Pumpkin Patch

So Allen Jess is either super bright... in that he realizes that he'll be on his feet and using them for the rest of his life - so what's the rush, or he's not-so-bright and just hasn't found the mental capacity yet to juggle standing, balancing, and taking a step all at the same time! We tend to side on the 'not-so-bright' and lazy theory ourselves (just based on who his parents are!)... but nevertheless, Allen has yet to take that big first step and refuses to walk on his own. So the thought of us going to a local pumpkin patch while pushing Allen around in his stroller just didn't seem all that fun to me. But with nothing else to do on a gorgeous sunny afternoon, we decided to give the ole pumpkin patch with a 12 and a half-month-old a try. 

I don't know... something about a crap-load of pumpkins

everywhere just totally makes you want to smile!?

Along with plenty of pumpkins... there was a lot of other fun stuff around too, which promoted loads of silliness!

Of course Allen Jess was super serious...

and wondered how a ghost got into a pumpkin patch?!

Peltzer Farms in wine country was the name of the patch... and although they had real ponies to ride there, Allen really wanted to ride the one that was cut out of wood!

Allen displayed good technique when lifting those heavy pumpkins... squat all the way down, keep that back straight, and lift with those legs!

"Bet you've never driven one of these Farm Girl... 

err - uhhh, I mean Mom!"

Surprisingly, Allen was not afraid to be social and meet new people!

Oh how we tried to get Allen to stand up for this shot...

but it just wasn't meant to be!

He was just way too busy being happy

and playing with his little pumpkin in the dirt!

It was finally time for Allen and I to comb the patch in search of the perfect pumpkin! (Don't let the shoes fool ya... he was all about being carried around all afternoon!)

I told Allen it was a little on the smaller side...

but he insisted that that was the one!

Allen had heard of the infamous story...

so he kept a watchful eye out for The Great Pumpkin to arrive!

Just a couple of good-ole cowboys...

waitin' for the blacksmith to finish up with their horses.

Oh yeah... and there was a small little petting zoo there too!

Since a little someone wasn't walking just yet... we elected not to go in, but we had a good view from outside and I think Allen even got to poke at a few goats through the fence!

Although I was a tad bit skeptical about going... I must admit it was super fun to watch Allen explore and play with all the pumpkins, tractors, props, and small animals they had around the farm. Hard to believe this time last year some of these pumpkins would've completely dwarfed Allen... but now it's almost the exact opposite! It was a good time and definitely worth the drive, especially for Jei, since she convinced me to stop by one of the wineries on the way home so she could, "use the restroom"... and by use the restroom, she totally meant, "taste some wine!"