Day 1: Saturday. We planned on walking to a nearby Pumpkin Festival and meeting some friends there. But, they got there first and reported back that the Pumpkin "Festival" was nothing more than a couple of folding tables and a pumpkin or two. So, we altered our plan and went to Trader's Point Creamery Organic Pumpkin Festival. And, like anything that begins with the word 'organic' it was ridiculously expensive. We paid $10 a person to get in. Then, ate a lunch of hot dogs and potato salad: $30. Yes, you read that right. I thought I was going to have to pull Bryan off of the guy at the register. He double checked the math, threw 30 tickets at the guy and stormed to our table, where he consumed every last bit of the 100% organic outrageously priced meal. After that, he bought an equally overpriced beer, that seemed to calm him down and he made the best of the rest of the day. We were already there, after all, and into the day 50 bucks. Everything else was included so we trudged on.
Lilly and Avery picked out a pumpkin for each of the kids (another $4) and then the three that were capable painted their pumpkins. Pictured here are Lilly with her pumpkin and Bryan with his beer. The beer was expensive, but he was much less likely to assault an organic creamery worker if he had a nice cold one in his hand.
Because lunch was so expensive Jack had to eat his pumpkin. Just kidding. Actually, the best deal of the day was the $4 (half) soft pretzel that I bought for Jack. He ate the whole thing, throughout the course of two hours. But, he actually ate it. Crazy.
I know this is strange, but this is a mother...caught on camera. (Gasp!) Of course, the picture was taken by another mother. Tania and Dylan painting his pumpkin. The painting was messy so Dylan took off his shirt. Luckily Tania could be trusted to use the paint carefully.
Face painting. Surprisingly enough TPC can't seem to afford professional face painters so they have teenage volunteers doing the painting (with organic paint I'm sure). Unfortunately the volunteers were some of the least artistic people I've every met. Lilly's rainbow wasn't too bad, but Avery's heart was either anatomically correct or just a crooked circle with a smudge. Dylan's football was enough that Tania, a rather talented artist, want to grab the brush and siege a hostel take over of the face painting booth. She even considered charging as a way to earn back what we spent on lunch.
Despite discontent amongst the adults, the girls...and even Jack and Dylan, had a good time and mostly just enjoyed each other's company. Also, pictured here is Avery's good heart. It was the one on the other cheek that was messed up.We later went on the free hayride, visited the farmer's market and then made a speedy exit. Bryan and I spent $70, left in bad moods and decided that next time we'd just have a play date with the Framptons and bring our own pumpkins.
Day 2: Sunday. We picked my dad up and met Wes, Kristy and Samantha at The Dump (or, The Country Market rather). Their Pumpkin Fest is the best in town...or just north of town. Its reasonable to get in, kids get a free pumpkin, there is live music and everything is included except for the pony rides. And, if you can find a better deal than a two lap pony ride for $3 then I'd like to know about it.
Day 2: Sunday. We picked my dad up and met Wes, Kristy and Samantha at The Dump (or, The Country Market rather). Their Pumpkin Fest is the best in town...or just north of town. Its reasonable to get in, kids get a free pumpkin, there is live music and everything is included except for the pony rides. And, if you can find a better deal than a two lap pony ride for $3 then I'd like to know about it. After a reasonably priced lunch of pork tenderloins, a hot dog and some french fries for $16, Lilly started her day off with a little calf roping.
Donkey petting.
The donkeys and Jack had a little bit of a stare down.
The best way to travel at a pumpkin festival when is 80 degrees? On someone else's shoulders.
Papaw and Lilly on the big slide. Lilly can actually go down the slide by herself, but she gets a little bit more speed with Papaw or Daddy riding shotgun.
Daddy and Jack on the slide. Jack probably couldn't go down the slide by himself. He didn't seem to like it, or dislike it. Like most things he just accepted it without even changing his facial expression.
Lilly didn't seem to enjoy the barrel train ride as much as in previous years. No, it wasn't going that fast and no, clinging desperately to her seat was not out of necessity.
There is a track there with lots of big wheels and peddle cars. Lilly needed a little help with hers.
Jack's favorite part of the day was picking out his pumpkin. Well, I guess he didn't even get to pick out his pumpkin. Lilly chose it for him, along with her own, but Jack spent a long time just hanging out with the little pumpkins and playing.
Lilly slowed down just long enough for me to get a picture of the two of them together. Then, she noticed the sign behind them and was up and running again. Ok, so she probably noticed the actual ponies and not the sign, but she headed that way anyway.
