The Pumpkin Patch

(Also titled 'Mommy Fail #21567')

After last year I was determined to get Cora to an actual pumpkin patch this Halloween season.  This morning, I found myself up against an impossible time clock with too many things to do before this weekend and not enough time to get them all done well.  Methinks this is sometimes the story of my life!  But, I work best under stress and deadlines. . .hah! Needless to say, we did not make it to one of the several lovely pumpkin patches in our area.  We did, however, have time to go to the cute little church pumpkin sale that we went to last year.  Last night I laid out her outfit, planned out our morning, and prepared for a calm, cool photo op at the local charity pumpkin sale.

FAIL!


It all looked so promising. . .

We drove up and the patch was open.  There were lots of kids and lots of photos being taken.  Suh-weet!

I got Cora out of the car and started to walk over to the patch when all of a sudden, an authoritative looking man comes running up to us waving us off frantically.  This apparently was a special event for a local school.  The patch was not open to the public until noon (or as we like to call it nap time!)  As I walked Cora back to the car, she kept turning around and asking me "What about the punkins?"  When I put her in the car, she cried.  Uuugghhhh!  Breaks momma's heart!  We put in an emergency text to John who dutifully tried to locate another patch close by, but it was for naught. So, I decided to throw caution to the wind, finish running our errands and come back when it opened at nap time.

Honestly, it was not a terrible experience.  But, it was clear that Cora was pretty much over having her picture taken.  (That last statement would imply that there are occasions where she is actually up for getting her picture taken!  She has proven time and again that she is more of an action shot kind of girl!)

Loved this smirky smile.  She looks like she's supremely uncomfortable!

The funny thing about this picture is that she kept saying "And, smile!"  But, I could not for the life of me figure out how to get her to look at the camera. . .or smile!  Did I mention she has a mind of her own?!

She was pretty obsessed with the big pumpkins.

Here she is with some of her favorites.  She kept saying over and over "Punkin is so heavy!"

And of course, because she was such a trooper, we bought her a baby pumpkin in addition to our family pumpkin.  She was so excited to pick one out for herself AND to be able to carry it all by herself.  Little miss independent!  

Cora and her personal pumpkin.

All in all, I suppose it was not a total fail.  We'll try again next year!