A Perfectly Great Day

You know those days where the weather is perfect. The location is perfect. Your mood is perfect. Your kids are being (imperfectly) perfect. The company is perfect. Well that was today. Pretty perfectly perfect. 

I have written about visiting Fox Hollow Farm before, it is without a doubt one of most unbelievably outstanding places I have ever been. The place never disappoints and provides so much delight and wonder for my kids and myself. We headed out to the farm today with our friends Kelly and Eloise. We were also joined by our friends Sarah, Cooper (Mae's classmate), and Molly. The farm got a few updates since we were there last, including a new parking lot, new miniatured sized homes to play in, and three huge bouncy houses. In addition to those structural updates, there were baby sheep that were born only a week ago. And since this place is magic they let you hang out and pet them! There was also a baby calf (that you could also pet since it was in with the baby sheep). Further, there were tiny baby bunnies. You couldn't hold them but you were able to see them and they were ridiculously the cutest thing I have seen. Along with all those additions, there were goats galore, pigs that were funny, cats that were friendly, peacocks that were beautiful, and horses that seemed huge next to my kids. 

We were there from the moment it opened at 10 am and stayed till it closed at 2 pm. Both kids were wiped when we got in the car (as was I) but it was worth every second of it. 

**I know there are a ton of pictures in this post but the pictures of the sheep were so cute I couldn't not post them.**

Mae, Whit, and Eloise taking off on the farm. 

Meeting the baby sheep. 

Checking out the baby chicks. 

How ridiculously beautiful is this building? Complete with real peacocks on the roof. 

Eloise checking it all out. 

Whitaker pretty excited about all the things to see on the farm. 

And peacocks just wander the grounds. 

Mae hanging with some of the goats. 

She loved when the goats nibbled on her skirt. 

Kelly and Eloise on the train. 

Whit waiting for the train to take off. 

Mae pretty excited to be riding the toy four wheeler. 

Whit couldn't figure it out at first (see later pictures of him driving around on them). 

Mae and her "date" Eloise. 

After this trip, I think that we might have to get a cat. Both my kids were totally smitten by them. 

Another train ride. 

Sarah and Molly on the train. 

Cooper. 

Mae on the pony. 

Whit making sure that everyone knows his turn is next. 

Of course, Whitaker found the only puddle to play in at the farm. 

And he was soaking wet. 

Going back to check out the baby sheep, they were joined by the baby calf. 

Saying goodbye to the rest of the lambs. 

Bouncy houses. 

Oh and naturally chickens roam at the farm. 

Going back AGAIN to see the baby sheet. 

Whitaker looking at the baby calf and saying "moo!"

Whit tried to give the sheep water. 

And he figured out how to work it!

Group shot. Exhausted but happy after a day at the farm. 

Kids and I. 

Kelly and Eloise. 

We couldn't leave without petting a giant bunny. 

A Little Light in the Darkness

Today a horrific and tragic event happened in Boston. Two bombs went off at the finish line at the Boston Marathon killing 3 people, one who was 8, and injuring well over 100. So much emotion and so much sadness about today's events. As a citizen of this country, I am pissed and mad that someone would harm innocent people. As a mom, I am devastated to know parents are childless tonight. As a runner, who has run marathons, my mind goes to all those runners who decided to undertake the herculean effort to run the marathon and their success and celebration of this achievement was taken from them. As a spectator of races, I am saddened by all those people who showed up to cheer on all their friends and loved ones and witnessed a nightmare. 

Much has been written about this but I thought this was truly poetic, "So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."

In all this darkness, I needed to find some light and love.  I naturally turned to my children, who have so much goodness, love, optimism, and hope. "The good outnumber you, and we always will." I downloaded some pictures from yesterday. It was a beautiful day here and along with going to church in the morning, we spent the afternoon watching the Masters and then going outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. 

The Fountain of Smarts

Someone [Whitaker] is getting to be better at hide and go seek. Maybe drinking from the toilet the other day was beneficial, maybe it is akin to the fountain of youth. Maybe (just maybe) the commode (as my father refers to it) is the fountain of smarts. 

On another unrelated note, have I ever mentioned how much I despise Spring in the Pacific NW - I think I have every Spring since writing in this space. As I sit typing I look outside to cold wet weather. As the rest of the country celebrates short sleeves and warmer temperatures, we huddle in our polar fleeces and rain gear waiting for July to come. Rant over. Happy Friday.