Pumpkin Patch

Growing up I always wished for a summer birthday so I could have a pool party. One year my parents let me celebrate early and I got that pool party. The other years my parents got creative and helped me enjoy my October birthday. In 3rd grade they closed off the kitchen and filled jars with eyeballs (peeled grapes), brains (spaghetti), and much more. Then my friends and I came in blindfolded and guessed the contents. Obviously I had fun with it…that was a long time ago for me to remember it so clearly. Another birthday we had a costume contest and my mom sewed me a 1/2 man, 1/2 woman costume. It was pretty cool. In college Chris would drive me out to random small Oklahoma towns to visit the coolest pumpkin patches for my birthday. I have always loved pumpkin patches…especially those small Oklahoma town ones that don’t have all the commercial aspects to it. However, with 4 little ones driving that long just isn’t fun….meeting up with friends at a great local patch is much better at this stage of life.

For some reason this picture makes me think of what they will look like as teenagers…puffy jacket vest and fleece pullover. Gosh they are so handsome!

This is the best picture from the day.  Littlest Brother had just fed a goat from his hands. He liked it.

Later that evening Biggest Brother decided he was ready to paint his pumpkin. I admit I tried every excuse and great idea possible to try to convince him to wait until the next day…when there would be plenty of natural light flooding through our windows. He didn’t buy it and I conceded…and used my flash. I wanted one picture of all four together, so Baby Sister got plopped onto the table. She liked it. It is surprising no one tried painting her.

A work of art. Not to be too sappy (that’s Chris’ job), but nothing reminds me of God’s creativity more than looking at my kids…works of art.