first field trip: the pumpkin patch!

Last Thursday I went with Lil J to his first preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch.  What a proud mama moment!  He had been talking about it for weeks and making sure that I was coming with him by repeatedly asking me over and over {you get the picture}.  I had been thinking about it for weeks wondering how I was going to swing it:  school bus + baby in tow + a rumbustious toddler + no stroller + only one me = total meltdown.  That's the equation I came up with anyways.  Luckily, it was far from the truth.

As we walked down the street towards the school buses, Lil J couldn't contain his excitement.  He's been dreaming about riding a school bus for, oh, I don't know...two years.

Waiting to board the big yellow bus!

On the way to the pumpkin patch we talked about how excited he was to hang out with his friends and pick out pumpkins.  It had rained the night before so I knew we were in for a nice, muddy morning.

On our way to the pumpkin patch - so excited!

The minute we stepped off the bus, our boots were covered in slimy mud.  It wouldn't be a trip to the pumpkin patch without the mud!  I held on tight to Lil J's hand while Baby Z snoozed away in her carrier.  As we entered the pumpkin patch, I noticed some awesome wagons that would take us straight to the pumpkins!  This was {obviously} Lil J's dream.

On the wagon

On top of the wagon ride, we had some banjo playing entertainment and a chance meeting with the Pumpkin Princess {sorry, I didn't get a picture of her highness}.  When we finally got to the pumpkin patch, I just wanted to turn right around.  The ground was so muddy our boots were literally sinking in.  Luckily for Lil J, he had boots with traction on the bottom, unlike his smart mom.  As I watched other children slip and fall, one by one, I silently prayed over and over that Lil J would stay on his two feet and not make friends with the ground.  God only knows what a mess that would have been.

Thankfully, Lil J did manage to keep himself somewhat clean - no thanks to me.  I almost slipped a few times and actually had to balance myself on Lil J.  My poor poor 3 year-old.  My lifesaver.

We picked out two pumpkins - one for Lil J and a tiny one for his baby sister.  I couldn't imagine carrying any more than that.

Even though I anticipated that this field trip would be a disaster, it was actually pretty tame.  Lil J behaved for the most part and Baby Z pretty much slept through the entire trip.  We were ready to go home an hour before we were actually "allowed" to leave but made the most of it with bites of apples and some cheap Halloween entertainment.

All in all I had an amazing time with my son and wouldn't have traded the day for anything.  Our next field trip won't be until April when we visit the Aquarium.  Can't wait!