A day at the Farm

When I was little, some of my most favorite memories involve Spring time!  The weather was getting nice, the snow was almost gone, the sun was warm, but most of all Spring Break, which meant time off from school!!!  When I would head back to school, kids would talk about their time off and what they did.  Some went to Mexico, others watched tv, some even went swimming!  

All their stories sounded so boring compared to mine, because no one (according to me of course) had as much fun as I did, because I was at my Grandpa's farm!  I have so many fantastic memories of being there, getting to bottle feed 1 hour old twin calves, have mud fights with my cousins, and eating my Grandpa's hamburgers.  

One year my cousins and I even got to become good friends with a cow named Limpy (only 3 legs, hence the name, we were creative!), we loved that bovine and visited everyday, bottle feeding it and just loving farm life.  Grandpa and my mom thought it was best not to tell us that we were just helping fatten this cow up for the dinner table!  After all we were just kids from the city, and we would be devastated.  A couple months passed and Limpy was gone - we knew where our friend had gone, but did not let on, until one night at dinner.  Grandpa had made his famous hamburgers, the three of us  (cousins) looked at each other and all at once announced that we thought Limpy made the best burgers around!  Needless to say, Grandpa and my mom almost fell off their chairs!

Anyways, my Grandpa passed away when Grace was only 9 months old, we were all sad to have lost this great man, but I was especially sad to know that my kids wouldn't get to spend their Spring Break at the farm.

Spring was in full bloom, and because we live so close to the outskirts of the city - there are hints of spring in the fields.  I'm sure I annoy Mike, because as we are driving I become a giddy kid again looking for the fresh calves in the field!  To me, a calf is one of the cutest things I have ever seen!  Definitely missing the farm on Spring break!

However, thank goodness for friends and family -  We loaded up the girls with their rubber boots and spare clothes and headed to the farm for the day!  Thanks to Uncle Norm and Kim for having us!

Grace hanging out on the tree swing

Olivia and Bailey

Olivia and the mud

Uncle Norm and Grace

Well Grace and Olivia absolutely loved it!  I could see if we ever lived on a farm we would have to get the girls those fancy dog collars that shock them if they roam too far off!  Grace was just happy to swing in a swing from a tree, and Olivia was happy to snuggle with the dog - as long as we were outside! Both girls loved watching the cows, feeding the horse, chasing the cats, and jumping in the mud puddles! We weren't even out of the driveway and both girls were fast asleep - all in all a fantastic spring day to spend on the farm!

Grace's Birthday Party

Well, Grace's party is over, and I think it was fairly successful!  And by successful, I mean, no major meltdowns, no double presents, no trips to the ER (I will explain later), and happy, tired kids!

We had Grace's party at Mike's school, because it is easier to have a whole bunch of kids that have been chugging juice, gobbling cake, and slamming candy expel energy in a gym rather then a living room!  Grace wanted to rollerblade, play wii, have a game of floor hockey, dance, go wall climbing, and run - so why not have it at the gym?

Hard to believe that Grace is 6!

Grace invited the usual crew - cousins, good friends, that we classify as family, along with some school friends.  One of the little friends has severe allergies, so an epi-pen was on hand, just incase.  Another friend chokes extremely easily!  I was a little worried, but luckily had my good friend Jenn on hand to monitor the eating situation!

All the events that Grace wanted to happen did, along with a candy bar, cake, and snacking on sandwiches, fruit, chips and of course cake!

Grace had to have a hockey cake!  Thank you Costco!!

After the party we headed back to Nana and Gpa's for a BBQ, and met up with those that weren't able to make it to the gym!  More presents were opened and more food was consumed!

These are the Hello Kitty and Angry Bird Balloons - they were a hit!

All in all it was a great day - and I can say that I am officially jealous of my six year old and her sparkly Toms!

Stylin' 6 year old in her Toms from Auntie Dayna, Uncle Dannie, and Leo