Pumpkin Patch Love (Part 3)

 We've reached the top 3 of my favorite pumpkin patches!

2nd and 3rd place were really hard to pick because they're both deserving of a top spot.

Coming in 3rd place is Pumpkin Creek Farms in Sherman, IL

We first visited this patch 3 years ago. I had seen a few friends post pictures, and decided to take the boys one weekend to check it out. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and we spent several hours playing.
I was shocked at how cheap their admission was for everything that was included in the price. James even made it in just under the wire with his age for free admission. 

The first discovery was the giant corn bin. The boys even got me to come in and play. Have you really even visited a pumpkin patch if you don't come home and have corn falling out of random articles of clothing for the rest of the day?

They've got a small petting zoo, and you are also able to feed the goats, which James loved. They have bowling, huge hay bales to climb with slides, small corn tables for younger kiddos, duck races and swing sets. They have a hay ride that you can ride as many times as you want. The first year, I think the boys convinced me to ride it 3 times. They also have a barrel train that the kids can ride unlimited times. I think rode 2 or 3 times. I loved the atmosphere. The owners interact with guests. I love being able to breathe in fresh country air. The leaves were starting to change that year as well. Before we left, I decided to try an apple cider donut. Let's just say, I left with a dozen more and I crave them still. The donuts alone almost pushed Pumpkin Creek into 2nd place.

We also visited 2 years ago with my parent's. It was a blustery day. We're talking 40mph wind gusts and fairly chilly. We considered not going because of the wind, but I'm glad we did. We didn't spend as long as we did before because of it, but we still had such a great time...and ate donuts in the van. 

We didn't make it last year, so this year we're going opening weekend!

Squeaking into 2nd place is Bloomsbury Farm in Atkins, Iowa.

While they are pricier than some and quite a tourist attraction, I definitely have a special place in my heart for it. The sole reason that it got the 2nd place spot is because Bloomsbury was where my love of pumpkin patches began.

I don't think I even have any pictures from my first visit, because like I said in my first post, I only went because my mom and sister made me feel guilty. My mom had coupons with free admission or something, and so I went with my parents and Kendra. This was before I had kids, so I really didn't care about the activities. We were there for the huge corn maze. What kind of idiots enjoy walking around in the corn for a couple of hours? Turns out, this idiot!

I got to go on a field trip with the daycare I worked at. I worked in the infant room, so never got to go on field trips. My boss was complaining that she was going to have to go on one with the preschoolers, so I jumped at the opportunity. She took my place and I took her's. This time, I got to do all the kid activities too...and then spend the drive back on the school bus catching rolling pumpkins. 😂

When Daniel was 10.5 months we took him to Bloomsbury. Thus, beginning my tradition of going to patches every single year with my kids. We even pushed a stroller through a semi muddy corn maze.

We went back in 2014. I was pregnant with James, and Daniel was nearing becoming a "threenager"...so while we had fun, we also had meltdowns that day because he didn't get a nap! I legitimately handed him off to my parents and Kendra and I boarded a wagon ride so I could get a break from my child!

By this year, they had added so many more new activities for kids. A big bouncy thing, corn bin, petting zoo, pig races, slides and more.

2 or 3 years ago, we had planned to take the boys to Pumpkin Patch Pizzazz, but it rained a ton, and we decided that we didn't want to deal with the mud. But, I was sad. I really wanted to go to the pumpkin patch, so Kendra and I decided that we were going to sneak off without telling the boys and we went to Bloomsbury. We had so much fun! We obviously did the corn maze...and got ridiculously lost. We found the same checkpoint at least a half a dozen times which meant we were walking in big circles!
We played on the big slides and then decided to do the "haunted house" which is geared for kids. That didn't stop us from screaming and being terrified. They also added Bags so we played that, and we of course had to get our picture in the giant rocking chair!

This year (hopefully...because 2020) we're going back! This will be James' first time...besides in the womb. I know he'll love it! 

Tomorrow, I reveal the number 1 spot...which if you know me, then you clearly have already figured out which pumpkin patch it is. It deserved it's own post. Now, how I'm going to pick which pictures to use is beyond me. I literally have hundreds!

Pumpkin Patch Love (Part 2)

Tonight, I continue rating the pumpkin patches I've visited. Last night I shared the bottom 3. Tonight I'm sharing the middle of the road pumpkin patches.

