We have been so busy this month, that our annual pumpkin farm outing almost didn't happen! Brian and I looked at each other last Sunday and said "we have to go to a pumpkin farm FOR SURE next weekend!!" So therefore, despite the very windy and cold day, we set out for Bengtson's Farm late Saturday morning. We had never been there as a family before, although the older boys went last year with Memaw and Grandpa when I was super preg with Bray. We usually go to a place that has a petting zoo, giant blow-up jumpy things and a few rides. Bengtson's was so much better!! I'm not sure why, but the big draw for Brian was the pig racing. Really? I thought maybe it was a midwest-raised-boy thing. It was pretty funny though! I just had to laugh because, when we arrived, it was 12:30. The pig races were at 1:30 so the entire first hour of our time at the farm was carefully planned to assure that we did not miss the race. It went a little like this
B: What time is it?
Me: 1:00
B: Ok....you take Aiden and Brady to get them some hot dogs. I'll take Logan through the haunted barn then meet you back here. The boys can eat and then I'll get us something to eat.
Me: Got it
B: Ok....we have 20 minutes - GO!

Anyway, we all had a blast (most of the time!). Here are the pictures!

Since we got such a late start (Brady's early nap, Brian's need to read the paper, my compulsion to wander aimlessly through the house picking things up), the boys took their nap on the way to the farm. Sadly, they watched a movie for about 30 minutes and finally dozed off just in time for us to reach our destination....we drove around for a while looking at the corn fields and let them finish a quick snooze.
Logan and Daddy get in line to pay (a completely outrageous amount of money for 2 adults and only 1 child over the age of 2) wearing their matching, brown puffy vests. Too stinkin' cute.

Aiden has become a little bit of a mama's boy lately. Here, he pauses in the line to the little train ride and debates going with daddy and Logan or staying with me.

Logan, on the other hand, rushed to the ride, hopped in the front car and proceeded to ring the train bell over and over.

Here they are, making the first round of the ride....Aiden looks less than thrilled.
This was the coolest thing...a pumpkin totem pole that was at least 8 feet high. I contemplated buying a bunch of small gourds and pumpkins to dress ours up like this at home.

After the train ride, we went to check out one of the many mechanical displays they have around the park. This is "The See-Through Band". The skeletons moved, sang and played instruments. Even the four heads up on top sang along.

After the train ride, Aiden needed a little mommy cuddle time and wouldn't let me put him down for a while.

Brady enjoys the view from the stroller

Here they are, watching more of the fun sights. Logan had to climb in and give his baby brother a cuddle.
After Logan and Daddy went through the haunted barn (and after I scored some hot dogs), Logan returned to tell us all about it. I'm going to do my best to remember what he said:

"and Aiden...there were these monsters that POPPED up out of everywhere, but I wasn't afraid!"
"would you be afraid of monsters Aiden??"

"because they were kinda scary, but I was a big boy and I wasn't afraid! You should go too!!" Here, Aiden is actually looking back at the haunted barn thinking "um....ya...no". I did take him through it later (carried him the whole way) and I found it a bit scary for little kids. I had to make up some silly stuff along the way. Example: three scary figures with crazy hair were sitting around a table in one of the little rooms that you look into as you walk through the barn. There was a crystal ball on the table and taro cards in front of each figure. The table was floating around and the characters were all shaking. I said "oh look - how silly....they are playing 'Go Fish!'"

Here, Brian and the boys axiously await the pig racing.

The little show they put on was pretty funny and the pigs were hysterical...particularly the pot-belly ones that mostly refused to race anywhere. All the pigs had funny names like "Linsey Lo-Ham" and "Britney Spare-Ribs"

This, my friends is the most delicious carmel/kettle corn I've ever had. I'm going to have to remember to get more next year. There was one problem though. We all ate it by the handful as we walked to the car, but how do you share such a treat while driving home??
Solution: make paper hats....
...and serve it up with a little movie for the car ride home.