Fall Festivities

October has been one big pumpkin patch experience. Evie has gone to so many pumpkin patches this year I think she’ll turn into a gourd.

Our area has dozens of fall festivities and "pumpkin extravaganzas" to choose from; this is such a wonderful, fun time of year here in the Pacific Northwest. 

After all, we have to capture the perfect family pumpkin portrait, right?!?

Sadly, probably our best one

It's hard to believe that two years ago I was at this same pumpkin patch, still with all four kids, but things looked very different. 

A lot easier to capture the perfect shot when three of them are 20 weeks...

This year it was extra special to visit the pumpkin spots because my mom was in town for 10 days to join us. 

                                                               We did a variety of activities and enjoyed the gorgeous fall weather.  

Hayride to find the perfect pumpkin

Climbing on park monuments

Grandma love

Grandma and her munchkins

We ventured to several pumpkin patches...

One pumpkin patch was quite interesting and different. It was called the "Wild Side Farm."
 In addition to the piles of pumpkins, there were also Lions and Tigers and Bears...and kangaroos! 

This little "ma and pa farm" is someplace I've read and heard about for the past few years, but I never actually saw it for myself. This year however, I was determined to get there. Located about 20 min from our house down some country road, there was a barely noticeable hand painted wooden sign that read "Wild Side."  We entered the gravel drive and we were greeted by a fenced in area of mules, goats and zebras. 

Yes zebras. 

After we parked and got out of the car, the kids got excited by the cage of kangaroos. 

Farther into the hay stacks and pumpkin vines were cages of panthers, tigers, lions and a grizzly bear. 

The boys were pretty oblivious to the predators that surrounded them.  Evie was a little unsure about the turkey that was freely declaring it's territory around the cages. 
What was a bit unsettling to me though was the lion who was pacing the cage, stalking my sweet little boys. I watched him as he literally licked his chops and lunged at them through the bars. 

The whole experience was very surreal. The couple who owns the place explained that they have a special permit which allows them to take in and care for exotic animals who are illegal kept in Oregon. 
Hmm...so that means there are people who actually think lions from Africa are good house cats?!! 

There is much to ponder on this subject so I'll just stop here and focus on another close wild animal encounter. Ducks. 

The boys love ducks. They quack like ducks, point to ducks and say "duck." SO, One beautiful afternoon we took the kids to George Rogers park by the Willamette River and they fed the ducks. 
This duck feeding experience was pretty intense. Swarms and swarms of ducks started waddling and flapping towards us. 

Evie was very uncomfortable by her decreased personal space. 

James was just plain terrified. 

Caleb ate the duck bread. 

And Levi thought it was the best thing ever.  

So really, the point of this post is just to post some picture of what the family has been up to this fall.

First Starbucks fall drink EVER!

Collecting chestnuts
Collecting chestnuts. Yes, the kind that roast on an open fire. They actually have pretty intense spikes! Ouch! 

Caleb in the tube

Both look a little uncertain

Letting them run wild at New Seasons. Watch out!

My girl and me on a perfect fall day. 

Roaming the beach

Just hanging out

Lunch with Grandma before boarding her flight back to Chicago

The Tualatin Fall festival

carving the pumpkin

...and painting it too.

Evie's trip to dentist to get her teeth cleaned. 

Evie's preschool class trip to Ryser's pumpkin patch

Levi joined in the fun too....

Evie's cute little preschool class.

Meow. Happy Halloween!