Coming in 5th Place it The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL

The Great Pumpkin Patch is beloved by many. The only reason it is ranking further down on my list is because I feel like it's super touristy, and always packed with people. I have only visited once. My sister came to visit and we decided to take Daniel, who was almost 2 at the time.
It felt overpriced, and I feel like we even had to pay extra to do the corn maze. I'm still confused to this day by that maze. We thought from the sounds of it, it would be huge, but somehow made it out in record time. We ran into these people who had been lost forever, and I have no idea how!
There was plenty to do there. They had animals, small hay bale mazes, the corn maze, hayrides and more. I'm pretty sure we stayed all afternoon, but it's not one I put on my Fall Bucket List each year.

4th Place goes to Pumpkin Patch Pizzazz in Monticello, Iowa

This is where is starts getting hard to narrow down my favorites! 2nd, 3rd and 4th are tricky because they're all pretty close. My number one is easy though. It has a special place in my heart.

My parents, Kendra and I took the boys here twice, and we absolutely loved it. Both times we went it wasn't overly busy. It was smaller, but they had so many fun things for kids of all ages. 
They had a ton of handmade games like, life sized Candy Land, Memory, tic, tac, toe and more. I'm not gonna lie. Life sized Candy Land was pretty epic. They also had cute photo props, so I of course had fun with those! A small corn maze, which was fun to go through. A corn bin, duck races and farm animals. I really loved the whole atmosphere of the place. 

I loved that was just the right size for the boys and we were able to spend lots of time exploring.

Sadly, last year they were unable to open, and as far as I could tell, it appears they may have shut down completely. 

And my all time favorite picture taken there:

Stay tuned for Part 3. I might give the Top 3 their own individual posts, or I might just save that for my number 1. What do you think? Let me know!

Pumpkin Patch Love (Part 1)

Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I love Fall and I have an obsession with pumpkin patches. The love quite honestly started before I had kids, but having kids gave me the incentive to go. The first time I ever went to a pumpkin patch, I went very begrudgingly. I rolled my eyes and said, "This is such an Iowa thing to do. Pay money to walk through corn."  Who knew I'd end up loving it!?

I'm gearing up for a fun season with the boys. I have them all week, but every other weekend. So, we're going to hit up a couple of my favorite patches, and maybe even check out another one I've been wanting to visit for a few years. Thinking about patches, made me go back and look through pictures over the year (and I have A LOT). I decided I'd write a post about all of the ones we've visited, but then I realized I have way too much to say, so I'm breaking it up into a few posts.

I thought it would be fun to rank them from my least favorite to my favorite. We've been to 8 pumpkin patches (although to my favorites multiple times!).

Tonight I will post about the 3 that just haven't piqued my pumpkin love as much as the others.

*Disclaimer: These are solely my own opinions, don't be hating on me!

8. Coming in last place, is Bart's Farm in Marion, Iowa. 

This little patch is right down the road from my parent's house. It's very small, but it's also free. I know a lot of people who enjoy going there, but for me it's just lackluster. There's a small petting zoo, a very small maze (I think?), and a few good photo ops. You'll only spend 20-30 minutes there, tops.

7. Cottonwood Farm in Lockport, IL

I almost feel bad placing this near the bottom, but I only visited there once when Daniel was a baby. My cousin, her sister-in-law and I took our boys. It was the perfect weather. It was a nice sized farm, with a hayrack ride, animals and a cute little playground. It was actually a fun day, just not one I'd go back to often.  (This was also the day my cousin tried to kill us...but proved she had excellent brakes. I've never let her live it down!)

6. Big M in Taylorville, IL

Okay, hear me out...this is a great little pumpkin patch to spend a couple of hours at. I don't know what it is, but it's just not my favorite. I've never even taken James there. I've taken Daniel twice. 

The first time I took him, he freaked the heck out on the hay ride and so I got us off in the patch, and walked back to the farm because he thought the tractor was going to eat us or something.

The second time, we had fun. James was a baby, so instead of making Daniel have quiet time during his nap, I took him to Big M and he had a blast. He went through the mini hay bale maze over and over. Climbed haystacks and went down the big slides. They have lots of cute little photo op areas set up as well. I also decided that we'd do the corn maze. Ya'll...I got straight up lost. Daniel was getting so annoyed because I couldn't find my way out, but eventually we found some guys to follow and made it out.

We've made so many good memories, and really each and every place has its own unique vibe. I can't wait to share more tomorrow night. Stay tuned!

Breathe and Be Still

This has not been my day. Does this happen to anybody else? You're living life. Everything is looking up. You're happy. You're content. You're excited for the future. Then one day you wake up and then entire day just sucks! It's like the devil says, "I see you're enjoying life too much lately. Allow me to make you miserable."

