Becker Farms

Yesterday was my kind of Saturday....

We started out with breakfast at the Taylors then on to Becker Farms for the pumpkin festival! First, we had to pet the smelly animals...

 Then hang in the stocks for being bad :)

 We went through a little "haunted" house for the kids then ended up at Becker Mountain, which has a great slide. There was a puddle of mud on the landing that Collin cleaned up nicely with his bum. He wasn't even the first to go down, but he went the fastest and farthest, thus soaking up the muck.

 He learned his second time around and sat up, creating a very slow and bumpy ride down. Literally, he was molasses creeping down... but this time no mud!

 Here's a group shot of all of us that went together. I really am so grateful for these people. Life in the Buff would be unbearable without great friends.

(I promise the Carters really do love each other :) They scooted together for the second shot, but it turned out blurry.)

 Some of the kiddos lined up for the pig races! Can you tell they are excited?

 Our section was supposed to raise their hands and say "Woo-eee" during the song, so Collin kept his hands up most of the time.

 First time in a bounce house... with flipping, jumping, older kids along side him. Grateful for no head injuries.

 The Tyke Track

 Driving the fire truck!

 Just a bunch of animals... (and the farmer:)

 I think Collin's all-time favorite part was the pony ride. You couldn't wipe the grin off his face the whole time. (After he got done licking his jacket.... ??)

 On the hay ride... minus the hay. I looked at this picture and laughed.... nice background of the parking lot! Then I noticed the trees... ok, so that helps. The trees really were gorgeous. The whole drive to the farms was beautiful. Can't beat an east coast fall!

 Did I mention it was a {haunted} hay ride... minus hay? Collin was truly amused by the bloody corpus and stuffed alien bodies along the road.

 It ended with a pumpkin launch/shoot. I was so proud of my timing on this picture! I got it right as it went off... you can even see the pumpkin at the end of the spray. The boys were very impressed and even went {all hands in} on a pact that someday they would own one together and spend their weekends sending orange gourds into the sky. Boys.

There was an adult haunted house that the guys went through first. Here's their after-shot.... shakin' in their boots.

 Next, us ladies ventured in.... literally arm in arm. We had fun screaming and shrieking and then getting surprised by the boys who had snuck in the back to jump out at us. It ends with the "birthing canal" or two massive balloon type things that you have to squeeze through. Best to keep your hands out in front of you up high, rather than low... especially when the guys are waiting inside to scare you. Boys. :) 

Also, not pictured, is when we gorged ourselves on the homemade, deeply fried-and-covered-in-sugar donuts. Sigh. They're reason enough to make the 45min. drive. We also realized that this was the first year that we really felt it was worth it.. kid wise. Collin could finally run around and enjoy everything there was to do and it made for a great family day. Go pumpkin farm!

 Well, we just couldn't go home and spend the evening by ourselves (heaven forbide) after such a fun day, so we invited the gang over that night for dessert. Collin sported his new jammies he got from Grandma Evans in our Halloween package. The cutest darn skeleton I've ever seen. There was also the biggest package of cinnamon bears (ugh, I simple died and went to heaven when I saw them) and a package of yummy tortillas (leave us alone... we're from Arizona where they actually make them GOOD!) Thanks Paula!

 The kids had so much fun playing together. I got a kick out of this scene.... Maddie was poised so gracefully, tapping out a tune on the piano, and Collin was in his chair/throne, clapping for her as she played. Haha. What a pair!