{The Pumpkin Patch & Costume Party Link-up Announcement}

A couple of years ago we found the amazingness that is Mainstay Farms!! We go there twice a year; for the pumpkin days and for Christmas tree season. We finally made it out for our annual trip for pumpkin days. We just love that place and have a complete blast there. You could literally spend an entire day here playing. There is so much to do; pedal cars, a chalk car you can write on, a huge sand digging pit, a barn full of haybales the kids can climb on, duck races, tractor hayrides, jumping pillow, three story tree-house, a superchute slide, lavitan swings, train rides and so much more.

This year some of the family had other engagements so it was just Nathan, Mason, Nana {Nate's mom} and I. We were one of the first groups in line, so Mason pretty much had his pick of what he wanted to do first. He went straight to the ziplining!! He loves that thing!

We did everything on the bottom level {including face painting} and then headed up the hill via a hayride where we spent another couple of hours.



So much fun! And that sign above is so true. Home is so boring compared to this magical place!


***ANNOUNCEMENT***



I am joining in with these amazing ladies;  Meghan, Jess, Stephanie,Jessica, & Jennifer for a Halloween/Costume party & recap. The link-up will go live on Monday, November the 2nd. Come join us and tell us all about your Halloween costumes and festivities! All we ask if for you to share the party image (right click and save the photo above) and tag one of the hosts in your post. For those of you who aren't bloggers, you can join in on the fun, too! Share your photos on social media and use the hashtag COSTUMEPTY15 so we can see your photos, too!


2015 Fall Bucketlist Update {those that have been done have been updated with the link to the post}:

+ make s'mores or the s'mores dip
+ make a fall wreath
+ decorate the porch
+ make fall crafts 
+ take Mason on a nature scavenger hunt
+ go geocaching around our town
+ buy pumpkins
+ decorate & carve pumpkins
+ have a Halloween movie night {most likely Hocus Pocus} with themed foods
+ find Mase Halloween pajamas
+ go to Mainstay Farms/Pumpkin patch
+ make a thankful jar with Mason
+ take Fall pictures
+ have a playdate with friends
+ go to the zoo
+ go camping in a tent
+ go to Round Top, TX for Texas Antiques weekend
+ stay in a cabin somewhere
+ follow a Fall photo project
+ go on a hayride
+ go to the Texas State Fair
+ visit the Farmer's Market
+ take Mason trick or treating

+ Boo a friend
+ roast marshmallows
+ bake Halloween cookies
+ buy a few 'fall' wardrobe staples
+ go to a football game
+ nacho bar for a football game watching night

{Fall Bucketlist update // Pumpkin Patchin'}

If there's one thing I love most about Fall it's visiting the Pumpkin Patch! We've made this a family tradition and we look forward to it each year. Most years we even go more than once. (year1, year2, year3, year3again, year4)

Our first pumpkin patch trip of this season was the weekend we also camped at Jellystone {post here}. We went to Mainstay Farms, which was only 2.5 miles from where we were camping. We visited Mainstay Farms last year around Christmas time when they do Christmas trees {post here} and had a blast. So, we wanted to check it out for the Pumpkin Patch.

It didn't disappoint! 

We had so much fun! It was pricey to get in - $14/adults, $11/kids and that didn't include a pumpkin...but they had so much stuff to do. And Mason had fun, so it was worth it. I just wish I would have taken my big camera. These are all iPhone pics. Boo!



















When we first got there we attempted a few family pictures by all of the pumpkins...but there were too many shadows and a too-eager-to-play four year old. Not a good combination! ha. So we took off to play. Mason jumped on a huge air pillow (probably half the length of a football field), we played on the jumbo latvian group swings, ziplined, slid down slides, got some yummy rootbeer, took a hay-ride to the three story treehouse, played in the maze, rode huge pedal cars, played in a barn full of hay, and just had the best time!

And for a trip down memory lane....2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 at the Pumpkin Patch...

+ visit the pumpkin patch

+ go on a hayride

+ make caramel apples

+ decorate my porch {crates, hay, pumpkins, etc}

+ carve pumpkins

+ make fall crafts

+ decorate the house for fall

+ pick out halloween costumes

+ stay in a cabin somewhere

+ make a thankful tree

+ share the Thanksgiving story with Mason

+ bake fall goodies

+ go to fall festivals

+ go to an aggie football game

+ roast marshmallows

+ lots of fires in our chiminea

+ have a scary {but mason friendly} movie night

+ make lots of crock pot meals

+ do my bible study on the porch

+ host a fall party/get together

+ make a pumpkin chunkin' game

+ stock up on my favorite fall scentsy bars

+ take a scenic drive {where the leaves actually turn pretty colors}

+ go to the farmers market

+ go on a nature walk

+ take fall pictures of mason
+ camp at Jellystone Park for Fall Fiesta

Also linking up with Countdown to Halloween!

{Mainstay Farm - Our trip to the Christmas Tree Farm}

We have crossed off another one of the things on our Christmas-time bucketlist - the

We had planned on going to Yesterland Farm in Canton, but I googled and found one closer that looked promising. The pictures and all of the activities listed on the website sounded like a blast. And the best part? Most of them were free. There were only a couple of things you had to actually buy tickets for. 

We knew we were going to love it the minute we saw the first sign for  Mainstay Farm in Cleburne!!! The area alone was awesome. So country and rustic. So us!

When we first got there we weren't exactly sure what to do...but it didn't take long to find all of the neat attractions. Mason started for a slide, but then he saw a track full of tricycles with big tires so he beelined that way! He rode the bikes for a while and then went for the toddler swing/zipline. He loved it!!!

After the swing/zipline we headed over to a huge jumping pillow. This thing was huge, and amazing. I've never seen anything like it. Mason mostly ran up and down it. Every time he'd start jumping a huge group of people would come through and knock him down. He still had fun, though!

After the jumping pillow we made our way over to the shop to get some guidance on how to get on the hay ride and train ride and such. We bought an ornament and an old time-y looking elf and a ticket for Mason to ride the train. Then we were on our way to ride the hay ride. We honestly had no clue where it was going to take us. We just thought it went through the farm and back...but it took us to a whole other area of attractions!!!

A three story treehouse, mazes, and an adult size track with big wheel things. Mason almost couldn't believe his eyes (and Nate too). The boys played and I held all of our belongings and took pictures. This place was soooo cool!!!

{proof I was there}

After Mason and Nate played for a while we took the hayride back down to the Christmas Tree barn where we had anticipated picking out a tree. However, we got there and saw the prices and decided to look elsewhere for a tree. They wanted $66 bucks for a small 4-5 ft tree. Wowsers!

Before we left we took Mason to the train ride and then of course he wanted to ride the tricycles again.

Another Hall Family Christmas tradition going forward!

If you're in the DFW area I suggest Mainstay Farms, without a doubt! It's a blast. You could spend a whole day there. There is so much to do!

Do you and your family go to a tree farm? What other Christmas traditions do you have?