Family Farm Fun

A couple of weekends ago we spent our Saturday at Connor's A-Maize-Ing Acres for some fall family fun on the farm. We first went to Connor's farm last year and had a great time, so we were excited to go again this year!

That's the spirit, Ellie!

Riding in style through the farm!

Hey, make that two kids riding in style!

First things first, as you see above, we had to make sure the youngest member of our family was dressed accordingly.

Cute baby in a pumpkin hat!

Thanks to the TimeHop app on my iPhone, I also know that Ellie wore this same hat on the very same date exactly two years ago, and both kids felt similarly about it:

Left: Ellie in the pumpkin hat on October 18, 2012; Right: little brother E.J. rocking the same hat on October 18, 2014!

At the farm, we decided to start things off with a marquee event: the pumpkin patch. Ellie wasn't feeling particularly camera-ready, apparently, but we did get a couple cute pictures of Mr. First Halloween himself.

I'll take the pumpkin on the right, please.

E.J.'s first pumpkin patch!

This is the best we could do for a photo of both of them in the patch. It's totally going on the fridge.

Pumpkin Ellie!

After the pumpkin patch, it was off to an activity much more up Ellie's alley: horseback riding! She selected the horse she wanted to ride and off she went. She was so excited!

"I want to ride this horse, please, Daddy!"

Petting her trusty steed before riding off into the sunset

Is she a natural or what?

Look at her go!

Then we stopped in to visit some animals, another highlight of the day for Ellie. She took a particular liking to the bunnies, so now I'm pretty sure we have to buy one.

Visiting the pigs

E.J. is super excited

Petting the sheep

Baby chick!

So happy.

This picture is too cute for its own good.

We then took a break for lunch, which included delicious BBQ pork sandwiches and french fries. After lunch, the kids did a little lounging in hay and Ellie spent some time playing with the toy tractor, primarily putting hay in the bed and taking it back out. Simple pleasures, my friends.

Kids in hay

Happy boy!

Kids in the toy tractor

Loading up the hay

We also took advantage of some photo ops...

American Gothic!

Silly E.J.!

...then played in the corn tub, which Ellie enjoyed far more this year than last. (E.J.'s feelings on the matter, however, were more in line with those of 2013 Ellie.)

Playing in corn!

Not impressed.

Sweet and happy, all buried in corn!

Then it was off to ride the little train, and Ellie rode in a car by herself for the first time! They just grow up so fast.

Ready to ride!

Off they go

Looking good, kid.

Then it was back to the pumpkin patch for a few more photos and the purchase of a couple of small pumpkins for 75 cents a piece.

Considering her options

Ellie in the pumpkins

Hanging out on the farmhouse porch with her little pumpkin

E.J. following suit

We debated sticking around and taking the hayride out to the corn maze, but both kids were taking a turn for the very sleepy so we decided to wrap things up and head on home.

It was a great day at the farm! What a fun way to get into the fall spirit!

Yay, family fun!