October is here. Robbi, the Barn’s officially self-appointed keeper of holiday traditions, reminded us that it was time to secure the requisite pumpkins. And so we packed the kids into the car and headed off to the pumpkin patch.

Our local patch is on the cutting edge of pumpkin harvesting technology, offering sturdy carts with which to haul your pumpkin (and children).

And enormous, powerful cutters capable of overpowering any pumpkin one might encounter.

We told the kids they could each pick one pumpkin. And so they set out. It was kind of like Easter morning.

I figured they each would choose the first pumpkins they encountered. But they were more discerning. Alden rejected many fine specimens before making her selection.

When I saw her pumpkin, I suddenly understood why the others had failed to pass muster.

Alden is a green pumpkin girl.

Hearing this, Kato announced that he was looking for a blue pumpkin. This prompted him to dismiss a number of well-shaped orange ones.

He roamed the pumpkin rows, carefully inspecting the options and finding none that lived up to his exacting standards.

And then, without warning, one of the pumpkins jumped right in front of him.

There was a tumble, a tussle, and ensuing détente. Once Kato had made peace with his pumpkin, he demanded the cutters.

He seemed pleased with his pumpkin, in spite of the fact that it was not blue. When we asked what had inspired him to choose it, he allowed that he liked that its handle was on the bottom.

The kids climbed back into the cart with pumpkins in tow.

And that was that. Now we have pumpkins. Now October can proceed as nature intended.