Pumpkin patch and Goldstream Park

We went to the pumpkin patch yesterday. We decided to go to a different patch than we normally go to. This one has a hayride, haunted house, petting farm, corn maze, train ride, and of course the pumpkin patch. When we got there we discovered that the only things that were free were the hayride and the pumpkin patch! The rest were about $10 per adult each! Jackson would have been free. We are lucky that this year we could get away with not doing any of those things. I'm sure next year Jackson will figure it out and pitch a fit if we don't do at least one of those things, lol.

Jackson's favorite part of the day was the hayride. The idea is that the tractor brings people out to the pumpkin patch, then they pick out their pumpkins, pay for them and catch another hayride back to the main buildings. So onto the hayride we get. Jackson was fascinated by the tractor and intently watched it the whole time. We got out to the pumpkin patch and everybody had to get off. As soon as Jacksons feet touched the ground he tried to pivot back and run back up the ramp back onto the wagon! He couldn't care less about the pumpkins, he just wanted to ride that hayride all day. Meanies that we are, we wouldn't let him get back on the wagon and instead forced him to look at some pumpkins.


The pumpkin patch was quite dry and a lot of the pumpkins were either green still or mushy. But there were a lot of good ones too. We finally picked a medium sized one to buy. Jackson loved running all over the patch. Brian kept trying to tell him that he's not really an all-terrain kid yet, since he kept getting his feet caught in the pumpkin vines. Then he'd get dirt on his hands and come over to one of us with his hands out waiting for us to wipe the offending dirt off of them.


Jackson was not really interested in carrying any of the pumpkins, or really even touching them. He just wanted to be free and run around!


After the pumpkin patch we headed over to Goldstream Park to find out if the salmon were spawning yet and to check out the fall leaves. The salmon weren't there yet and we learned that since we haven't had tons of rain yet the fish are still waiting downstream for more rain. Plus, apparently, they don't really start attempting their swim until it gets darker. Who knew?


I tried to get some photos of Jackson either in the leaves or at least holding one of the enormous leaves but he would NOT cooperate. He just wanted to either throw the leaves or find some good rocks.
It was a good day out in nature. It was about 12 degrees and sunny at the pumpkin patch, but overcast at the park, which was fine since we were in the trees anyway. Jackson just loves running around and exploring. He even jumped in his first puddle! He's never shown any interest in puddles before. That meant he had to have the whole car ride home in just his sweater and diaper. His shoes and jeans were soaked and filthy! Such a little boy.