Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

A few weeks ago, I was trying to figure out how in the world I could plan a field trip for First Kids Day Out. We are about 3 or 4 weeks out on our construction project at church. If you haven't heard about this, our church is remodeling our first floor and my office! Whoohoo! It looks great, but I can't move in yet. Argh! This project has made my job at FKDO a little challenging. So, God gave me the idea that it would be so great to create our own pumpkin patch. Fortunately, my sweet boss and friend Cherie thought it was a great idea and was ready to help.

Kroger was willing to order the pumpkins for us and even gave us a discount - even better! We ordered 80 pumpkins for FKDO and the K3 at Arkansas Baptist. Our K3 kiddos (this is Mollie's grade) are not old enough to ride the bus which means they don't get a field trip. So, we created our own pumpkin wonderland that they could enjoy as well! One of our sweet families at church let us use their tractor and trailer for a hayride; and our youth pastor Jay Jacobs was gracious and drove the hayride for us! The kids had a BLAST!!

Our pumpkin wonderland

It was so cold and windy on Pumpkin Day. Mrs. Maria loaded up Annie's class and brought them out to see all the pumpkins.

Annie was so glad to be outside!

Even Annie's class got to take home pumpkins. All of our kiddos took home a pumpkin, and they enjoyed getting to add special face stickers to their pumpkin. They were so cute!

Mollie and her friend Haven were so excited to get a pumpkin!

Mark and Mollie - these two are so funny together. I fully expect to some day call him my son-in-law. ;)

Our hayride

Noah found the perfect pumpkin!

Britt was thrilled to get to watch Sam while Mandy was watching Noah enjoy pumpkin day at FKDO. Sam was an angel!

Mollie and her friends enjoyed riding in the wagon almost as much as they enjoyed the hayride!

Mollie and her class enjoyed a lunch of chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, grapes and sugar cookies. Pretty sure it was a fabulous day in K3!

Before I left for home after our wild day at FKDO, I got to stop by and check on my girl. She was having lunch with friends and having a great day! She is growing up so fast!!

Pumpkin Day was such an amazing day. I was so tired when I got home, but I went home with such a full heart. My amazing staff was unbelievable. They were so flexible and just ready to focus on the kids. Our amazing church staff was ready and willing to do whatever needed to be done to make the day a success. (Moving 80 pumpkins is not an easy task!) And the kids.....they could not have been any better behaved. It was wonderful. God was so gracious to give us a beautiful day. The sun was shining. It was wonderful!

One of the construction workers who has been working at our church made the comment that "y'all sure do a lot for your kids around here." What an amazing compliment. Ya know, that's why I do what I do. God has brought amazing kids to our church, and I am so grateful. Plus as part of that, He has given me the opportunity to do fun things for my kids as a result. God is just so good!