Another year and the kids grow older. Last year was a disaster – the twins did NOT want their photos taken. We didn’t get any good portraits. This time everyone was game and we got good portraits – at least the first time around. When we reconvened a little later, the kids were over the idea of pumpkin photos, or at least Scarlett was.

This year the kids were actually strong enough to carry pumpkins, so they did enjoy adding to the chunk of pumpkins that were used for the portraits.

This year Scarlett felt too old for the hay maze while the twins loved it.

The kids were all finally old enough that everyone loved riding the horses, especially Sam.

I’m not sure for how many more years we’ll continue the tradition – part of me hopes it can go past the point where they’re ironic portraits of teens or young adults way too old to be taking pumpkin patch photos. Because if we’re doing that, we’ll have successfully taught the kids not to take themselves too seriously.

But, no matter what else, when it’s time to go and someone wants one more picture – at least one kid’s going to be upset about it.