A Very Pumpiny Post

On Thursday we decided to be responsible parents by pulling Hulk out of school early so we could go to a pumpkin patch as a family. That's how parenting works, right?

I spent a lot of time scouring websites for local pumpkin patches and Cincinnati blogs or news articles recommending different places. I ultimately decided on Blooms and Berries Farm Market because it was open during the week (J works Saturdays), it was less than $10 per person, it had a corn maze (I <3 corn mazes), and you didn't have to pay extra for the activities.

We had a lot of fun. It was a relatively warm day and there weren't a lot of people there (which meant no lines!). Little Viking Girl enjoyed feeding the goats and the pumpkin bounce pad, both older kids enjoyed the corn maze, the slide, riding the barrel train (three times!), and picking out pumpkins. Hulk enjoyed trying out all the musical stations set up across the main field and playing in a corn kernel pit.

J and I called it a success.

I think there are more activities on the weekends (like food stands) but there was plenty for the kids to do and there was a shop full of farm fresh products that we didn't pay any attention to because we only wanted the pumpkins.

We're bad consumers like that.

Friday morning I woke up feeling super sick and spent my day alternating between bed and the bathroom. J stepped it up and took over my traditional parenting duties but that also meant that he didn't get the studying in that he needed to for the Series 9 exam. I also had plans on carving the pumpkins this evening but that'll have to wait until Sunday when we can do it as a family.

We really liked the Blooms and Berries experience, there was so much for the kids to do and they seemed to be happy the entire time. Initially J thought that we'd only be there for an hour or two but we were there for three and half hours before deciding that the kids were getting cranky and we needed to leave. I think next year we're going to visit the Neltner's Farm. The admission is cheaper, they have a model train display (perfect for my train loving kids), the pumpkins are $0.04 cheaper per pound, but you have to pay extra for the rides which, when added to the admission price, makes it similar to Blooms and Berries. And that's only if they want to go on one barrel train or pony ride.

We'll see how we're feeling next year.

For more pictures of our pumpkins: