Each October we take a little trip to a pumpkin patch/orchard to enjoy the lovely fall weather, to have a chance to be outside the city, and, of course, to score some pumpkins, apples, and fresh cider. Usually we go along with or meet friends there...whoever is available on that day when the spirit moves.
Saturday morning my friend Tina and I decided it was the day and after a little back and forth, decided on the time and orchard/pumpkin farm. Tina has six children of varying ages, all of them more or less ages to really enjoy a trip to the pumpkin farm, to ride on the hayride, go through the corn maze, play on the playground, climb the giant haystack, and accompany wagons to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkins to take home. She expressed concern about Matt being "too old" to enjoy going along, but I assured her that Matt would enjoy the outing as well, could use some family time, and just needed to relax and enjoy part of the day after taking the SAT in the morning.
I was right, he had a great time, picked out our four pumpkins, took the youngest child, Ben (5), through the corn maze with him, and on the way home we discussed that this was the last pumpkin farm trip together before he heads off to college next year. We had fun remembering all the Octobers past and I think next year there still may be a trip to the pumpkin patch come October, some traditions are just too much fun to abandon.
Photo is thanks to Tina who said, "I didn't take any photos! I don't have a single shot of them, I will get Matt and Caitlin to pose before you leave!" And, thanks to Tina, here's a photo of Matt and Caitlin resting on the car trunk after picking pumpkins...friends that go back years and years to when they were both little tykes on just such field trips of days past, both high school students now...my how quickly the time passes.