snack while we watched the show. Then we hopped on a hayrack ride out to the pumpkin fields to pick out another pumpkin. At this point, we didn't really need another pumpkin but how could we leave this huge field without a pumpkin. This time though we were going to pick out one big family pumpkin. All the pumpkins were huge, definitely nothing small enough for the girls' to carry. After traipsing through the fields and checking out the gigantic pumpkins (that the girls' climbed on) we found our perfect pumpkin (27lbs worth!). We loaded it up in a wagon, the girls climbed in, and Momma now got to haul the pumpkin and the girls' through the rest of the pumpkin patch. We then went to see the Pumpkin Chunkin' Cannon Show where they chuck a pumpkin across the fields. In the same area they had a cool huge slide that the girls' wanted to check out. This slide was huge. The entrance of the slide was at the top of a barn! Didn't phase them, they had fun. Then we ran into some friends of ours from Church, another two-mom family and their daughter. The girls' absolutely adore their daughter! So all three of the girls' then went on a tractor ride together and had a great time. It was then time for dinner! After dinner we got some freshly popped kettle corn, as a treat, then headed towards the exit. On our way we found some mini-pumpkins and the girls' picked out a few. Ellie found what had to be one of the smallest pumpkins ever. Again, she picked out another pumpkin for Spencer... she's always looking out for everyone.
Our fourth, and final, trip was to Vala's on Saturday, October 29th. Yet another beautiful fall day and a great day to enjoy the attractions. Beings it was the last weekend before Halloween, it wasn't nearly as busy as the prior weekend we attended. By now we've got some things we really want to see so we head off to check out the Storybook Barn, which was pretty cool. The girls' recognized most of the stories displayed. Then we rode the tractor thing again before heading to another part of the park. It was time to meet up with our friends from our parents group at the campsite we rented. This is always a lot of fun! This year we brought a picnic dinner with us, so we stopped to enjoy that. Then we roasted some marshmallows and all the kids played. The group then decided to go on a train ride, which the kids loved. Then back to the campsite for a while. Our last hurrah was riding the peddle cars... the family peddle cars. When it was finally our turn, we all jumped in our seats. The girls rode in front, and had to do nothing... no peddling, no steering... just sit and enjoy, which they did! The back two seats are where the work is. I took the side with the longest legroom, because I'm a good 6" taller than Carie, and it also happened to be the side that steered. So, Carie took the boy. Let me just say that this thing had to have been designed for pre-teens... definitely not accommodating to tall and large adults. In the end only one of us could really peddle. Okay, so now I'm peddling and steering this large (yet small) peddle cart made out of some sort of metal, carrying my 2 girls' who weigh 33lbs each, my son who weighs nearly 23lbs, Carie who's weight will remain a secret, and myself who's weight will also remain a secret. Oh, and the pathway is dirt with many ruts and very windy and curvy. But, I made it... Carie cheered me on... like I was riding an exercise bike... you can do it! She says. The girls hadn't a clue they were having a blast. For me, it felt good that we made it to the finish. It was now time to go. We loaded up our stuff... Spencer in the hammock, Abby took advantage of the stroller space, and Ellie was a champ and made it all the way through the park and back to the van.
Goodbye pumpkin patch, we hope to be able to come back next year.
In the month of October, we visited Vala's Pumpkin Patch (in Gretna) three times and Sunwest Farms (in Lincoln) once. With each trip to Vala's we'd venture out to experience things we hadn't experienced the trip before.
The first trip was on a Sunday afternoon, October 16th. We were off to experience Vala's. What a bad bad idea that was. It was a beautiful day and we weren't the only one's to think a trip to the pumpkin patch was a good idea. After a few hours, we were out of there! After that trip we learned that on average approximately 14,000 (yes, thousand) people visit Vala's on a weekend. I'd also guess that this count is only for paid visitors, kids 2 and under are free. So, you do the math :). We still had a good time that day. We did the traditional; ride the ponies, swing on the pony swings, ride the trikes/tractors along the path, slide on the slides, climb on the tractors, play in the hay, run in and out of the tee pee, eat funnel cakes and other not so good for you delectables. We investigated other options, but ultimately decided we were tired and tired of the crowds so we left.
