Pumpkin Patch

I kept seeing all these really cute pictures of kiddos at pumpkin patches... and I got jealous. :) I wanted those experiences for my baby, too! So, I researched it and decided on one of the patches in Flower Mound. There are two right next to each other. Apparently one is the "original" and the other is the "copycat competition". We went to the copycat. It had a pony ride. So, it won.

First off, we need a wagon to get around in.

Perfect.

Then, we should probably visit the "petting zoo". (Not the best, but they delivered, I suppose.)

*not pictured: pot bellied pig, goat.

Next, I think we'll get in line for the hayride!

He kept pointing out the "horsey"s in the pasture.

Speaking of horseys, next up: Pony Ride! Cohen has never been near horses, much less ridden one. So this was fun first for him. He was incredibly sweet to the pony, kept bending down and petting the mane. :)

After tearing him away from the ponies (he cried...) we stumbled upon the hay maze! He was scared at first (understandable) but then went in with gusto!

He found a little hole leading out, and tried to escape! :)

Yuck.. don't like the colors here, but here he is coming out of the maze!

Pause for pictures with Mommy and Daddy on a wagon!

Then, Coco spotted this! Choo choo!! He just had to ride. He loved it! Mama was a nervous wreck as it went out of my sight for a minute, but then when I saw him rounding the corner, he was ecstatic!

Silly boy!

Nice photo op at an antique tractor. He looked adorable. This kid loves him some tractors!

Before we picked out our pumpkin and came home, Cohen climbed a hay pile with Daddy. He was on top of the world! I think he's just perfect!

So, that was our day at the Pumpkin Patch! Can't wait to do it again next year! 

My little review of the patch?

Name: Pumpkin Village Pumpkin Patch

Address: 4908 Cross Timbers, Flower Mound, TX 75028

Admission: Free

Parking: $5 (gotta keep it open somehow, right?)

Cost of Activities? Hayride-free, hay maze-free, petting zoo-free, hay pyramid-free, pony ride-$3 (tickets), choo choo barrel train-$3 (tickets), and free photo opportunities. Other activities we didn't do: bounce houses-free, mini Ferris wheel-$3, swing-$3, punkin chunkin-$2 per shot.

Food: Hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, water, soda-$2-$3.

Pumpkins: $1-$20. Careful, we clearly picked out a $15 pumpkin and they tried to charge us $20 for it. After pointing out that it matched their $15 model exactly, they lowered the price. 

So, the petting zoo was lacking a bit.. expected a few more animals. The ponies were great. The kids get a nice 4 or 5 minute ride. They only had 3 ponies going though, so it took a while to get through the lines. We only bought a soda and a hot dog at the end because we had a couple coupons leftover. We enjoyed the hayride and I know Cohen loved the barrel ride. All of the workers were pretty nice, except the lady selling the pumpkins. She was on her cell phone during the entire transaction, didn't answer questions and again, tried to up charge us. 

Overall? We'd go back. We may possibly try the other one, right next to it next year. But if not, this one was fun. And inexpensive. Fun day.

Toddler Learning Activity

I really, really strive to teach Cohen at home. On a good week, I'm here with him 4 out of 7 days.

I talk to him (His Daddy is awesome at all of this too, but I'm writing this from MY POV today!) constantly, telling him what we're doing, asking him what he'd like, how he is feeling, what he thinks. Now, granted, he's got the limited vocabulary of a 21 month old boy right now. But, he's catching on quick! I swear, everyday he repeats something different that I say, and I'm like, "Did he just say...?" Got to, got to, got to be more careful what I say around him. And his memory is amazing, too! This kid rushes over when I'm emptying the dishwasher and he helps me! He takes out the cutting board and puts it in the correct cabinet, he grabs a bunch of Tupperware and puts it on the bottom shelf in the pantry (right where it goes!) and he loves to hand me forks and spoons from the basket. When I'm transferring laundry from the washer to the dryer, I can't leave out the step where I hand it to him first and then he tosses it in the dryer. He's so, so helpful (even if it makes chores last a little longer)!

I buy little school books like a mad person. He can't even hold a pencil to paper (different story, if there's a wall involved...) yet I buy alphabet books, President books, animal books, etc. I mean workbooks. That require him to follow some sort of instruction. Well, anyways. He's going to be one smart little boy, if I can get through all these books with him, eventually. I mean, he's already very smart.. but you know what I mean. 

I am committing to doing more toddler appropriate activities with him, since we're at home a lot, and the poor kid gets bored sometimes.

I wish I could take credit for this activity, but I saw my friend Amber B. doing this with her son, Eli. And it seemed perfect! Our boys are 2 months apart. (E is younger than Coco)

I tore out two sheets of large construction paper, blue and green. Then I rounded up toys from his room... that were green or blue. Just small ones, that he can handle easily.

Then I put him in his highchair without the tray and scooted him up to the table.

I also wrote the names of the colors on the paper. Sight association, right?

The I put all the fun blue and green toys in front of him.

I showed him the first few and then he started! He clapped every time we cheered. :)

Placing his little green "bandage" on the green sheet!

A green block!

All done!

I definitely helped him a lot this first time. But, I bagged up the toys in Ziploc baggies and we'll have another go at it tomorrow! He had fun and seemed proud of himself for getting them right. He kept saying "Booo!" "Geeen!" Then, throughout the rest of the day, I continued to point out blue and green items. 

What are some fun, easy toddler learning activities you do with your kiddos? Feel free to do this one with yours! (and again, I did not think this up!) 

Quite embarrassed..

I don't even have a good excuse for why I've let the blog go, untouched, for nearly 2 months.

So, I would most like to update you with some pictures I found on my camera. :)

Cohen got a wooden train set! ($10..Ikea) :)

My boys :)

(blinded by the flash) :(

Our community group girls got to go out for girls night, finally! 

I love these girls! (I've never seen a worse angle on me...)

Cohen really enjoys playing in his room these days. 

Is he half, or 100% Hispanic? This pic screams 100%.

(he's half.)

He loves to see how many toys he can cram into one area. He's quite good at it.

A boy and his toys. Melts my heart.

Sometimes when daddy works out, Cohen pretends he is too. It's rather sweet.

Child's pose. :)

A while back, our group ate dinner at Verona. It was ok, but the company was great.

Cory and Ashley!

Jackie and Patrick!

Me and Coco! (daddy was doing YoungLife business)

Sallie and Maggie! (Tyler was also doing YoungLife business)

Love this picture.

And I'll leave you with a fun one! hehe

Looking at his pony in the mirror.

Oh my goodness, I love these two!

Pheww. Ok. Better blogging.. starting.. now!