Quality Time At The Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend was so busy that this weekend I decided to focus on my family.  Unfortunately, Darrin had to work today, so focusing on my family meant focusing on my kids.  Today's primary goal was the pumpkin patch, and we set out early to beat the crowds.  Even though we had just been to Fog Willow on Tuesday for Lia's field trip, we needed to get our "family" pumpkins.

Thanks to a great night's sleep, I was a very patient and relaxed Mommy today - so I let the kids play for a VERY long time in the playground at the pumpkin patch.  We also took a hay ride, the kids rode a cow train, and of course, we found two large pumpkins.  I tried really hard to get a good picture of the kids together, but they were so busy having fun that it was more than difficult to get them to stop and pose.

Once we were home, I did what any good Mommy would do - I bribed the children.  I told them that if they helped me clean up the house (putting their toys away) that we would carve the pumpkins.  My bribery worked, so after cleaning up and then eating lunch, the kids and I sat out on our driveway and carved our pumpkins.  I planned on letting the kids carve their own, but the flimsy kid-knives we bought broke, so I ended up doing the carving.  However the kids drew their desired pumpkin face on the paper, and I turned that draft into an actual jack-o-lantern.

At one point, Ben hugged me and said "You are the bestest Mommy in the whole world - I just love spending time with you!"  He couldn't have made me any happier.

Ben's pumpkin on the left, mine in the middle, and Lia's giant
pumpkin on the right. 

I needed this day with my babies as much as they did.  We were all sad that Darrin wasn't with us, but I do think it's good once in a while to just have some Mommy-Kid time, too.  We enjoyed our day so much, I really wish we had the chance to do it more often.

Maybe I'll go part-time at work - HA, RIGHT!