Camping Day 1

In October, we went camping as a family with a few other families. It was our first time camping as a family so we were really hoping it would go well. The kids absolutely loved camping and Marty and I enjoyed it also. I know a huge part of it was the friends we were with. It was so fun to camp with other people you know and it also helped a ton that someone else was in charge of making all the food for the weekend!

The tent Marty and I have is 12 years old. Yes we thought it would be fun on our 2nd anniversary to go camping near the beach - in August. So we haven't done much camping since that horribly hot experience. My point is our tent was to small for all 5 of us to sleep in so we borrowed a tent (we didn't want to buy one yet until we knew how it went).

Here's where the boys spent the weekend:

Us girls slept in our tent, that is so incredibly easy to set up. When we buy a bigger one, I hope we can find one this simple!

We stayed in Silver Springs and rented out a whole huge area that had a beach in the lake. It was perfect and so beautiful. A picture of all the kids on the first night there.

The beautiful sunset on our first night.

Deana was the one that bought and made all the food. She bought these giant marshmallows and of course Marty thought it would be fun to show he could fit one in his mouth - so pretty:)

Of course the marshmallows were supposed to be for roasting and making smores. So yummy!

Green Meadows Farm

Monday, Molly and I got to go to Green Meadows Petting Farm with the Northland Co-op. It was funny because Abbie was there the same day on a field trip with her school, but we only saw her walking in and then never again:(

But Molly and I had a blast. Molly was so excited to hold a baby chick. She kept asking me when we were waiting for our whole group to get there, "can we go hold the baby chicks now?" (in a impatient and excited voice)

But we didn't start at that, we started at the ducks so she was a bit disappointed. Then she got scared for some reason in the pen. I had turned to pick up a duck and when I turned to show her the duck she was crying - so I only held it for a very short time. And I didn't get any pics of us with the ducks since we got out right away. I did take a picture of the ducks before we went in the pen.

Molly quickly calmed down when she found a pretty feather on the ground:)

After we saw some llamas and ostriches, we got to hold the baby chicks! Here Molly and her friend Ariah are holding out there hands patiently and excitedly waiting.

Molly loved the chick! The baby chick was really sweet and was almost fell asleep in my hand.

We also got to hold a baby duck, but it had something on its beak which made it looked like it was trying to bite you, so of course Molly didn't want to hold it then. Oh well!

We then went to the pig pen and they warned us they might bite at your shoe laces or feet so Molly didn't want that either. It was funny watching some other people though that the pigs were chewing at their shoelaces.

Next we got to see the sheep. Molly absolutely loved the sheep last time so I expected the same, but this time I couldn't even get her to pet one. But Jennie and her daughter Jessie loved petting the sheep:

This was a huge water buffalo. Notice the caution sign, his horns were a little scary.

Then we went into a little house where they have some guinea pigs and birds. The guinea pigs were adorable. This bird was not happy about some of us watching him and kept making a really loud noise and spreading his wings. Guess he wanted us to think he was in charge!

Molly loved getting to ride the horses. Well, only because she felt the peer pressure to ride after her friend Ariah. I like when peer pressure makes your kids do good/fun things!

Molly and her friend playing on the firetruck. Love the way Ariah posed as soon as I said smile for the camera.

Molly loved this miniature horse, she went right up to the fence when she heard she could pet it.

She even milked a cow! I was so mad that my picture where you can see that she is actually milking it hides her face. I was so proud of her for trying new things.

I think she loved posing for pictures after all the animals just about as much as the animals. We took lots where you put your head in a circle and some at a butterfly and then even more at these fake horse.

Finally, we got to pick out a pumpkin on our way out. I think this is one of the probably 20 that she picked up. Molly was very serious about which one she wanted, she took a long time to decide which one she wanted. She would never tell me if she wanted small, round, big. I guess she just knew it when she saw it.

It was such a fun day at the farm. I loved getting to have so much time with just Molly. It was our first "field trip" without siblings. Fun and yes kind of sad at the same time!!