Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch 2020

This year's visit to Bates Nut Farm was...different. Masks were required, hand sanitizer dispensers were scattered about and there were limited activities and food vendors onsite. It was a such a stark contrast from the year before when the farm was packed full of people, inflatable slides and vendors. To be honest, I didn't mind. I liked the toned down, quiet time we spent at the farm just checking out the pumpkins and feeding the farm animals. It was really nice for us to get out and enjoy some time together while safely social distancing from other visitors. I always enjoy watching the boys explore the pumpkin fields, testing their strength by pushing and trying to pick up the big gourds. Every time we take the boys out, we do a careful calculation of the risk and benefits of going out in public. I'm happy to report that this outing was well worth it! I hope you enjoy these photos of our annual visit to Bates. 

2019

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2015

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Bates Nut Farm

15954 Woods Valley Road

Valley Center, CA 92802

[This entire outfit is hand me downs from his big bro]

[The boys absolutely LOVED monkeying around with the wheel barrel]

[Gosh he's growing up so fast]

[So glad I made Tuan take a solo photo. We have so few photos of just ourselves with no kids.]

[Simultaneously terrified and curious]

[Parker is famous with the goats]

 

Annual Bates Nut Farm Visit 2015

The pumpkin patch(es) at Bates Nut Farm opened last week and we made our annual trip out to Valley Center to check out the Big Macs over the weekend. Like last year, the Big Macs were not as big or plentiful as the first year we visited but we still had a great time walking among the pumpkins, taking pictures and visiting the animals. I really can't believe how much Parker has grown since our first visit! 

Mom tips:

-Go early. The light isn't great for pictures but it gets hot and crowded in the afternoons. 

-Go early. The road into Bates is small. Traffic can get really backed up.

-Bring water. 

-Bring wipes or antibacterial stuff because there aren't any hand washing stations by the animals. 

Bates Nut Farm

15954 Woods Valley Road

Valley Center, CA 92802

[They are looking more and more alike everyday.]

[Can you spot the bees hard at work?]

[Parker was not into taking pictures and posing this year. All he wanted to do was climb on stuff. So I just let him do his thing and tried to capture since budding sense of adventure in my snaps.]

[This is what you get when you say, "Smile and then we can go look at animals."]

[This persimmon tree was perfection. I may or may not have rolled that big pumpkin to that spot to get the shot.]

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Halloween: Photos from the 7th Annual Chu Family Pumpkin Carving Contest

A few photos from the carving contest.

[Cousins]

[Parker's minimalist pumpkin]

[Light em up!]