Your Funny Story

I promised a fun story about the pumpkin patch, so here goes.  I talked up the trip all morning.  The kids were out of school, the piles of laundry were ridiculously high and it was like 80 degrees outside.  No matter.  We went anyway.

Part One (from my perspective):

Kids piled out of the car.

We walked around for a minute, then found the perfect photo spot.

Snapped some pics and talked to a nice lady who took our photo.

Got the wagon.

Loaded up the perfect pumpkin.

Checked out and loaded back in the car.

I didn’t even break a sweat.  Whew.

Part Two (from everyone else’s perspective)

The lady parked next to us did a double take and I’m sure thought, “Holy smokes, did FIVE kids just get out of the car?”

The kids started running in all directions as soon as they saw the pumpkins.  It was like Halloween crack.  Mom, this one, look at this one, one yelled.  Another one cries because she doesn’t like it.  Another totally tunes it out, while the other screams they’ve found the perfect pumpkin.  After I announce it’s picture time, they all groan so loudly that the mom next to us giggles.

Photos get taken as a group, then as individuals.  I tick them off from youngest to oldest.  While Luke’s photo is being taken, everyone is whining about when it’s their turn.  When it’s John Paul’s turn, Will starts bellyaching that he’s been holding Luke too long and can he please have a break?  The giggly mom asks if she can take our photo and then launches into 20 questions about Luke’s helmet.  Why does he have it?  Is he a preemie?  How much did it cost?  Where did you get it?  Did it take long?  Where did you get it decorated?  Then, she air high fives me for bringing five kids to the pumpkin patch by myself.

We then decide to get the perfect pumpkin.  A huge fight breaks out over the wagon.  There’s tears and shoving and a “Fine, here!”  After we get it sorted out, I choose the pumpkin and instruct Will to put it in the wagon.  More fights over who gets to steer the wagon back to the checkout counter.  More giggling from onlookers.

At the checkout, we realize Clare has shanghaied a little pumpkin and now they’re all begging for one.  I give in.  Really, what’s an extra $2 to save an entire car ride of crying?

We get the pumpkin to the car and hear, once again, a different lady say, “Wow, you have FIVE kids?”

I don’t know about you, but I like part one better 🙂

Either way, though, it was a really great morning.  I love that everywhere we go is a party!!