It all started Saturday with a trip to the annual Harbor Festival, dedicated to all things fish, boat, and ocean. After navigating through some of the thickest crowds I have ever seen in Santa Barbara, we secured our place in line to take a mini cruise on the Double Dolphin catamaran. It was sooooo much fun. I think I had the best time, but everyone seemed to agree with me that it was time well spent. The day was gorgeous, the ocean was sparkling, the breeze was refreshing, and a catamaran was the perfect type of boat for our little family. Carter had never been on a boat and Graham had only been on ferry and tug boats. The mesh between the two hulls of the catamaran acted as a trampoline (which was lots of fun for the boys) and also allowed them to lie flat and stare through the holes at the ocean below and crawl right up to the front edge of the boat. It was so fun, while it also felt really safe, and I can’t wait to go again! Oh, did I mention we also got to see sea lions? Graham ‘barked’ at them and was convinced that one answered back:
Next up was a walk from one touch tank tub to the next on our way to the big boats. Graham pet a shark and held a sea star, but the true highlight (for me as well) was touching a live octopus:
Next we visited some coastguard boats. The first one had huge binoculars to test out and an amazing navigation room. The second one had a massive water sprayer and an opportunity to navigate the boat and become an official junior captain:
We ended our harbor festival day with a visit to the Maritime Museum (where Nick's and my wedding reception was held). Carter enjoyed walking around and checking out the exhibits at eye level and Graham let me have some fun with the camera at a surfing exhibit:
The next day, the plan was to take our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.
I got the boys all dressed up in cute fall outfits and tried (without much success) to get some pictures of them before we left:
On our way to the pumpkin patch, we stopped at Tucker’s Grove park to meet up with some of Graham’s school friends and to let Graham and Daddy have a quick batting practice. Checkout this video of my little slugger. He makes contact with the ball every time (even with little Carter doing his best to distract Daddy pitcher and batter Graham):
Last pictures at the park and then we were off to Lane Farms pumpkin patch:
We took a ‘divide and conquer’ approach and let the boys experience as much of the patch as possible.
Graham wasted no time finding a wagon but had some trouble with the first pumpkin he tried to load in:
We took some cute pictures on the tractor:
Carter fell asleep while Daddy navigated the corn maze:
But not for too long. Awake again:
Graham’s pumpkin stash was growing:
Alethea met us at the patch and took some family pictures. Can you believe it? We got one where everyone is looking at the camera!:
What to do with hay, other than throw it in the air?:
Carter was pretty cute once he started to explore his way through the pumpkins with his matching orange shirt:
This was Graham’s favorite tractor:
Hay bale rides are always a highlight. Graham went several times with both Mommy and Daddy but Carter only had one ride (his first ride) with Daddy:
While Carter was riding, Graham played in the official hay pit:
Then Graham went for a hay ride while Carter let me take cute pictures of him trying to eat his mini pumpkin (technically a squash – I think). He wasn’t so sure about the taste but enjoyed the texture:
After all that gathering, we ending up only taking home a few pumpkins. But Graham used the wagon to drag them all the way to the car:
Carter brought home his half eaten pumpkin, Mommy picked a mini orange pumpkin, Daddy picked a small traditional round pumpkin, and Graham picked a large green pumpkin.
Phew, everyone was ready for naps after our busy, fun Santa Barbara weekend.
Super, super cute :)
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