Hot On The Farm

We made our annual trip down south to Southern Belle Farm this weekend.  And though this is only our second year visiting, I think it's fair to call it "annual".  It is certainly a tradition that we will continue as long as the kids allow it.

 It was nearly as fabulous as last year.  But one, seriously visit changing, difference...it was scorching hot.  I mean like give me a bathing suit, a pool, and a little umbrella in my drink kind of hot.  I checked my iphone calendar repeatedly, and yes, it was indeed October.  Just one of those "unseasonably warm days in Fall" as the meteorologist referred to it.  I would like to refer to it as insanely unlucky on our end.

Oh, and to top it off.  I couldn't stand the thought of my children being dressed in summer get up {which mind you, I've already packed away} at our Fall trip to the farm.  Their pumpkin attire was way too warm {lots of corduroy} so I opted for their Halloween duds.  I figured we would survive and most importantly, they would look cute in pictures.

Okay, so they looked cute, but I seriously deserve for my "Mother of the Year" title to be stripped.  Poor kiddos were melting.  Yet, somehow there was not one complaint from them.  They probably didn't have a chance over my constant acknowledgment of the glaring sun and it's roasting rays.  Me and my jeans were not happy.

So to get me through it, we took lots of breaks under the pavilion and spent a pretty penny on any and every ice cold beverage the farmers were selling.  I have never been so HOT on a farm in my lifetime.  It's safe to say,  I was more than likely a very inept farmer in my other life.

But, as I mentioned, my kids were troopers.  And had an absolute blast at that.  They were looking forward to this day for the entire week leading up.  Jack even mentioned bringing his map from last year.  I chuckled it off and reminded him we could get new maps when we bought our tickets.  And wouldn't you know, he went up to his room and came back down with his map from last year in pristine condition.  What?!?!  That's how much they love this place.  And I must also note, that kid never ceases to amaze me.

So what makes this little farm so entertaining?  Well, let me just show you...{go ahead and insert 90 degree weather here}

The biggest hit of our visit was this corn shack.  Who would have guessed?  It's basically a tiny little shack filled to your knees with corn kernels.  Kind like a farmer's version of a sand box.  The best part?  It had a roof. Which meant shade.  I spent many many minutes in here watching my kiddos go to town.

Maggie managed to find corn in her pants and in her shoes and other places we didn't discover until come bath time.  But what she did find, we fed to the horses.  Who needs to spend 25 cents on one of those food machines anyway?

As I recited our bedtime book, The Big Red Barn, to Lucy, she stared completely enamored with the animals...until they got in her personal space.

We then hit the tube slide made out of some sort of farm material.  Jack loved it.  He went down at least three times.  Maggie tried it solo for the first time this year...

...and probably shouldn't have.

She recovered {in Maggie time} and was happy to try out the Duck Races.  Naturally she chose a pink one.  And "won" every single time.

Next up was Jack's choice.  If Maggie fell apart at the tube slide, this is where I almost did.  Last year we opted for the Level 1 Corn Maze.  Jack wanted to up the game and try Level 3.  We compromised on Level 2.  Now keep in mind it's 90 degrees outside, we have a stroller, and the terrain is that of a farm.  Lord help us.

And this is where I stopped taking pictures of this little adventure and began screaming for "help".  We actually never made it out.  Well, we made it out, just not the right way.  Jack was sorely disappointed, Lucy nearly had whip lash from the stroller ride,  and I was somewhere on the verge of dehydration.  I promised Jack we could try again next year when the weather permitted .  I imagine he won't let me forget that little promise {and I'm secretly dreading it}.

I then changed Maggie's pants.  She was making me have a heat stroke just looking at her and we headed up to the pavilion.  Ice cold lemonade, shade, and pumpkin painting was awaiting us.

Lucy pleasantly surprised us by actually painting a pumpkin...along with eating the paint.  No, that's not pink lipstick on her sweet lips.

And Jack certainly made me smile with his ability to scout out this unusual looking pumpkin and decorate it rather appropriately.

Next up, we headed out into the sun, yet, again.  This time for a few rides.

I have to admit riding in the heat is better than walking in it.  And please excuse my hair do.  I took every contraption I could find to get it up and off of my skin i.e. rubber bands, bobby pins, chicken wire {okay, totally kidding about the latter}.

And this is where my second melt down {literally} almost occurred...out in the You Pick Flower Garden. Seriously, do we really have to do this activity?  Oh, but we did.  Maggie needed, and I quote, "flowers for her wedding day".  How was I to say no to that?

Then it was back to the pavilion for another shade and refreshing beverage break.  We strategically waited until the Pig Race before heading back out.  And though you can't see the pigs, I promise they were racing around that there dirt track.  Lucy got so excited about the squealing little Pot Bellies that she took her second set of FIRST STEPS right there!  Go Lu!  All it takes is a little fun on the farm motivation.

By this time, the sun was starting to hide behind the clouds on occasion.  And luckily for my kiddos that meant the Jump Pillow wasn't  like hot coals to their feet.   We know this because we had tried it earlier in the day.

Lucy, of course, loved this thing just as much as the bigs.  Only, I don't have a picture of her because she was glued to my arms for her bouncing.

And our culminating activity was the much awaited for Pumpkin Patch.  Last year we got to see a real patch with pumpkins on the vine.  But, according to one of the friendly farmers, "there's too much rain this year, them punkins didn't make it".  I was very disappointed.  It's definitely one of the interesting highlights of the farm.  But, just like the sweltering sun, the lack of pumpkins on the vine didn't bother my trio one bit.

