German-version of a Pumpkin Patch

I know, I know. I'm supposed to be posting about the cruise.  But I kind of got burned out sorting through pictures.  And by the time I finish, the holidays will be over and I won't get to post about the holidays when they happen. So, I'm totally going to have intermittent posts between cruise posts.  (Sorry, peeps who have emailed me to say "what's up with that?" hehe.)  Maybe it'll renew my interest.

Do you remember one of my posts about the Out & About Discovery Group I started with my friend Lindsey?  It's for our church and one that offers two events a month where we show the women (and sometimes their families) different and cool places around where we live. It's been great and we have had such a good turnout every time.  And I'm even learning so much.  I was frustrated when I first moved here and my brother and sister came to visit. I had only been here 3 weeks and didn't know where anything was.  Boy, I wish I knew then what I know now.  We have seen and done so much. I'll be posting pictures of past events soon.

So, here's our first October event.  Going to a Pumpkin Patch. If you'll notice, there aren't any pony rides, or blow up bounce houses or mounds and mounds of pumpkins to choose from.  At first when we were looking for a place to go, that's what we thought we were looking for.  Imagine our ignorance!  haha.  Germany doesn't celebrate Halloween (it's just barely starting to catch on over here) so why would they need such huge pumpkin patches.  

This was the best one that we found, and we actually really enjoyed ourselves.  We went while the older kids were in school, so it was just Spencer and I.

Spencer has this obsession with these little spider rings.  He found a bowl of them that the girls put out when they were decorating, and carries one around with him everywhere, wanting us to sing Eency Beency Spider, or letting it crawl all over things, or puttin it in his pocket.  On this particular day, he wanted to put it on the pumpkins, slide it down the slide, and take it for a ride on the cars at the playground.

So, first we cut the pumpkins off the vine and wheelbarrowed it back to the "store".  It was like a little Farmer's Market store, even though I didn't get any pictures.  This place was an actual farm so it grew and sold apples, vegetables, tomatoes, etc. They even sell freshly squeezed apple juice.. It was pretty amazing.

I seriously had to get a picture of Lindsey shlepping the wheelbarrow. Lookin good, Lindsey, lookin good.

We're very proud of Spencer trying to climb things.  His Gross Motor Skills always come a little later, so this is a pretty big step.

Do you see what he is looking at?  No, let me say OBSESSED with. If you can't see it, look at the next picture. It was the hugest worm I've ever seen. I was so grossed out but he would not leave it alone until I got a stick and threw it into the bushes.  Blech.  The way worms move gross me out.  How their whole bodies get really big and then squish really thin to move... so grossed out.

After everyone finished at the little store, we sat down and had amazing Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins and Halloween storytime.  The kids wanted to play more than read, but that was cool. They all had a good time.

Spencer ate about 4 of these.

Lindsey and Spencer. Spencer gets excited when he sees Lindsey.  She's always trying to snuggle him and he's always trying to get away, but secretly he loves it.  Look at the smile on his face.

I'll definitely be taking the girls back.  We gotta get our Pumpkin Carving on.  Although I don't really like actually carving pumpkins. I hope I can talk them into painting the pumpkins. Can't wait to see everyone else's pumpkin adventures from back in the states!