Pumpkin Picking 2014

I realized that we never went to a pumpkin patch while we were in Florida!!!  I hypothesize that we didn't feel the change in seasons and didn't feel compelled to do this Autumn activity.  In DC however, we are definitely feeling the Fall and the kids have been excited to attend a pumpkin patch all October.

For this year, I picked Cox Farms because they were close to us and they had pumpkin picking and hayrides.  It has been praised by local papers and upon arriving I could see why.  The grounds are beautiful and there is so much to do that it's like a little Disneyland!

Don't let the country decor fool you.  This place had an area just for charging your cell phones!

We arrived hungry and enjoyed their baby burgers and other fair food.  After that, it was a whirlwind of activity.

Climbing Hay Bales:  pretty self-explanatory

Hayride:  This was THE best hayride I've ever been on.  It rivals the tram tours of Universal Studios! 

Off to the next adventure!

Break time for the oldies:  While Michael and I sipped pumpkin spice lattes and ate homemade apple cider donuts, the kids oddly enough turned down their sugary sweet of cocoa.  They could not resist the numerous play areas surrounding us that all had slides.  Kids have so much energy.  Parents do not.

Whoa Nelly!

The temperature, by the way, was mid 60s and wind speed was 25mph, but the kids did not need their jackets.  They were running and sliding continuously that they generated so much heat!

After a few rides down with Michael and me, the kids were brave enough to go by themselves.

Photo Op Cutouts!

Simone finally lives the Cinderella tale.

She must be dreaming of her prince.

Max is a serious farmer carrying dinosaur eggs.

Simone is seriously considering a career as a coffee model.

Simone finally sees what hippies look like.  

I told Simone that, despite the long hair, the brunette hippie is really a boy. 

She altered her face accordingly

Train Ride: these cars were so lovingly constructed!  They were sanded and shellacked carefully to avoid any sharp edges for the kids. 

Hog Farm: this corral has broken down motorcycles

The two wheels beckon Michael and he is ready to careen down the farm!

Already doing tricks!

Farm Animals:  We did so many slides that we didn't have a lot of time to see the farm animals.  Luckily we saw piglets!  

Pumpkin Picking:  We got free pumpkins with our admission, but they were too tiny to carve anything other than three holes.  While Michael was getting a 56-pound beauty, I came across these odd, textured squash.  

In case we don't have our Halloween costume yet, we can get a mullet wig!

This place was so huge that we explored only half of the grounds!  We told the kids we would go next year because we all had a really good time.