We went to a pumpkin patch on Saturday! And we had the BEST time!!
We went with Andy, Lainey, and Sam. Sam and Sage are total besties!
The farm had bins of gourds, indian corn, and pumpkins for the choosing. All pre-picked and ready for sale. This method might appeal to some...but our group preferred to do it the hard way! We opted to self-harvest our goods.
So we tracked down some wagons and headed out into the fields.
Sage really enjoyed the ride. It was bumpy!
At first...it didn't look like much. Just acres and acres of chest-high shrubbery. But then.... once you got out in the heart of it....after trudging through mud and weeds and lots of prickly plants.....
you would stumble across the giants!
We uncovered pumpkin after pumpkin after pumpkin. All of them undisturbed, hiding on the ground, pristine and free from human interference. That is, until we arrived!
We found ourselves in the middle of the fields. And got there using our own paths. Blazing new trails through the farmland. It was just like treasure hunting! And we found a whole lot more than just pumpkins. Gourds of all shapes, sizes, and textures growing on vines across the ground. You could also pick vegetables and flowers. It was a free-for-all! But, we were focused on autumn decor. So while Matt collected the big pumpkins, I filled my purse with warty gnarly gourds.
We learned a couple of great tips from this adventure. 1) Wear pants! 2) Bring a knife and a backpack. 3) Gloves aren't a bad idea!
And you know what?!?! We will 100% be back next year to do it again!
The farm had some additional kid friendly activities. A mini corn maze, farm animals, and playground.
Admission to Bartels Farm was free! And their produce was incredibly cheap. We purchased this whole lot for only $26!!!
The big highlight on Sunday was the installation of Sage's new bookshelf! I must give credit to our sweet neighbors who shared this tip with us. Rather than purchasing an expensive and bulky piece of furniture, we bought 5 spice racks from Ikea. Only a $36 investment! We painted them white and then installed them in a pleasing pattern. His reading corner is so adorable now! And the rocking chair is from my own childhood.
And now some Sage updates:
I would like to begin by declaring that this is the best age yet! Sage is so much fun to play with! He is a silly man, and goes to great lengths to show his sense of humor. He is now signing 4 phrases on a regular basis: more, all done, milk, and please. Sometimes, right when he wakes up from a nap and is still really groggy, he signs them all at the same time. He's so confused. He knows he needs something...probably many things...and contorts his hands frantically in an effort to get those needs met. It's cute. He drinks water and milk regularly from sippy cups. I have packed up all the bottles. They are gone! Waiting patiently in a box for the next baby. He also has starting using a spoon all by himself.
On Monday I learned that Sage is transitioning from the "older infant" room to the official "1 year old" room. And I jumped for joy! He now gets to go outside twice a day! And he will be taking scheduled naps from 12-2pm each day. He is going to do so well with the new schedule. He is ready for more curriculum, more structure, and more adventures! I'm so happy for him. But this does mean an end to our Sage and mommy lunch dates. Because his naps starts at noon, I am unable to go see him over my lunch hour. Plus, he's at the age where he starts to cry when I leave the room. No need to put him through that unnecessary stress. In fact, that's what this week's CSU blog was all about. Read more if you like: http://rippleeffect.colostate.edu/p/blog?author=alex+carter
