Bella
Daddy and Mommy took me to my first pumpkin patch this week! They told me at bedtime the night before that we were going on a special adventure the next day. I nodded and drifted to sleep.
The next morning Mommy dressed me in a dress with orange objects all over it. “What are these?” I asked. “Pumpkins,” Mommy replied. “We are going to a pumpkin patch today to pick out some pumpkins.” I was still confused but it sounded like fun. Soon after Mommy strapped me in my car seat and we were on our way!
When we got out the car, we were in a field of orange! “These are pumpkins,” Mommy pointed out. I was allowed to wander which I loved! Mommy and Daddy followed and kept asking me to look at them. I think they were trying to take pictures of me.
A little later, Mommy gently told me it was time to go. I was feeling sleepy and did not fight her. I saw Daddy carry some pumpkins to the counter and pay for them. “What are we going to do with the pumpkins, Mommy?” I asked as she strapped me in my car seat. “We are going to decorate one and cook with another!” Mommy looked really excited and nodded back at her.
When I woke up from my nap I walked into the kitchen and saw Mommy had laid out a table cloth on the floor and a pumpkin too! To my delight, I was allowed to play with it. The top was cut out so that I could reach in inside. It was all gooey and so many seeds. I didn’t really like it so Daddy cleaned out the inside for me. He then laid out paints for me to decorate my pumpkin.
As I painted my pumpkin, I looked over at Mommy. I abandoned my paints and wandered to Mommy. I was so curious and tugged at her apron. She smiled down at me (she is always so happy in the kitchen). “Can I help?” I asked. “Of course,” Mommy replied. She washed her hands, set up my tower at the counter, and tied an apron around me. I watched her add ingredients to a bowl and stir. There were so many spices and yummy smells. She let me add ingredients to the bowl and stir. While I did this she told me we were making pumpkin pie.
Soon it was time to put the pie in the oven! While Mommy washed dishes, I peered into the oven. How long till, it is ready I wondered? I got tired of watching and went to gather my toys. I brought them into the kitchen so that I could play near Mommy. A while later the timer dinged and Mommy pulled the pie out of the oven. It smelled so good! “We have to let it cool before we can have a piece,” she explained. I nodded and went on playing.
A while later Mommy called me to the table where two pieces of pumpkin were laid out. She strapped me in my booster chair and handed me my fork. We both took a bit of pie. It was so yummy in my tummy! I smiled and then Mommy smiled. I really love cooking with my Mom.
Bella’s Mom
I love pumpkins! The taste of pumpkin preserves and all the goodies you can bake with them. Pumpkin pie is my favorite! Bob, my husband, teases me about my pumpkin obsession. We all have our guilty pleasures.
This year we decided to bring Bella to the pumpkin patch so that she could pick out one to decorate and I can get my first of many to cook with this season. I picked out the cutest pumpkin dress for Bella! When I dressed her, she asked what all the orange was. “Pumpkins,” I replied. “We are going to a pumpkin past today to pick out some pumpkins.” She still looked confused and I encouraged her that it will be a fun day.
Sure enough, she had a blast at the pumpkin patch! Bob and I let her run around and she was in heaven. We both followed her with our cameras snapping a way in hopes of one good photo. I called her name in attempts to get her to look at me. I am sure we got some good photos in the end. I was so happy to see her giggle and run around free.
When it was getting closer to Bella’s nap, I picked out two pumpkins. One for Bella to decorate and one for me to cook for preserves. Bob went to pay so that I could watch Bella and tell her we were leaving soon. Luckily, she was sleepy and took my hand without protest. Bella saw Bob at the counter and asked “What are we going to do with the pumpkins, Mommy?”. “We are going to decorate one and cook with another!” I replied excitedly. Poor Bella was so sleepy that she simply nodded back.
At home, I put Bella down for a nap and then scurried to kitchen. I wanted to take advantage of this time while she is sleeping. Once in the kitchen I put on my favorite apron and started cleaning and cutting one of the pumpkins. I love making my own pumpkin preserves for pumpkin pie! Happily, I chopped and cleaned the pumpkin and then into the oven to soften the pieces so that the skin peels right off and the pumpkin can be purated. Bella was still sleeping when the pieces came out of the oven so I continued on with the process. Timing worked out that by the time Bella woke up I had finished the preserves and had laid out table cloth on the floor with a pumpkin for Bella to decorate.
Bella walked in the kitchen and looked at the pumpkin with a curious expression. I told her the pumpkin was hers to decorate and she lit up. She wasn’t crazy about the seeds so Bob stepped in and cleaned the inside for her. He set up paints for her to decorate her pumpkin while I started to make pie crust for my pumpkin pie. I wanted to give Bob this time with our daughter. His father was an artist and he’s confided in me that he is grateful Bella shows an interest in the arts. I realize this is important bonding moment for him and Bella.
As I was finishing up the crust, Bella toddled over to me. Tugging my apron she asked “Can I help?”. I responded “Of course.” Just like Bob is happy she likes art activities, I am happy that she likes baking with me! I washed my hands, set up my tower at the counter, and tied an apron around her.
I handed ingredients for Bella to pour into the bowel and let her stir. I love watching my daughter cook. Her face lights up. Soon it was time to put the pie in the oven. Once it was in the oven, I started cleaning the kitchen and watching dishes. Although I told Bella it would be some time before the pie was done, she kept peering into the oven window.
I looked over to check on her and discovered she had gathered her toys and brought them into the kitchen to play. This is also one of my favorite sites! There is something about both of us in the kitchen together which is magical.
Soon the timer dinged and the pie was ready. Bella looked at me eagerly and I explained “We have to let it cool before we can have a piece.” She nodded and went on playing. A while later I called her to the table where I laid out two pieces of pumpkin. I strapped Bella in her booster chair and handed her a fork. We both took a bit of pie. I smiled seeing my daughter’s face light up. I really love cooking with Bella.