The second trip was on a Sunday afternoon, October 23rd. On this chilly chilly day we bundled up and made a quick visit to Sunwest farms in Lincoln with cousin Mykinze. The girls' were excited to pick out their own pumpkins. They could pick whatever pumpkin they wanted, but they had to carry it. The girls' picked out their own, Ellie picked out one for Spencer, and then we all picked out one for the family... perfect for carving.
The third trip was on a Thursday afternoon, after our Zoo trip, October 27th. We returned to Vala's. Again the weather was to die for. A beautiful fall afternoon we couldn't pass up the idea of going to the pumpkin patch. Turned out to be a fantastic idea. There was hardly anyone else there. After arriving we stopped to get some yummy fresh mini-chocolate chip cookies for a snack then headed on over to watch the pig races. The girls' were excited about the pig races! We enjoyed our snack while we watched the show. Then we hopped on a hayrack ride out to the pumpkin fields to pick out another pumpkin. At this point, we didn't really need another pumpkin but how could we leave this huge field without a pumpkin. This time though we were going to pick out one big family pumpkin. All the pumpkins were huge, definitely nothing small enough for the girls' to carry. After traipsing through the fields and checking out the gigantic pumpkins (that the girls' climbed on) we found our perfect pumpkin (27lbs worth!). We loaded it up in a wagon, the girls climbed in, and Momma now got to haul the pumpkin and the girls' through the rest of the pumpkin patch. We then went to see the Pumpkin Chunkin' Cannon Show where they chuck a pumpkin across the fields. In the same area they had a cool huge slide that the girls' wanted to check out. This slide was huge. The entrance of the slide was at the top of a barn! Didn't phase them, they had fun. Then we ran into some friends of ours from Church, another two-mom family and their daughter. The girls' absolutely adore their daughter! So all three of the girls' then went on a tractor ride together and had a great time. It was then time for dinner! After dinner we got some freshly popped kettle corn, as a treat, then headed towards the exit. On our way we found some mini-pumpkins and the girls' picked out a few. Ellie found what had to be one of the smallest pumpkins ever. Again, she picked out another pumpkin for Spencer... she's always looking out for everyone.
Our fourth, and final, trip was to Vala's on Saturday, October 29th. Yet another beautiful fall day and a great day to enjoy the attractions. Beings it was the last weekend before Halloween, it wasn't nearly as busy as the prior weekend we attended. By now we've got some things we really want to see so we head off to check out the Storybook Barn, which was pretty cool. The girls' recognized most of the stories displayed. Then we rode the tractor thing again before heading to another part of the park. It was time to meet up with our friends from our parents group at the campsite we rented. This is always a lot of fun! This year we brought a picnic dinner with us, so we stopped to enjoy that. Then we roasted some marshmallows and all the kids played. The group then decided to go on a train ride, which the kids loved. Then back to the campsite for a while. Our last hurrah was riding the peddle cars... the family peddle cars. When it was finally our turn, we all jumped in our seats. The girls rode in front, and had to do nothing... no peddling, no steering... just sit and enjoy, which they did! The back two seats are where the work is. I took the side with the longest legroom, because I'm a good 6" taller than Carie, and it also happened to be the side that steered. So, Carie took the boy. Let me just say that this thing had to have been designed for pre-teens... definitely not accommodating to tall and large adults. In the end only one of us could really peddle. Okay, so now I'm peddling and steering this large (yet small) peddle cart made out of some sort of metal, carrying my 2 girls' who weigh 33lbs each, my son who weighs nearly 23lbs, Carie who's weight will remain a secret, and myself who's weight will also remain a secret. Oh, and the pathway is dirt with many ruts and very windy and curvy. But, I made it... Carie cheered me on... like I was riding an exercise bike... you can do it! She says. The girls hadn't a clue they were having a blast. For me, it felt good that we made it to the finish. It was now time to go. We loaded up our stuff... Spencer in the hammock, Abby took advantage of the stroller space, and Ellie was a champ and made it all the way through the park and back to the van.
Goodbye pumpkin patch, we hope to be able to come back next year.
posted by Sonya at 11:11 PM
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