We are 10 days into October, folks! By this time, I am normally well over a month deep in orange and hay and pumpkins galore. See here, here, here, and here. (wow, looking back, I freakin' love Fall!) A festive mantle and a "Don't-I-Just-Scream-Autumn" wreath traditionally take over our home and porch in an abundance by now. But, ladies a gentlemen, sadly (or not so sadly?), that is just not the case this year.
I am in Florida. It is 90 something degrees outside. And I am on vacation at the beach for a week. And did I mention I don't live in my own home currently? Oh yeah, and my beloved decorations are stowed awaynot so neatly in a pretty little storage unit that houses our whole entire boxed up home. Fall projects, decor, and baked yummies - you may have to wait until next year for our little Barr family. Sad, yes, however I know I will make up for it when time permits! And dammit, you betta believe I will make time permit.
Amidst a beautiful week at the beach with family, hanging in the gulf on my husband's back, little cousins surrounding us - we caught a front row view of dancing dolphins in their natural habitat. It has been great and I have nothing to complain about - Beautiful, breathtaking, and memorable - yes. Just not so 'fall-y' if ya know what I mean!
With that being said, we found a pretty little pumpkin patch nestled in the heat of South Florida. Beyond exciting for this momma -- it was Baby E's first trip to the pumpkin patch!
![BARR-13001](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/10078839234_29395f1734_c.jpg)
The hay ride may have been hay-less, but did my baby girl notice? Heck no.
![outtakes-13002](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/10078800315_137b1f57f5_c.jpg)
She loved crawling amongst the pumpkins and trying hard to avoid her photo-overboard mother following her around with a camera. That screams 'fall', right?!
![outtakes-13007](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/10078547685_aa7953c3e0_c.jpg)
The best part about this year -- which beats a hay-filled hay ride and fall colored leaves -- is baby girl getting to spend the season with family.
Does it get better than that?
![outtakes-](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/10078814425_abeaa99cb0_c.jpg)
![BARR-13011](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/10078857686_65f2a16e1d_c.jpg)
I plan to return to this gem at least once before Halloween, to soak up some more memories and get us in the spirit after returning from the beach. Baby E had a blast with her cousins and little friend :)
![outtakes-13014](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/10078485215_824690a574_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13003](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/10078818446_42a36bb1fd_c.jpg)
Four little beauties playing together at the pumpkin patch makes this mommas heart happy!
![outtakes-13009](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/10078794156_08a13f6594_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13013](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/10078529576_06f1ca59b9_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13004](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/10078731464_44fa8972b7_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13010](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/10078750895_7968debc2d_c.jpg)
It's certainly not about the weather, the leaves, or finding the perfect pumpkin -- while those things just add that festively fun touch -- it's about creating the perfect day for perfect memories, at least in the eyes of a child. As adults, we can point out imperfections everywhere, but these sweet girls' whose eyes lit up at the sight of pumpkins, well they had a blast being outside, being with each other, and ultimately sleeping soundly on the way home. I just need to remind myself about the little things that matter most!
![outtakes-13012](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/10078615953_3fe4103e40_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13016](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/10078494726_203a2775f0_c.jpg)
A perfect day in their eyes, indeed!
![BARR-13005](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/10078959643_54338106ea_c.jpg)
To make up for my lack of fall decorating and festiveness, prepare to see such said missed decor at baby girl's first birthday party. Yes, I said first birthday -- which is ONLY one month and 3 days away. Sigh.
![BARR-13008](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/10078845465_fe98a68583_c.jpg)
My little pumpkin melts my heart every single day. In every single way. I don't need cool weather to be reminded just how wonderful it is to have the pleasure of raising this sweet girl every day.
I am in Florida. It is 90 something degrees outside. And I am on vacation at the beach for a week. And did I mention I don't live in my own home currently? Oh yeah, and my beloved decorations are stowed away
Amidst a beautiful week at the beach with family, hanging in the gulf on my husband's back, little cousins surrounding us - we caught a front row view of dancing dolphins in their natural habitat. It has been great and I have nothing to complain about - Beautiful, breathtaking, and memorable - yes. Just not so 'fall-y' if ya know what I mean!
With that being said, we found a pretty little pumpkin patch nestled in the heat of South Florida. Beyond exciting for this momma -- it was Baby E's first trip to the pumpkin patch!
![BARR-13001](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/10078839234_29395f1734_c.jpg)
The hay ride may have been hay-less, but did my baby girl notice? Heck no.
![outtakes-13002](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/10078800315_137b1f57f5_c.jpg)
She loved crawling amongst the pumpkins and trying hard to avoid her photo-overboard mother following her around with a camera. That screams 'fall', right?!
![outtakes-13007](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/10078547685_aa7953c3e0_c.jpg)
The best part about this year -- which beats a hay-filled hay ride and fall colored leaves -- is baby girl getting to spend the season with family.
Does it get better than that?
![outtakes-](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/10078814425_abeaa99cb0_c.jpg)
![BARR-13011](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/10078857686_65f2a16e1d_c.jpg)
I plan to return to this gem at least once before Halloween, to soak up some more memories and get us in the spirit after returning from the beach. Baby E had a blast with her cousins and little friend :)
![outtakes-13014](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/10078485215_824690a574_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13003](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/10078818446_42a36bb1fd_c.jpg)
Four little beauties playing together at the pumpkin patch makes this mommas heart happy!
![outtakes-13009](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/10078794156_08a13f6594_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13013](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/10078529576_06f1ca59b9_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13004](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/10078731464_44fa8972b7_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13010](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/10078750895_7968debc2d_c.jpg)
It's certainly not about the weather, the leaves, or finding the perfect pumpkin -- while those things just add that festively fun touch -- it's about creating the perfect day for perfect memories, at least in the eyes of a child. As adults, we can point out imperfections everywhere, but these sweet girls' whose eyes lit up at the sight of pumpkins, well they had a blast being outside, being with each other, and ultimately sleeping soundly on the way home. I just need to remind myself about the little things that matter most!
![outtakes-13006](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/10078829213_0b7f0d80fb_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13012](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/10078615953_3fe4103e40_c.jpg)
![outtakes-13016](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/10078494726_203a2775f0_c.jpg)
A perfect day in their eyes, indeed!
![BARR-13005](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/10078959643_54338106ea_c.jpg)
To make up for my lack of fall decorating and festiveness, prepare to see such said missed decor at baby girl's first birthday party. Yes, I said first birthday -- which is ONLY one month and 3 days away. Sigh.
![BARR-13008](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/10078845465_fe98a68583_c.jpg)
My little pumpkin melts my heart every single day. In every single way. I don't need cool weather to be reminded just how wonderful it is to have the pleasure of raising this sweet girl every day.