Can I Come, Too?

Some mornings, Alton wakes up before Andy has left for work. While Daddy is downstairs eating breakfast and packing his lunch, Alton gets a diaper change and then hurries down to make sure he gets in his hugs and goodbyes. Last week, before Andy had a chance to pack his lunch bag, Alton commandeered it from the countertop and said, "I'm going to work with Daddy."

He began to scurry around picking up his favorite toys, filling the lunch box with "the things I need that I will take to Daddy's work." He looks down at the bulging lunch box, doubtful that his fridge farm will fit.

He heads over to his toy bins for a load of monster trucks.

Finally, we're full!

Zips it up.

Just grab 'n go, right?

Poor little guy! Daddy had to go to work without him, of course, but luckily we had some fun plans in store for this morning--a playgroup outing to the pumpkin patch! Last year, most of our pumpkin patch outings were rained out, so this year I set them on the calendar as early as possible. We wound up with a gorgeous, sunny fall day and pretty much the entire patch to ourselves!

Cousin *P was one of the attendees. Alton entreats her to chase him!

Most of my pictures of them look like this--running away from the camera.

This patch is a particular favorite because they have both a train and a boat. Your admission ticket buys you a ride on each one. We're "all aboard" to head out to the far end of the pumpkin patch.

Auntie Karen and *P are ready to go!

Out at the other end of the property, they have u-pick pumpkins, or ones that have been harvested already. Alton uses two hands to grasp his baby pumpkin.

For the way back to the barn to buy our gourds, we ride the boat. Alton hands off his ticket to the pilot.

And off we go! Our baby pumpkin is already proudly displayed on the dining table at home. Hope for more bright fall days like this.