Pumpkin Patch Time!

We had so much fun on Monday! We left right after Austin took his final for his Biochemistry class (he's done with his first class in podiatry school!). We headed about 30 minutes north to a place called Cambridge, Iowa. We had heard from many people that this was the best pumpkin patch to visit, and it did not disappoint! They had so much to do there and it was so reasonably priced.
First we visited the petting zoo complete with incredibly stinky pigs, goats of all shapes and sizes, Clydesdale, chickens, roosters, turkeys, ducks, rams, etc. It was fun and the boys loved it! They had exact replicas of the houses of all 3 little pigs - one of Luke's favorite stories lately as he loves to say "Aaaaaachooooo." Kids.
Then we all learned how to milk a cow (there was no real cow involved so I'm not sure how different the real thing is.) Next we let Luke lead us through the kid's corn/hay maze; he loved it! Then there was this awesome slide (very reminiscent of the Alpine Slide in Utah, except not on a mountain) down a hill. We had races and the boys had a blast.
Then we took the "10 minute walk" over to the pumpkin patch. On the way we passed an old "Herbie Car" which was so exciting for Luke. He didn't want to leave it. When we got to the pumpkin patch, it left quite a bit to be desired but it was fine I guess.
Lastly, we went and played in their huge barn of corn kernels. It was so fun!
After 3 fun-filled hours, we bought one of their home grown, homemade caramel apples and we were ready to go. We were all famished on the way home so we stopped at a place in Ankeny that we had a coupon for from the Entertainment book. It was a buy one get one free thing and we got meals for all of us at some delicious BBQ place for less than we would have paid stopping at fast food. A perfect ending to a perfect day.


I suppose we could have paid the 25 cents to buy some food to feed the animals. But why do that when Luke loved finding corn on the ground and letting the baby goats eat out of his hand.

Luke and his new baby goat friend.

Luke (and Austin) found the perfect pumpkin in the not-so-perfect pumpkin patch. I say that because I have such vivid memories of the awesome pumpkin patches I went to as a kid in West Virginia. This one was really barren and picked over. It wasn't too fun because it was pretty gross. The pumpkin patch was probably the least fun part about the place.

Austin put his fingers through the fence to feed these turkeys - not the smartest thing he's ever done. They almost snapped his fingers off! This was the face he made as it happened.

We all had a fun time swimming in the corn! Luke let us cover him up like burying him at the beach. They had slides going into the corn. The "rules" for playing in the corn were to make sure you took out any loose items in your pants, etc. because if you lost it in there, it was gone for good.

Jensen couldn't decided between the many pumpkins they had to offer.

He put a lot of time and effort into pondering which one to pick.

Finally found a winner! "I'll take this one!"

Although the corn bath was probably Luke's favorite part of the pumpkin patch, Jensen was not quite as entertained by it. I think he got too much corn in his diaper to be happy about it.

Luke was ecstatic when he saw his beloved "Herbie Car" in the distance. He went running for it. He was a little disappointed that it was almost completely hollow inside, but as you can see, it didn't phase him for too long.

This was probably my favorite part about the place. They set up this awesome slide down this big hill. You take a sled to the top of this baby and hold on for dear life sliding down this thing. It was so fun! (click on the pic to see how excited Luke really is)

All Goats Go to Heaven

Austin and Luke learned to milk a cow on this specimen. Dad, you would have been so proud...you too Ben!