While Lilly and I waited in the pony riding line Daddy and Jack practiced walking in the pumpkins.
Watching Lilly the cowgirl ride the pony.
Lilly riding said pony.
Getting a boost from Daddy to see the ponies. Maybe next time he will want to ride too.
Crazy...another picture of a mother. Proof that I also was at the Pumpkin Fest.
Bryan thinks he's funny. Strangely enough, I do not agree.
But, I think this is funny. Lilly, Jack and Papaw think they're pretty funny too.
Bryan and Wes pose with the babies. Samantha had so much fun at the festival that she passed out and slept through pumpkin picking, the corn maze a most of the picture taking.
One of the best parts of the Pumpkin Fest is the corn box. It is very much like a sandbox, but with corn instead. This means no sand in the hair, no sand in the diaper, no sand in the shoes, etc. The only problem is that Jack thinks the corn is there for a snack.
After watching a little boy bury himself in the sand, Lilly insisted that she be buried too. She loved it.
Jack, not so much.
More (and much, much better) face painting.
The corn maze was pretty easy, just following the beaten path. But, Lilly has never been a follower and she wandered off...right into a dead end. She even lead Papaw astray.
After all the fun Lilly picked out a couple of carvers, loaded them into her wagon, realized it was way to heavy, asked Daddy to take one, and then headed to the car.
It was a great day and we followed it up with a family dinner at our house. Now its Monday and we're all worn out. Bryan has the day off and I have plans to go shopping with my mom. To top it off Bryan just informed me that he'd like to take both kids to the zoo...alone...all by himself. This will be the first time he has every taken both kids anywhere without another adult. That may end up being a whole other blog....
Donkey petting.
The donkeys and Jack had a little bit of a stare down.
The best way to travel at a pumpkin festival when is 80 degrees? On someone else's shoulders.
Papaw and Lilly on the big slide. Lilly can actually go down the slide by herself, but she gets a little bit more speed with Papaw or Daddy riding shotgun.
Daddy and Jack on the slide. Jack probably couldn't go down the slide by himself. He didn't seem to like it, or dislike it. Like most things he just accepted it without even changing his facial expression.
Lilly didn't seem to enjoy the barrel train ride as much as in previous years. No, it wasn't going that fast and no, clinging desperately to her seat was not out of necessity.
There is a track there with lots of big wheels and peddle cars. Lilly needed a little help with hers.
Jack's favorite part of the day was picking out his pumpkin. Well, I guess he didn't even get to pick out his pumpkin. Lilly chose it for him, along with her own, but Jack spent a long time just hanging out with the little pumpkins and playing.
Lilly slowed down just long enough for me to get a picture of the two of them together. Then, she noticed the sign behind them and was up and running again. Ok, so she probably noticed the actual ponies and not the sign, but she headed that way anyway.
While Lilly and I waited in the pony riding line Daddy and Jack practiced walking in the pumpkins.
Watching Lilly the cowgirl ride the pony.
Lilly riding said pony.
Getting a boost from Daddy to see the ponies. Maybe next time he will want to ride too.
Crazy...another picture of a mother. Proof that I also was at the Pumpkin Fest.
Bryan thinks he's funny. Strangely enough, I do not agree.
But, I think this is funny. Lilly, Jack and Papaw think they're pretty funny too.
Bryan and Wes pose with the babies. Samantha had so much fun at the festival that she passed out and slept through pumpkin picking, the corn maze a most of the picture taking. 
One of the best parts of the Pumpkin Fest is the corn box. It is very much like a sandbox, but with corn instead. This means no sand in the hair, no sand in the diaper, no sand in the shoes, etc. The only problem is that Jack thinks the corn is there for a snack.
After watching a little boy bury himself in the sand, Lilly insisted that she be buried too. She loved it.
Jack, not so much.
More (and much, much better) face painting.
The corn maze was pretty easy, just following the beaten path. But, Lilly has never been a follower and she wandered off...right into a dead end. She even lead Papaw astray.
After all the fun Lilly picked out a couple of carvers, loaded them into her wagon, realized it was way to heavy, asked Daddy to take one, and then headed to the car.
It was a great day and we followed it up with a family dinner at our house. Now its Monday and we're all worn out. Bryan has the day off and I have plans to go shopping with my mom. To top it off Bryan just informed me that he'd like to take both kids to the zoo...alone...all by himself. This will be the first time he has every taken both kids anywhere without another adult. That may end up being a whole other blog....
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