The Great Pumpkins

On October 22nd we went pumpkin picking with the Mothers of Multiples club at Norz Hill Farms.  It was a beautiful day for our first time picking pumpkins with the babes.  It was fun to spend the morning with so many other sets of twins and even some triplets.  Tommy and Lily were very well behaved.  The loved seeing all the farm animals, riding on the hay wagon, and picking out a pumpkin and a gourd of their very own.

A family shot in front of the cows.

Lily and Tommy enjoyed seeing all the farm animals.  Their favorite?...cows, of course.  I like to think they favored the red & white Holsteins but perhaps I am projecting here.  They also got a kick out of the pot-bellied piglets and the sheep. 

After visiting the animals off we went to the pumpkin patch...to search for The Great Pumpkin(s).  Well, this time around we were searching in the school toured pumpkin patch, so we were looking for the very best Sugar Pumpkin we could find. 

Lily and Daddy spotted a winner right away.

Tommy and Lily enjoyed their first trip to the patch!

Lily got a bit carried away and tried to eat her gourd.
They say we all eat a peck of dirt in our lifetimes...she just got a head start!

We had a great time picking pumpkins!  The babies thoroughly enjoyed it.  While I definitely enjoyed this 'first' it was also a painful reminder that my Dad isn't around to be a part of any of this. It also served as a reminder of just how much our lives have changed since my dad passed away nearly seven years ago. 

Working at our family's farm stand, especially during pumpkin season, will always be some of my fondest memories of my Dad.  My dad always (almost always) made working fun...whether we were throwing hay or throwing pumpkins, there was always a lot of laughter (often a lot of sweat and dirt too).  I hope Tommy and Lily will be able to feel their Grandpa Everett's warmth and sense of humor through our stories of working hard and having fun on the farm.  While this was their first pumpkin picking experience, their adventures on the farm are just beginning!

UPDATE- We went down to Delaware Halloween weekend to visit Grandma and Grandpa Lyons.  When we came back we found our Great Pumpkins in not so great shape.  Apparently, they were victims of Mischief Night.  I am just glad we don't have to explain to the babies what happened to their pumpkins.

See the evidence left behind.  Who would have done that!