Loving Fall - Part 2 - The End

Isabel asked me to go on her first grade field trip to Walter's Pumpkin Patch and I jumped at the chance. I did this with Moira and it was so fun. We've had beautiful warm fall days, but on this morning it was 39 degrees when I went to meet her at school. BRRRR! It never warmed up and I was cold ALL day! Oh, of course, I didn't wear a heavy jacket. That wasn't very smart!

We huddled together on the haywagon ride out to the pumpkin fields. The farmer talked to the kids about planting pumpkins and gourds. Then he turned them loose to find the pumpkin of their choice.

We had a hard freeze several nights before so the vines and leaves were all brown, but it made the pumpkins easy to find. In the field was an old chair with a hole in the seat. If the pumpkin fit in the hole, they could keep it. Some kids selected tiny little pumpkins, others chose ones they could hardly carry.

Isabel and two of her school/neighborhood/family chums. They were part of the VERY LOUD group of little girls who later came trick-or-treating at our door!  :)

Walter's does a nice job of posting educational signs around the grounds.

The first activity her class did was the Jumping Pillow. Boy, did they have fun on this. By the time they were finished, jackets were off!

Next we did the Hay Bale Climb. Very large rectangular bales were stacked in a pyramid. This dad (who also goes to our church) was standing by to give Isabel a hand, but she was determined to make the climb herself.

And so she did! She proclaimed herself as "Queen of the Mountain".

The bales were stacked so there were tunnels, which the kids loved. They had hay everywhere! One little girl exclaimed to me, "I have hay in my underwear and it itches!"

I love this "free flight" photo. It makes her seem so uninhibited. And yes, it was a soft landing.

Next we went into a barn where there was a small corn crib the kids could play in and like the hay, they had corn everywhere! There were lots of groups there this day, including some home school kids from our church.

Isabel loved taking hands-full of corn to feed the goats.

The big slide that goes through a hill is a big hit. I will tell you that 5 years ago I went on this with Moira, several times. But, alas, my back couldn't do it now. Too bad. It really is fun!

Lunch time! Our hands were freezing when we took of our mittens and gloves! I didn't take off my hood all day (why did I take the time to curl my hair that AM??) and usually had a scarf tied over it. I know, really cute, but I had to do it to stay somewhat warm.

After lunch it was free play and exploring. Lots of fun things to play on, tree houses, slides, gunny sack swings, and of course back to the corn crib and hay bale climb.

Isabel and the two little girls who were in my group.

Back on the bus for the ride back to school.  Thanks, Isabel, for asking me to go with you! Such a fun day! I slept VERY well that night!!

Fall has been so gorgeous. We had this cold day last week but it was 75 degrees two days ago. As I write this, winter is tapping at my window. Sleety and temps in low 30s. I'm so NOT ready for winter. Fortunately it's supposed to be back up in the 60s this weekend. We'll eke out what we can of these remaining nice fall days!