Patch Picnic

7 years ago the Tatum, Thomas, Markos, Scigliano clans started the Annual Pumpkin Patch Picnic and each year it's always one of my favorite holiday activities. It's always extremely hot, the wait to get into the parking lot can run well past an hour, and the crowds are no joke, but the fun that the kids have together just running around, exploring and laughing makes me love it more each year. This year, the park was almost burned in the recent canyon fires so we questioned if it would be re opened in time, but luckily the firefighters did an amazing job and kept most of the park safe. It was sad driving in seeing all the burned hill sides, but the patch looked exactly the same. Each year the kids always look forward to riding the horses. This year Jack decided to join Hannah on the 'run' side where you go without your parent and the horse goes faster. Both kids loved it and Collin seemed fascinated by the horses. After the ride, we journeyed into the patch. Jack literally put every pumpkin he could carry into our wagon and Tim had to keep taking them out. They could have holes, be lopsided, be smashed...he didn't really care, just kept loading them in. Hannah shops for a pumpkin the way she shops for clothes. I remember Nana telling me once she took Hannah to the fabric store and within seconds she spotted the exact one she wanted. Pumpkins are no different. She locked eyes with a pumpkin and had to have it. I'm always indecisive so I think it's a good trait. Ultimately we ended up with two pumpkins and I swear they get bigger every year. Sweet little Collin enjoyed being outside, touching the dirt and eating straw. He loves to look around and explore and touch things so I think the commotion of the patch was right up his alley. Once we bought the pumpkins, the families walked over to 'our hill' where master griller Derek saved some tables in the shade for us. This is the best part for me. I love watching the kids run free in the big open space. This year we were greeted by a peacock so they worked together making a peacock trap for a good hour. It was definitely Jack's favorite part of the day. They pushed the wagon all over the hill collecting sticks and leaves. The kids also played some soccer while waiting for dinner. We had burgers and hot dogs and Tim's favorite Amee's famous s'mores bars. It was dark and bedtime by the time we left, but it was oh so fun and I can't wait until next year. We missed the Thomas family as they moved to Texas this past summer, but they were of course there in spirit.