Finally Fall

This is my most favorite time of year. The beautiful colors on the trees, mums and pumpkins on the front steps, and the smell of crisp autumn air. It is the beginning of lots of family traditions and events.

To kid off fall festivities, we went to Cox Farms on Columbus Day. We had great weather and even though we knew that all of Loudoun and Fairfax County might be there, we had a great day. Jack was thrilled to see all the slides and Henry was tickled to get up and personal with goats and cows. Both boys went down a bunch of slides and love them! Henry had the best faces as he slide down on Daddy's lap. There was a giant slide that we call went down which was super fun. Jack also found the robe swing to be tons of fun. Each time he went he tried to fall in a new way; on his bum, on his knees, and once he forgot to let go at all. What a monkey!





Of course, we had to have some yummy fall food while we were there. The kettle corn is always a huge hit. We also enjoyed our free apple and mini cup of apple cider. (There cider is awesome and I wish I had gotten some to take home!) We had a nice lunch on the picnic tables while being serenaded by some country band.

We all loved the corn maze. They were really creative and had some neat things to see during the walk through the maze. It was a great way to end the day. On the way out we got our free pumpkins (free-haa haa). Jack and Henry chose some great little ones and we also got a Mr. Lunt (veggie tale reference). (But on further review of veggie tale characters, I think we might actually have Jimmy Gourd, not Mr. Lunt).


Since I didn't get enough fall spirit from Cox Farm, I took the boys to Wegmeyers Farm. So fun! It is a sweet little farm (family owned I am assuming) tucked back off a dirt road in Hamilton. We were one of three families there so we basically had the place to ourselves. First, we went through the corn maze. They had a neat quiz set up that led us through the maze. At each numbered post, you'd stop and read a question and then depending on the answer you would turn right, left, or go straight. Henry started out in a wagon, but tipped over near the beginning so we ditched the wagon and tried walking. Even after a few stumbles (one where he actually took me down too) we made it safely back to the beginning.



After the maze, we went for a hay ride. They had 7 questions on a paper that had corresponding answers written on scarecrows hidden in trees along the hayride. We learned a lot about Virginia farms and crops. Jack's favorite was the Creepy Hollow. He got a kick out of the fog machine, the giant spiders, ghost, and witch.



After our ride, we headed to the pumpkin patch. Jack was determined to get the biggest pumpkin, but he wanted to cut it from the vine. Thankfully, most of the giant pumpkins had already fallen off the vine and therefore did not meet all Jack's requirements. Finally, he found one that he liked and he cut it free from the vine. Henry took a liking to the one next to it so our hunt was done! They had a great selection of different types of pumpkins in their barn area. I love the cinderella pumpkins and may try to grow some next year. It was a great day and will for sure be a fall family tradition in the years to come!