Pumpkin Patch, Round 2: The Tradition Lives On

Earlier this week Lucy and I joined my mom, grandparents, some of my aunts, uncles and cousins for what has been a long-standing tradition of an annual visit to the pumpkin patch.  We were trying to remember when this venture actually began, and decided that it has been at least 25+ years; very cool, indeed.  And this trip lived up to the expectations!  The patch had an incredible number of pumpkins this year and it was warm and windy - just the way it is supposed to be!

Lucy's highlights would include: chickens, cows, tractors, a combine, the sugary snacks my grandma made and keeping track of everyone in my family when they went out of her sight ("Where's Anthony?" "Where's Grandpa Tom?"); my uncle Brett, especially!

I should mention that the purchase of our pumpkins is a treat from my grandparents every year; they have kept track of the total combined weight of all our pumpkins each year and this year we hovered around 165 lbs. which is good but certainly not our best; my grandpa reminded me that one year we were well over 200 lbs.!  The only rule when picking your pumpkin is this: you can have AAAAANNNNNNYYYYY pumpkin you want; as long as you can carry it back to the tractor yourself.  And I will publicly out my grandpa right here because I have witnessed and know for a fact he has carried several pumpkins half his weight just because one of us wanted it.  He loves us and this tradition that much. 

MOST of the crew; we didn't all make the picture. 

Here's the link to view where this kiddo measured up just a year ago: 2011 Pumpkin Patch Experience.

Right.  My cousin Molly stepped up to the plate and we said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa.  Molly is almost six feet tall?!"  And then realized that the first six inches of the first foot on this ruler are probably more like three inches.  Which is great and made us all feel really good about our short legs.  Ok, maybe just my mom and me. 

Off to the patch!

I'm so easy.  There are few things in life that make me happier than watching my grandmother and my daughter stroll hand in hand with silos and cows in the background.  I'm a born and raised midwestern sap.  No question.

Waiting for the tractor to come by again. 

The adorable pumpkin rice-krispie treats courtesy of my grandma.  They were as good as they look.

Trying to get Lucy's attention for a picture of us.

So, she obliged and I screwed it up!  Oh well...

Our loot once we got it back home.  Can you guess which one is mine and which is Lucy's?