A Day on the Farm

Jillian and I were invited to join in her friend Michelle's preschool field trip to the Valley Oaks Charter School Farm Day. Of course, overalls (thanks to Aunt Connie) and a cowgirl hat (thanks to Mrs. Harvath) were necessary wardrobe items.

First stop, the sheep pen. Jillian had a very deep conversation with this particular little lambie. "Good morning, Sheep. How are you? Pet you." Then, much to the detriment of her mood for the remainder of our visit to the farm, Jillian turned around to notice another sheep with its face covered enjoying a good shearing from its handler. As much as I tried to convince Jillian that this sheep was indeed enjoying the event she still continued to scream and cry intermittently throughout the day about the "Sheep's haircut." If you asked her now about her day at the farm, that information would not be forgotten in her retelling.

Next, we visited with Pebbles the 1 year old heifer. We were told that she is only half of her full grown size. She was very sweet and as Jillian described, "fuzzy."

Our goat adventure was one of my favorites. It made me realize what a little goat Jillian truly can be. She likes to run around without direction, stops to say hello now and again, and everything she comes across is a potential gastrointestinal delight! She especially noticed the goat that remained perched upon an up-ended spool. "Goat up there!" Anytime that Jillian would be overcome with memories of the sheep's haircut, we would hot-foot it over to the goat pen for a cleansing romp with our friendly little pals.

In one of the pens, the children were able to walk in and feed carrots to a full grown horse! Some of the older children were timid and reluctant to approach this massive animal. Not Jillian! She grabbed a handful of carrots and marched right up to the horse. "I feed the horsie some carrots!"

Click here for horsie video.

The baby bunnies were also a highlight of our morning! They were only 2 weeks old and so tiny and sweet and snuggly. Much to our surprise, the Bunny Lady plopped a baby bunny right into Jillian's lap. At first she held it a bit too much in the style of Lennie, but the Bunny Lady gave her instructions to hold the bunny under its bottom. Jillian was very proud of herself for following directions and enthusiastically told me (over and over), "I hold the bunny! Under the bum bum! Aunt Whittie's bunny!" She was overcome with the joy of holding this baby bunny and remembering Aunt Whitney's sweet bunny, too.

Our last animal encounter was with the baby chicks, turkeys, and ducks. Their "scratchy feet" were not Jillian's idea of a good time, so she allowed the handler to hold them while she "pet the head." She still enjoyed her time with "Chickie Poo."

Our morning ended with a tractor trailer ride which was on a "bumpy seat," a snowcone which ended up in the dirt, and a picnic with friends that wasn't much of picnic with one tired and worn out cowgirl.

So, we headed over to Bubbie and Grandpa's house for a nap and some spoiling. All in all, a pretty great day!