We are in the midst of a weekend of family traditions, birthday celebrations (Amy girl turns 15 today – Happy Birthday sweetheart! And our dear lifelong friend, “Sallee” has a birthday tomorrow), athletic events & a fellowship get together! And it is all good! Yesterday was another Lambdin annual family tradition (to read why family traditions are not only fun but important & meaningful – click here)
Pumpkin Patch Day
We have been going to Phillips Farm Pumpkin Patch in Lodi during one of the last Fridays in October for 17 years! It is one of our favorite fall outings. It always includes the following:
- Getting dressed up in jeans, overalls or beautiful fall colors of orange, auburn, gold, red or green. In earlier years the girls were often dressed up in matching outfits or shirts but more often now we just try to “color coordinate”.
- Dad & whomever may be in high school meet us at the patch after the school day ends.
- Taking a family photo next to the beautiful wildflowers!
- Walking through the pumpkin trail, reading the signs (some of which are really educational…like how much honey a bee produces in his lifetime – 1/12 a teaspoon!), and running through the hay tunnel
- Going on a hay ride
- Feeding the farm animals
- Taking individual photos of each child. I love the “patch” photos – they are always so colorful & bring back warm wonderful memories. Daniel was especially darling! (although the “baby” always seems to take great patch photos!)
- Enjoying the relaxing time together on a sunny and beautifulfall afternoon and often eating popcorn or pumpkin ice cream. Yummy!
We were joined this year by Summer Anderson, a high school classmate of Amy’s, Ashlyn Hale, Rachael Ruiz and Michelle Sallee. (we always, always, always are joined by friends & family which just makes it even more special!) After coming home we have a traditional favorite “patch day” dinner – Chili, cornbread and salad. The table was very festive this year as I had hosted a development luncheon for JECHS earlier in the week and got to use the left over flowers and candles. 
After dinner we read The Pumpkin Patch Parable…a great children’s book with a biblical message. In fact there is an entire series of parable books written by Liz Curtis Higgs that all have good lessons. They are geared towards children ages 2-8 but even my older girls enjoy this tradition. (and of course their Daddy reading it is NEVER a dull moment for anyone as he adds his editorial comments!)
We ended our evening with apple tart and vanilla ice cream. We love Pumpkin Patch Day!
Enjoy the photos!
Inspire Ministries 
Beth, I LOVE your articles! They are so inspiring and motivating. I need to try alot of ideas that you share with us, your daughters are beautiful and you can tell that they are just lovely! God Bless YOU!