Keeping up with the Keipers: The Pumpkin Patch

We started a new annual family tradition...the pumpkin patch! We were concerned with finding somewhere that would entertain Caleb and give us a good family experience and after some research, thanks to Grandma Keiper, we found Maris Farms. I have to admit, there was almost too much going on, but we really had a good time. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in sight. What a better way to spend a beautiful fall day!!

We started in The Courtyard. This is a farmyard playground designed for kids 2-10 years of age. This includes duck races, a rock maze, a bounce house, a corn room, a buried tractor to climb on, and a cow train. (There were a few other things, but they were all a little too old for Caleb just yet.)

The duck races (Caleb never won anything...it was just fun to pump the water!):

Then there was the buried tractor...Caleb makes friends wherever we go!

The rock maze...

The Bounce House...always a favorite!

The Cow Train...

And the Corn Room...

Amazingly, this portion of the day left Caleb with much more energy than we thought possible and so we decided to go see the animals. They open up their barn and let you see the bunnies, kittens, chickens, turkey, pigs and calves.

Of course, Caleb likes to try almost anything he sees other kids doing. Therefore, our little monkey couldn't resist climbing the fence after seeing a couple older boys doing so.

Caleb enjoyed taking food out of the calves' food bin and hand feeding them...

After the animals, we still had much more to explore! Now we were off to the Monster Truck ride...

Waiting for the Monster Truck ride reminded me of waiting in a rollercoaster line at an amusement park. It took over an hour to get our turn, which lasted only a couple minutes. It was fun though! I guess the truck tours all over the United States doing multiple shows and tours. They have 8 seats in the bed of the truck, where you strap yourself in and then off you go! Although we would have loved a longer ride, this was a lot of fun!

Grandma Keiper and Bethany waiting at the Monster Truck ride

Bethany trying out Pop's shades

...and Brian's hatCaleb and Pop on the ride. Thanks Pop for holding on tight!

After waiting for so long, there was yet more energy to burn so we headed off to the Jump Pillow. It is a super-sized air filled pillow that is open to all ages. Maybe next year we will all get out there...I really wanted to, but then who would have taken the pictures?

We couldn't pass up the pony ride...

There was also a corn maze, a haunted maze (done at night), a Sensory Trail where you can experience some of the sets of the Haunted Woods during daylight hours (supposedly staged to "amuse and amaze" rather than scare...we will have to try this next year), pig races, and a hay ride. As the day was already full and we hadn't yet ventured into the pumpkin patch, we decided to try some of this another time!

So off we went to the pumpkin patch...