To celebrate Desmond turning three, mom and dad took the day off work to visit the pumpkin patch. Sister was in utero last time, but today was just the three.

Hayrack ride out to the pumpkin patch, it was a beautiful autumn day

THIS MANY!!!

Des wanted to get a second, more substantial pumpkin. Dad said he could have it, if he could pick it up. A toddler’s rendition of the Sword in the Stone

Dad pretending not to be fighting back significant nausea

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is one part pumpkin patch and orchard and another part amusement park. Seen here is the animatronic cows and other barnyard critters playing bluegrass interwoven with riddles and jokes. Somehow we walked past this earworm barn 14 times in a single visit.

Des ventured out onto the windmill platform all by himself, but wasn’t too thrilled upon looking down, so mom walked out as well. He’s still not a fan of grated-design: the caboose platform at the Durham, the staircase of the old market parking garage…

For being generally disinterested interested with swings, Des was surprisingly content with riding the zip line.

Mom had to into the action (and dad too)

Might be time for some new outdoor toys next spring

Desmond toddlering the apple cannon (looking closely, an apple can be seen mid-air)

Seriously fun

Tractor ✔️

The apple pie mostly made up for the sad potato soup

Oddly enough, the sheep waiting Des’ pellets took the same resting position as Max with his head in your lap waiting for a head rub

The sheep gobbled up the treats

That is a sheep tongue stretching the distance for a few more pellets

An entire multi-floor barn is dedicated to a complex pneumatic system for a truly frantic ball-flying rush

Though it quickly turned into a ball hoarding sprint…

…which ended in loss, certain disappointment and tears

Making it rain corn

Also walked out on the massive bubble, though ended up preferring seated fun

Duck water races, naturally

This cool three-year-old going with dad to get sister at daycare

Desmond’s present: a little sister to always (voluntarily, never any cajoling) share all of his toys with

Both kids going immediately to building with the new Squigz like at Joslyn’s Discovery Room

“Oh, a book!” Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

A crane truck to take apart and reassemble

Special birthday dinner and a movie, with a viewing of Cars 2 (of course)

Reading The Lorax before bed (during the second reading the night after, Des picked up on the tragic nature of the ending and was clearly distraught)

::

From Mom: Happy 3rd birthday to this wonderful creature. He has taught me joy and love in ways I could have never dreamed. He can’t get enough Star Wars, tractors, rocket ships, The Beatles and his dad.

From Dad: Your toddler-sized heart knows no stranger, laughs with full life like your mother, reads every book in sight, hugs so hard, finds pleasure in helping, is curious about so many things. You struggle with mouse-and-elephant problems too like the rest of us, but I’m so fortunate to be your father, growing with you hand-in-hand. Welcome to three, Desi.