pumpkin patch!

The best thing about having a kid is getting to do all of the fun "kid stuff" without feeling like a grown-up dork. For years we have been going to get our pumpkins at The Farm at Swan's Trail in Snohomish (www.thefarm1.com). However, without a kid at your side you can't fully appreciate all of the festivities of this place. Last year we tried to join in on the fun, saying it was for Liam's benefit, but at 2 months old he wasn't much of an alibi. This time, it was for real and we got to totally indulge the experience with him. I mean, this place is like an autumnal theme park! In addition to the pumpkins and much-publicized Washington State shaped corn maze, there is a hay maze, playground, petting zoo (with 1 day-old baby piglets!!!), hot apple cider, duck races, pig show, old tractors to climb on, and a whole room full of dried feed corn to roll around in! We met a few of our friends there, donned our colorful boots and rain gear, and reveled in the October wonderland! Afterward we headed to a carving party where we were up to our elbows in pumpkin goo. We finished the evening off with fully-loaded caramel apples. Halloween sure is a good consolation for summer being over with.