Playing Hooky--Vala's 2015

Family Fun Day!  We had the kids play hooky for a day and took everyone to Vala's pumpkin patch!  It wasn't crowded and we had the run of the place.  

 The little kids all like the cheesy story-book place (and I suspect the big kids are ok with it too...)

Em and Christian liked the big-wheel bike races.

Cubby and Ju Ju pedaled around as well.

Kari decided she was freezing and snuggled up to watch with Britta.

 Britta LOVED the corn pit.  Just look at that joy!

Intense rubber-ducky races.

 Everyone enjoyed the giant bouncy pillows...even Kari came out of hibernation for the fun.

...And then she went back to freezing.

The slides were lots of fun too--Kari was all smiles, Juliana...not so much.

I love this picture of Britta and me.  She's just too sweet!

 Lastly we wandered down to this little obstacle course area--which was the perfect size for Kari and Juliana.

We actually didn't even make it out the patch part of the pumpkin patch...but we did grab a few pumpkins on our way out!  Yay Vala's!

Vala's 2013

Our annual picture with Mickey!

This year's trip to Vala's came courtesy of Cubby's work!  Free food and fun?  You bet we'll be there!

Every year Vala's gets bigger and it's quite the attraction site for us locals (and many non-locals!).  But, in all the years we've gone, this was the first time we'd gone in the afternoon/evening.  It was great!

Here are just some of the highlights!  I didn't take pictures of EVERYTHING we did...I'm not that good!

Anyone??  J/K, wouldn't sell them for the world!

Christian insisted upon this close up.

Juliana LOVED watching the goats.

The kids all really like "Storybook Village"...pretty sure there's some serious copyright infringement going on though. For instance, on one of the displays they had a Snow White set up with the music from the movie and everything.  I mean, the kids loved it, but not sure what Disney would have to say about it all :-).

There was an old lady who lived in a shoe...alas, sometimes it is how it feels!  (But not the OLD part...)

We caught a few tricks of a magic show (Emily was thoroughly unimpressed.  Shocker.)

Juliana, doing her happy dance, about the sheep

Christian, honing his cattle roping skills

One of my favorite drinks is back in season!!

 The biggest hit of the night, by far, was this slide!  It was getting dark so the pictures aren't so great, but ALL of the kids really enjoyed it.  Even Juliana!  I went down it once, but ever since I started having children, I get motion sick really easily!

Can you see Juliana's happy smile??

We also came home with a pumpkin that weighed more than Juliana.
She enjoyed having a "buddy" in the stroller with her :-)

We did all this and more at Vala's!  Such a beautiful evening and, despite how cheesy some of the stuff at Vala's is, we LOVE making these fun memories with our children!

Apples and {Orange} Pumpkins

 Last week was Kari's preschool class's field trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch.  (You know it's a popular destination when there's an official sign for your field trip!)

The kids were all very well behaved and were good sports about all of the requisite pictures that were forced upon them.

Now, even though we were at a pumpkin patch, this time the trip was all about apples (oh yes, the infamous Vala's also has an apple orchard--complete with dwarf apple trees perfect for little pickers!).

Each child was given a bag and told they could pick 3 apples.  Kari was happy b/c "3" is her favorite number.  And, I was rewarded with one gloriously cute apple-picking picture.  After that, all bets were off and she was back to her stubborn little self.

Juliana also got to come along and she took quite a shine to one of Kari's teachers, Mrs. Marshall.  It was very cute and Mrs. Marshall was kind enough to indulge her a bit and hug and hold her...until Juliana decided that she'd had enough and wanted to explore a bit.

 And...here are a couple of cute shots of Ju-Ju-Bee :-).

 We also got to ride on TWO trains.  One small one and the bigger one.  Obviously, the bigger one was the favorite (but I didn't get any pictures of us on it.)

 After the train rides, we also got to feed some of the goats and the llama!  Kari's favorite book right now is, "Llama llama red pajama" so she got a kick out of feeding a REAL llama!

 The kids also got a little time to play around on one of the playgrounds there.

Both girls also liked the various sites (musical puppets and stuff that's pretty cheesy).  The picture above is what they looked like after we'd been bouncing on the big inflatable bouncy pillows...and the side picture is what they both insisted upon watching.

Yup, it was definitely time to head home.  We are planning on heading back as a family with Cubby's work in a couple of weeks so I didn't feel too badly about not doing EVERYTHING that morning.  It was special though b/c it was Kari's first field trip :-).

Vala's 2012

Yup, this is Vala's (again).  As much as we hate to admit it, going here is becomming a fall tradition.  And, we're getting pretty good at making sure the day runs smoothly.  Tips to making your trip to Vala's a success: 

1.  Go on a Monday.  Do NOT go on a weekend.  You will wait for an hour just to park.  Go on a Monday (when the kiddos don't have school) and you will get 2nd row parking! 

2.  Even if it's raining when you leave your house, it may not be raining when you get to Vala's!  This will further deter the crowds and you'll be able to have your pick of the fun activities! 

3.  Pack an extra set of clothes (that is, if you have a toddler who is potty training and an infant who likes to blow out her diapers.)  Packing that extra set of clothes will ensure a good day no matter how many times you have to take a trip to the bathroom!  (And for us, the answer is 5.  Yes, we took five separate trips to the bathroom!)

So, by abiding by those tips, here is some of the fun that awaits you, should you decide to venture to the next best thing to Disney World (not really, but as far as pumpkin patches go, it's a kid's wonderland).

Any takers??

 

Ready for school!

So proud that he and Daddy made it through his first "haunted" house!

In the nursery-rhyme area--"there was an old woman who lived in a shoe.."

Emily pulling Cinderella and the Prince

Christian on his "hog" of a bike

A favorite place to be--the jumping pillows

Kari and Daddy having some fun on the pillows

Whaaaaaaa....

Down the super slide!

Super slide!

Watching the pumpkin throwing

Juliana when we arrived at Vala's...

And again when we left!  (She did wake up for the middle...she had a huge blow out and was awake for  a bit after that!)

Our picture by Mickey!  (Normally we get a family picture, but Juliana was asleep so we decided not to bother.)

Yay Vala's!