Let me just say...I was in a MOOD today. I've finally been sleeping so much better these past few weeks. Last night I couldn't fall asleep. The boys woke me up fighting this morning. They spent the entire day annoying each other. Daniel got mad every time I asked him to do something. James had a thousand tantrums. And I yelled way more than I should have.

I felt down about school because I feel like they don't have anything to do yet. It's been explained and I get it, but we're done in no time and then I have to find other activities for them to do...which is fine except I feel like it's just normal life. This doesn't feel like school to them and it most certainly doesn't to me either.

I decided a field trip was in order. We went to the library for the first time in probably a year. I thought it would be a nice distraction. Daniel was moping around for awhile. James was having an absolute meltdown when I told him he had enough books. It felt like a sauna in there and masks are required, so I kept ripping it off every few minutes to breathe.

I stopped in at a local store to pick up an order and then they started hitting and yelling at each other again. I was going to go get my paycheck, but we came home instead and I banished James up to his room, and sent Daniel up a little later. Then I sat down on the couch and let the tears flow. I told myself I could cry for 10 minutes and then I had to snap out of it. 

I cried because I felt like I was failing as a mom today. I was failing as a teacher. I let a couple of hurtful actions by other people carry over to today. I cried out of sheer frustration over Covid-19 and how it's always in our faces. I also vented to a couple of my best friends because sometimes you just need to let it all out.

I did stop crying, but I stayed in a funk the rest of the night. Daniel and I had a good talk though and I apologized to the boys for being so cranky, but also told James his attitude and behavior toward me tonight was not acceptable. 

Someone told me to blog, so here I am. Writing things down usually helps clear my mind.

While I'm still feeling pretty down, I know that tomorrow is a new day. I also know that God is trying to get my attention. My mom sent the boys a new devotion book and tonight's was about stopping and being still to hear God's voice. 

When I got out of the shower, the song "You Say" by Lauren Daigle started on my playlist. I've heard it a million times, but the words resonated tonight:

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know, ooh oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And You say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours

So, now it's time to go have some quiet time with God and pray that He will take the negative thoughts away, give me peace and give me guidance. And if you feel like sending some prayers my way, I would gladly accept them.

"Be still, and know I am God."
Pslam 46:10

Life Isn't Always Sunshine and Roses

First of all, thank you to each and every person who read, liked, commented or messaged me after my last post about my new normal. I had no idea that so many people would read it. I know I haven't gotten back to everyone who has messaged, but thank you for your kind words and encouragement.

One thing that seemed to come up many times in the comments was that I have such a positive outlook and attitude in life. I'm thankful that I come across that way, because my ultimate goal is to do just that. Let's just take a moment to get real though.

I struggle. My life is like a roller coaster, with constant highs and lows. Usually daily. I try to remain positive, but my very close friends/family can tell you that they have heard plenty of negative come out of me. Sometimes I just need to vent or be mad!

Don't get me wrong. I am very happy with being in my new home and starting this new journey in life. It has been a long time coming, but life has a funny way of still throwing curve balls at you. I can literally be in the happiest mood ever, and find myself triggered by something and there I am crying my eyes out.

For a long time, I built a wall up around myself for protection. I rarely cried. I didn't want my guard down. I didn't want to be weak. At some point this year the dam broke, and I'm pretty sure I've cried at least a few years worth of tears.

I mostly get caught up in the, "What if's?" and the "How's?" in life. I start wondering what my actual purpose is in life. Is there something more I should be doing? Anxiety plays a role I'm sure. I like to know what's going on. I want an exact road map planned out for me. Every time I think I've got it figured out, a rug gets pulled out from under me.

The sad thing is...I know the answer. The answer is God. Why is it so hard to just hand things over to Him? I frequently turn the same situations over to him, only to find myself trying my hardest to keep plugging away doing my own thing. I'm stubborn. I'm impatient. I want the answers right now...to everything. He has the road map I so desperately want...and I'm sure that through prayer and (ugh) patience, He will reveal the answers.

There are many struggles I've been through or am currently going through, that I don't talk about or share. Some have tried to break me. This is why it is SO important to be kind to others. You never know what is going on in someone else's life. They could be quietly going through something. I know there are times where I am unkind or I say something hurtful. In general though, I try to spread kindness in any way I can because whether someone is going through a rough patch or not, I think it's important to find ways to encourage others or to do something to brighten their day. I love to send cards, bake treats or just give someone a compliment.

While I do look for those positives or create them, I still have plenty of negatives too. I just don't want people to think I'm just this happy go lucky, roll with the punches kinda person all the time. Sometimes, I'm the girl crying herself to sleep, while trying to remind myself that God's got this and that he's making me a better and stronger person through all of it.