The Pumpkin Patch

I am crazy in love with these pictures. 

 Before hitting the pumpkin patch Matson, Layla and I played with friends at Pumpkin Park across the street from this pumpkin patch. I love going to this park b/c Matt and I lived in this area of town when we were first married and when Reese was a baby. 

It brings back great memories like when Reese and I would meet Matt for picnic lunches.

Layla loved the pumpkins and sat in awe touching them, and the grass.

All I can think of to say for this photo is "I want to eat her up!"  

 Matson wasn't super interested in having his picture taken on this particular day so when he sat down behind Layla, I started snapping. This was the cutest one I got.

 He was much more interested in balancing his way across the sea of pumpkins.

I allowed him to do it until I saw the "Please do not sit on the pumpkins." sign.

 Matson is a super silly four year old boy. 

I love that he's teaching me what it's all about to be a growing boy.

Usually my "don't smile." tactic works, but not this time. 

This is part of my great effort to get in the photos with my children using the self-timer. 

One day they will love and appreciate seeing Mom in the pictures too.  

I know I do already.

I love using the self-timer even though it can be tricky. I just love the perspective it gives, the low angle like the viewer is sitting right with the subjects. But, it never fails when I am out setting the camera up with the self-timer that someone always offers to take a picture for us. Sometimes I politely say no thanks, but sometimes I say sure. This time I said sure but forgot to turn the self-timer off so when the guy pressed the shutter it delayed a few seconds and then took about 10 pictures. I just told him to point it at me and hold the camera. It was pretty funny, but this is one of the photos from that. Pretty cute, I'd say. :)

***

This next part might be a little long, but I have to note all the little things that happened on this outing to get these "perfect" photos. 

We had a great time with our friends at the park, but when it was time to go to the pumpkin patch I decided to move our car across the street b/c it's a really busy street and I don't like pushing a stroller and dragging a four year old across really busy streets. So, we got in the car and Matson decided to throw a tantrum protesting putting his seat belt on despite the fact that our friends walked and were wating for us. :(  I calmly sat there until he decided to put it on, about 7 minutes later. 

Next, all the front parking was taken so we had to park in the back of the church and walk a little further to get to the patch.

The photo shooting part wasn't all that bad, until I got in fire ants. I got about 10 bites. :(

Then some people got too close to Layla and she stared screaming. (I was over taking some pictures of Matson so I wasn't right next to her.) 

Then there was the little self-timer incident when a stranger was taking pictures for us. 

Matson finally cooperated for some pictures and then we decided to go.  

After we get all packed up in the car and were driving down the street, I start looking for my phone. Can't find it. Panic! I pull over into a parking lot and start searching everywhere for it. Still can't find it. Back to the pumpkin patch. 

Lots of traffic to get through, took a wrong turn, back parking lot gate closed, go a different way. Ugh!

Search the pumpkin patch. Still can't find it. More panic!

I decide to rip my car apart to find it before we go anywhere else. I'm not sure what made me look in Layla's car seat, but I did and found that she was sitting on it. Ah, such a relief!

By this point, Layla started crying so we sat there in the car and fed her some lunch. And, I broke our "no eating in the car" rule. I let Matson eat lunch in the backseat too. 

Finally we started our drive home, only to hit lots of traffic on the freeway. 

Both kids crashed in the car and I enjoyed the silence. 

I have to give props to Matson. He did great through the second half of all of this, starting when I couldn't find my phone. He could tell I was not in the mood for his funny business. He rose to the occasion and did exactly what I asked of him. 

So there it is, everything that happened to get these adorable pumpkin patch pictures. What a day to remember!