On the Farm

Last week my parents, brother, and I took the kids on a trip to Grandpa Tiny's Farm in Frankenmuth. At the farm you can pet animals, learn some local history, and enjoy a guided tour while riding on a horse-drawn wagon. It's an historic farm, family run and hand plowed. They grow an assortment crops (oats, wheat, corn) and raise livestock (pigs, cows, sheep). It's the perfect place for a family outting.

Carlie loved seeing and petting the farm animals - many of which she had not seen before other than in books.

Jack is a bit young for the farm, but he made friends none the less. The horses really liked him, one went so far as to borrow Jack's blanket.

It was a blustery fall day with a bit of chill in air (don't let the sunshine in the pictures fool you). And we hope to go back again in the summer when they're working the fields and baking bread in the outdoor brick oven. Yum yum.

a list of thoughts

I know, I know. I've been absent for over a month. I always have the best of intentions and plan to sit down at the computer during some quiet time in the day and write. In the jumbled mess that are my thoughts, I have things I want to write about. It just never actually happens. So, I tried to sort through the tangles and make sense of things. I ended up with a list. (no surprise there)

*Oh! glorious uninterrupted sleep!
Jack has started sleeping through the night

*Chocolate soymilk
we never make it through a jug of regular milk without it going bad, so we've been buying soymilk. yum yum yum

*Knee-high Naturalists
Carlie is taking this class for preschoolers at the local nature preserve. We get to hear stories, sing songs, take walks, and make crafts. Last week was about recycling and this week is about leaves.

*Memory Verses
Carlie has Bible verses to memorize each week for kid's club at church on Wednesdays. She's doing a darn good job and is an encouragement to the rest of us. Apparently, memorizing scripture isn't impossible.

*Baby smiles
Jack smiles all the time. Sometimes in response to voices or faces. Sometimes just because. You cannot help but smile when you see a baby smile.

*Recycling
There is really no excuse not to recycle. It's easy - helps keep our planet a bit cleaner - is a responsible use of our natural resources - and so much more.

*Fleece and sweaters
I'm so happy it's fall and I can start wearing these clothes again. So cozy. Sadly, tomorrow is supposed to be 80 degrees...