This prized pumpkin Jack chose is now gracing our friend's entrance, along with a smaller version chosen by Magpie.

That was our hot {and very fun and activity plentiful} Fall day on the farm.  And back to those pumpkin outfits that didn't make our trip....it looks like we'll be making another Pumpkin Patch visit {much closer to home} when it cools off.  I don't think my kiddos will mind a bit.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

All By Ten A.M.

I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything, but I am mighty impressed by my accomplishments this fourth day of October and all by 10 am.  The fact that I am not a morning person and that I was dressed and have pictures to prove it makes it all that more amazing.

My first {and most earliest} stop was Jack's Fun Run at school.  For all you friends and family who endured the phone call, with the less than clear plead, for a pledge...thank you!  He had an incredible time.  He ran the entire 40 minutes and completed a whopping 35 laps {some with more stamina than others}.

Sitting here extra proud of his perseverance for the two weeks leading up to today, but most especially for this morning.

I then made a bee line home to pick up Mags for her Halloween Fun Friday activity at school.  Can I just get a "woo hoo" for teachers who give us Mommies a chance to volunteer in the classroom?  I personally think it's a brave move for a teacher of 3 year olds.

We made these adorable Halloween Glitter Globes.  The kids took a water bottle and filled them with Halloween confetti and glitter.  Then we glued the lid on...

...and the kids shook, shook, shook, them away.  Now why didn't I think of that?  So easy and way cute.

So back to that brave teacher.  This is the face I left.  Pitiful, huh?  A little pout with those impish eyes.  However, all was well when I returned from "waiting in the car" while she finished playing with her friends.

If we are going to start the day busy, might as well end it busy.  The kids and I topped our evening with an October kick off. Daddy headed to the baseball playoffs {poor thing} and the four of us dined on ghost pizza and watched It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown {that I just so happened to grab at Target today}.

Kids sure do make the holidays more fun.  Looking forward to a festive October {after I get a good night's rest}.

Somewhere In the Middle

Our Lucy recently turned a sweet {and spicy} thirteen months old.  This is exactly the time Jack started walking and two months shy of when Maggie took to her feet.  As Lucy is such a mix of these two extremely opposite siblings of hers, it would only seem natural that she will start walking...somewhere right in the middle.

I'll give her one thing though...she is an eager little one.  Due to her demand, {i.e standing on the inside of the friend's entrance door holding her walker all the while squealing}, we spend a lot of our afternoons hitting the pavement.

Back and forth...back and forth...back and forth.  As redundant as it may seem, and it is, I honestly can't get enough of this little go getter on the move.  However, I've found that Lucy's Bigs can get enough of it.  The slow pace is certainly not their style. Lucy and I have discovered that the most opportune moment  is during Jack and Maggie's "screen time".  {which pre-Lucy used to be my "get something done time"}

So come post homework, post naps and pre dinner time, you can most likely find Little Lu and I somewhere in the middle...of the road.

{a very dirty road that is, we've got some intense construction going on our street right now, try to disregard the bulldozer tracks and focus on those sweet cheeks...and thighs...and lips...and big eyes...and...}

Sometimes I'm even lucky enough to get this view.  The one finger walk.  Remember that?  How I love the feel of one of my sweet babies hands clenched around my finger.  Mmmmm... {thoroughly enjoying that I get to experience it for a third and final time}

Once she's done, she's done.  But there is nothing like the culminating activity of pawning all over her shoes.  I've got a shoe lover on my hands...again.

Love you LuLu!  Don't be afraid to slow down the growing up thing.

What Keeps Lucy Busy

If you don't count the getting into drawers, chasing after her bigs, bouncing from one toy to another, get in and out of Momma's arms, and the pulling of every safety plug out of the electrical sockets, there are some actual organized activities that keep my little Lulu busy.  In a productive way.

And my oh my, how thankful I am for them.  I certainly feel like a taxi driver somedays toting three kiddos from place to place {and I imagine it will only get worse, if what they all say is true}, but it's worth it for a bit of productive busyness on my littlest's end.

And just like her bigs, Lu is on a two activity max.  Multiply that by 3 and well, you can do the math.  Mommy's Taxi at your service.

Lucy begins her week with Music Class.  I have been a Music Class Mommy, with the same teacher, for six consecutive years now.  That is not a boast, just a statement of utter shock.  And with each child it has been a completely different experience.

As I always say, my Lu is this perfectly blended mix of her bigs when it comes to personality.  So on one hand I've got this independent busy baby cruising around class and then on the flip side I have this sweet sack of sugar who cuddles up in my lap {for a half a song, that is}.

Just as Maggie did, Lucy loves music.  She dances and bops to the music.  But unlike Maggie, and more like Jack, she is the first to race to the instruments to state her claim.  No one loves a drum like my Lucy.

Our week follows with Gym Class. There is nothing more suited for my bouncing baby girl.  Add that Maggie takes a class at the same gym and it makes for a nice girl's morning {and on into the afternoon} out.

I find at gym that Lucy thinks she possibly runs the class.  She is usually one step ahead of the coach pulling out the next piece of equipment, i.e balls, hoops, etc.  And if she really enjoys an activity, per se the bouncing monkey spring board thing-a -ma-jig, that is where you will find Lucy loitering.  She is very unwilling to accept the concept of an actual obstacle course.

I call this my "balance out sitting in the driver's seat all week" activity.  I am slap worn out when that 45minute class concludes.  And if I'm lucky, she is too.

So that's what keeps my Lulu busy....and my Taxi service in business.