The Pumpkin Patch, One Last Time!

We have been experiencing a series of "lasts" over the past few weeks. Sometime last week we realized that we needed one last trip to the pumpkin patch as a family before the boys leave. I must admit that my attitude about the trek to the pumpkin patch, through the corn mazes, and up and down the rows of overpriced pumpkins was much different this time around. In the past we have enjoyed most of our trips through the pumpkins and corn mazes. Sometimes we have not really enjoyed it...managing such a trip with eleven people can be...what's the word..."tricky" to put it nicely! This year, however, it was nostalgic! This will likely be the last one we will visit as an entire family, at least without flying someone home for the occasion. When the boys return from their missions, we will have two daughters at BYU, and two others who will be high school seniors! Times are changing. For the most part, I welcome such changes as an opportunity for new experiences. I look forward to the next life adventure. But in the past, such adventures did not include a child leaving home (or two children leaving home).

I have decided that the best thing to do is to focus on what is still the same, what good is coming of the boys serving missions, and the blessings our families will experience as a result of Seth and Travis serving the Lord for two years. I would imagine that the blessings will be great, and that our family will be better for them having served.

Here are some more photos from the pumpkin patch...this is one of Jessica and me as the official winners of the corn maze race (with only minimal cheating)!

Here we are weighing the family on the large scale that weighs your pumpkins and calculates the enormous price you will pay for them (sorry for the sarcasm). In case you were wondering, our family weighs 1,553 pounds. Divide that by eleven and we each weigh about...you can do the math!

Continuing with our theme of "lasts" we had one last family dinner on Sunday. We enjoyed the meal with some of the grandparents as they said their final good-bye's to Travis for quite some time. Overall, we are amazed and pleased at our sons desires, willingness, and worthiness to serve missions. We are new parents when it comes to things beyond high school, so we are going to try to enjoy the experience and grow as a family!

Travis is having an open house on Sunday the 18th...this Sunday from 6:00 to 7:00pm at our home. Please call if you have any questions!