I awoke with autumn energy.
Ran two miles on the treadmill, then another three outside in the brisk morning air with a friend. After showering and eating and taking Dave down to the campus to study, I googled “pumpkin patch no va” and had some success. One patch was just an hour away. So, my neighbor (literally, like our front doors are two-inches apart) and I loaded our three young’ns into the car, car seats smashed together in the back seat. Then we pumped the Raffi, filled hands with animal crackers, and set out on an adventure. For, you never know exactly what to expect when destined for a place called “Pumpkinville.”
I certainly did not expect Llamas.
Nor kissing deer.
The hundreds of different chickens and pheasants and turkeys milling around made me laugh. I felt a soft spot in my heart for the Scottish Highlander, and introduced Milo to his first camel.
The giant sand box scattered with play things and diggers was a fun surprise.
As was the “contact area” with the goats, cows, sheep and donkeys, where they took a meal out of our hands.
Who knew we’d find such a fearless pre-schooler? Growing up faster than her mom can believe.
How about the unexpected fun of a hay bale slide times three.
Or a redhead who laughed so hard in his mamas lap, and cried a little on his own (guess he’s not quite ready to be shoved alone down the hay bale slide…)
There were tunnels and mazes and lots of hay.
Ducks to quack at, geese to honk at…
About five or six bouncy houses to flounce in.
We found tractors to drive,
…and hay rides to enjoy.
Along the way, we spotted Dora, Buzz, Shrek, Batman, Blue, Jimmy Neutron, Spiderman and others.
Two white-handed gibbons? Definitely not what came to mind when we set out for “Pumpkinville” (the zebras were a shocker, too!)
We played hard. Ran, walked, looked, climbed, bounced, ate, rode, slid, swung, and laughed out that autumn energy.
Then, I finally found one of the pumpkins of Pumpkinville.
After grabbing a couple “all-you-can-eat” apples, sipping a cup of “bottomless” apple cider, and collecting our unexpected souvenir pumpkins, we again smashed the now totally sapped kiddos into the car. Pumpkinville certainly was an adventure! We’ll be sure to visit again.
