The Sextuple Threat! ["J" to the Sixth! Power]: A Day at the Farm

This is the weather I've been waiting for! Sunny, warm (lower 80's) just slightly breezy. A perfect day to head to the farm!

For those of you who don't know, we live right across the street from Frying Pan Farm and Park. It's owned by the county, so totally free to get in, but also has an actual working farm on it, complete with lots of animals and crops and tractor rides throughout (which I have yet to do, and it appears that the price has gone up, so we'll see if we get around to it...)

On Wednesday mornings, from May - October, they have a Farmer's Market with a bunch of different vendors. It started last week, I think, but today was our first chance to get out there and check it out so we did! And I must say, I think it's going to be even better this year than in years past (at least the two seasons we've been here.) Before, there was one of each vendor--one guy each selling veggies, fruit, meat, bread, herbs and spices/dips. Now there's another 'goody' vendor (mostly cookies, cakes, muffins, etc,) and I think TWO other veggie vendors. This is good, for me at least, because I didn't care for the produce from the veggie vendor that was there before. And they're all priced the same (they kinda have to...) so I can go around and find the best of the best. Looking forward to it!

Of course, we had to stop and play on the playgrounds, which were a little busy, but I've seen them busier (so I'm guessing most of the crowds had left for lunch, since it was after noon.) It's really neat to see Jeremiah on the playground this year, because when we first started going, he would need help just walking up the steps to go down the slide. Then he was able to do the slide on his own. Now, he can do so much more! But he's still very passive and cautious--if someone pushes him out of the way to go down the slide ahead of him, he just sits there and waits until he has a chance. This frustrates me as his Mommy, of course. If he's playing fairly, why can't the other kids?! But alas, there's little I can do except applaud Jeremiah for being such a good sport and waiting his turn!

Jesslyn could really care less about being there. She kinda kept freaking out when I would go help Jeremiah with something, probably thinking I was going to leave her in her stroller alone. So I had to carry her around most of the time, which was okay. She did like the "walk" part of our trip, until it was encroaching on her lunchtime. Then she'd had enough! So we came home....

But not before we stopped to look at some animals! I usually do this on the way out, since we got there near the end of the farmer's market. We didn't stay very long, though... Went to look at the piglets that were newly born, and Jeremiah sorta freaked because the bench they had to stand on was really wobbly, and I'm sure he thought he was going to fall off. I had to keep my hands on him the entire time! And Jesslyn, once again, thought I was leaving her, so I had to hold her, Jeremiah, and the camera, trying to shoot some pics and videos of everything. Yesh.

After the piggies, we looked at the baby goats and cows. One of them "sneezed" (I think it was a sneeze) that kinda sounded like a fart (that's the best way I can think of to describe it, but I don't think it was...) and that made Jeremiah laugh. :) The sheep, though, not so much. He was fine for a little bit, watching them walk in the pen, and baaa-ing. But then he got down, waiting for me to put him back in the stroller, and was startled when the sheep gave a great big "BAAA!" Yeah... if you know Jeremiah and how he is with loud noises, you know he didn't like that one bit.

So that was the end of our trip to the farm! At this point, I was once again carrying both kids (one crying and starting to make the other cry,) and trying to push a stroller. As soon as we got outside, I tried to strap 'em in for the walk home, but Jeremiah could still hear the sheep and was not happy about it. I was finally able to get them both in, and we were on our way. I don't think Jeremiah was ever so happy to leave the farm.

"Get me outta this stroller!"

"What's going on over there?" Checking out the Farmer's Market.

"Mommy, I'm too busy to stop so you can take a picture! Just let me play!"

Here, he realizes that there's "stuff" all over the "rocks" and he doesn't like it. I had to help him up so he didn't have to touch anything. So silly!

"WHEEE!!!!"

Checking out the piggies on a wobbly bench. He is smiling right here, though, since I had one hand on him.

I know many a Mom's who can relate to what this mother pig is feeling, I'm sure... The video is funny, as at one point, they all stop, like they had just noticed we were there, and were watching us... Kinda creepy, actually.