Mother Nature Farms

It's a tradition I just can't pass up... Mother Nature Farms! This is the 3rd year in a row that I have gone with my girls (the first year Noelle came in tummy) and I just love this little tradition. It makes fall feel like fall... even if it is over 100 degrees outside. This particular trip was extra fun because we met some friends at the farm. Jennifer, Aidan, Trae and Chloe were able to make it to our side of town and join us for this fun adventure.
When we got there, we let the kiddos bounce off a little of their extra energy. They really enjoyed the bounce house (though I suspect that Noelle's favorite part was going in and out of the door).

Then we checked out the farm animals. Mother Nature Farms lets you feed their goats, sheep, and (every one's favorite) cow. The kids had a lot of fun feeding these animals. Noelle was little hesitant at first and I had to show her how it was done...

But in no time, she was completely fearless and feeding those animals like a pro. This was an interesting twist because she is usually a little more fearful of animals. Perhaps it was the fence that made her more comfortable. This is a good shot of all 5 of the kids feeding the animals (well... good being that they are all in it. There is no chance I was going to get them to all turn and smile at me.)Noelle liked showing Chloe the ropes. At some point, Melanie decided it was all too much for her, and she needed to lay down. (I think she is going throw a growth spurt or something because she has been laying around like this quite a bit lately.) Thanks, Ms. Jen, for bringing a wagon to let her lay in. :)

Here is a fun shot of the 4 "big kids" in the wagon. If I thought it through, I'd get Noelle in that picture too, but alas... I did not. But she was still cute "rockin'" her own ride.

All five animals, I mean children. Next, we decorated pumpkins. Noelle and Chloe enjoyed picking out pumpkins. They would pick them out, put them on the table, and run back to do it again... and again... and again... It made me laugh.

I finally caught them and convinced them to decorate the pumpkins the had first picked out.
It was a good team building exercise. :)
The pumpkins turned out great! Melanie's was definitely a princess pumpkin with that crown on top.
Trae was probably the most excited about his upon completion (and can you blame him?) Nice pumpkin, Aidan!

Noelle liked showing hers off too.
Then it was time for a maze. The boys ran ahead... leaving Noelle to be the girls fearless leader.
But... eventually Noelle lead us into a bit of a pickle (It's okay Noelle... you aren't quite tall enough to see all the options.) Finally, we found our way out!

Then it was lunch and off to the pumpkin patch for some fall pictures. (We didn't pick out any pumpkins because we have another tradition to pick out the pumpkins as a family. We will do this once it is a little closer to Halloween). I love pictures with pumpkins in them though. It gives off the illusion that it is nice and cool outside (when the reality is... it was really 100 degrees that day and I was a mean mom for putting everyone in pants. I was thinking "protect the legs from itchy straw" and not "it's too out, lets not over heat our kids". Next time, perhaps I'll pick shorts and bring towels to sit on? or maybe just pick a cooler day?) And my favorite... the pictures against the measuring pumpkin. I can't believe how big both my girls have grown in the last year. Can it slow down? Happy Fall!