Saturday, September 29, 2012

Pumpkin Patching

Ah yes Fall....The temps are cooler, the leaves are changing and the parents of active children all across Colorado are flocking to the pumpkin patches throughout the state in an attempt to burn off some energy from their kids to make it through the upcoming months. We've always gone to a pretty small, relatively unexciting pumpkin patch but this year we went to the Disneyworld of pumpkin patches.

This place had it all....Hay rides, pedal powered go-karts, pumpkin canon, petting zoo, huge corn maze and the obligatory pumpkins. The Turner clan was headed up from way south to visit, so we met up with them. Luckily for us, our destination (Anderson Farms) was all of about 8 minutes from our house. We got their early to avoid the crowds and maximize our time, which paid off well.

The first thing we hit up were the pedal karts. They had kid versions and the big kid versions, and we all sampled their capabilities.

Cooper LOVED these things.
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


And of course, Lauren and I had to check them out as well
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Here we are bridging up to Scott and Jackson
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


We caught and dropped Scott and Jackson
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


and it wasn't long before I was swapping paint with Lauren (Scott's sister-in-law). Notice Lauren giving Scott the "look back".
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Passing on the outside
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


While Lauren and I were dominating the big kart track, Cooper was ripping up the kid's track. At one point after passing all the kids, he sat up so they could catch up and he could "race them again". He must get that from his Lovejoy blood.
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Jill had to take a turn at the wheel too
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


My girls
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


All the while Cooper was burning out lap after lap
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Then it was on to a little train ride. I barely fit in the barrel cars, but Lauren seemed to enjoy it
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


On to the hay ride, where we tried to get all three kids to smile. 2 out of 3 isn't bad...
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


And then we got the other one, while the other two gazed on.
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Cooper, Jackson and Scott having fun
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


My self portrait in the mirror
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Then it was off to the tire pyramid, where Cooper wasted no time in summiting then descending rapidly
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Then the spider web. I'm amazed that Lauren was able to walk on this some.
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Then we got to see the pumpkin cannon. It shot a pumpkin circa 250 yards, and it was airborne for about 7 seconds, which was pretty crazy.
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Next, we got to slingshot our own pumpkins at some targets
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Lauren found a neat wooden train she liked to explore
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Cooper proudly holding his pumpkin apple juice
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


My girls enjoying the day and a ride to the pumpkin patch
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Trying to find just the right one
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Still searching
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Lauren stakes her claim
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


Cooper and Lauren trading pumpkin patch stories as they watch over their picks
From Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ Turner Family


The one untold story thus far was the 1 on 1 battle that Jill and I had in the pedal karts on an empty track. Jill took the inside which made it difficult to pass, but with some raw power and a little bit of aggression I was able to overtake her. I've got some Blair Witch quality GoPro footage of it, but as of this time I've not downloaded it. My only regret is that I didn't Strava my run...

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