Hey friends. Happy Tuesday. It is starting to feel like fall, but this past week was hot in the 90s where we were in Kentucky then coming home to the 60s is a big change. We had a great weekend at Brian's sisters farm. We got in Monday night than it was time for dinner, showers, and get ready for back to school. Sorry not sorry for all the pictures.
Friday
Friday morning Anna had her first field trip ever. They were going to an apple farm. The had donuts and apple cider, went on a hay ride, then picked an apple and pumpkin. Originally we were leaving for the farm first thing on Friday morning but when we found out Anna had a field trip we modified. Anna went to school for her field trip and I picked her up early.
After picked Anna up from school she came home and ate her lunch then we hit the road. Stocked with blankets, pillows, movies, and all the snacks.
I use to pack all the things to keep my kids entertained. I have learned at least at their current ages they don't need much for the car ride. Car ride was also about 7 hours one way. On the way their it was broken into to days with stops along the way. On the way home we drove straight through and just stopped for bathroom breaks. My kids are content watching movies, cars driving by, and napping. Oh and lets not forget all the snacking.
Brian took a different route again. Instead of the most direct route, which we would have hit Columbus at rush hour, we went around it. He some how always ends up on these back roads with on shoulder or edge lines, road barely big enough for two cars. This is the way the GPS took us.
I didn't know there was a city called Anna in Ohio. I tried to get a picture of the water tower but it came out blurry.
Our first stop was Jungle Jim's International Market. I had seen it on Facebook a while ago and remembered it was down by Cincinnati. Since we weren't driving all the way through to Kentucky (so we wouldn't hit the fog in the backroads that are very windy when we get close to my sister in laws house). It was a little underwhelming. But we still had fun. We would have bought a lot more if we were on our way home.
They had hundreds of hot sauces, an open fish market, you could buy draft beer and drink it while grocery shopping (which we did), international foods, fun photo opps, quail eggs, and so much more. We were there for over an hour, and could see how they say expect to be there for 3 hours. But by then we were all ready for dinner.
We had Wings and Rings for dinner. I had delicious grill boneless wings with Thia Chili sauce, the kids had grilled cheese, Ella also had wings.
Our last stop of the night was a hotel. We stayed at a Candlewood Suite, which was nothing special. It slept 5 with 2 double beds and a couch. The main attraction was the pool the kids.
Saturday
We all had a rough night of sleeping. The hotel room was either to hot or to cold, the beds were not comfortable, I forgot to bring the kids sound machine, etc. It just wasn't ideal. We had a quick snacky breakfast in the room to hold us over, the kids had Little Debbie muffins and I had a protein bar. Then we went swimming for a little bit. My kids could do any vacation as long as there was a pool.
After breakfast we packed up the room and hit the road. We had planned on eating on our drive. Instead we ended up stopping to eat at Chick Fil A.
On the road again. Finally in Kentucky, from our hotel to our first stop was suppose to be an hour and a half, but it turned into 2 hours with traffic and accidents.
This girl and her facial expressions with her hands. I think she was watching Frozen here.
We met Brian's sister and husband at a local festival, Midway 50th Annual Fall Festival. The streets were line with vendors from food to arts and crafts, music, and a few activities for the kids. It was hot and there was no breeze. We did some wondering around, the kids decorated pumpkins, the line for face painting was long, Brian and his sister did a little shopping, and we ate/drank. We didn't stay at long as we had anticipated because of the heat.
Instead we made a little detour to Woodford Reserve Distillery. Brian would have loved to do a tour, but the kids were not having it. We just checked out the gift shop and grabbed a quick drink.
Brian and his brother in law got old fashions.
I had some fruity punch with bourbon that was delicious.
Anna wanted to buy a Woodford Reserve belt bag.
The ways this girl sleeps is so cute.
Next stop was out to dinner. We ate at Cheddars. It was delicious, service was great, and they were quick. It is a chain but we don't have one near us.
The kids were so happy when we finally got to the farm. This year the chickens like escaping out of the fenced in area and exploring the main yard.
The cows also came up to see us. They usually have they gated off so we can see them, but they came on their own.
Brian's sister and brother in law have 11 aces. Then Carrie's brother in law has a few hundred acres. The cows roam between both lands. Carrie's chickens just stay on her property. On the bigger property is a pond, woods, lots of grass fields, and produce fields.
Carrie surprised the kids with reusable water balloons. It was a great way for them to cool off. Ella said she wasn't going to play with them so she didn't change into her swim suit, but ended up soaked.
While Ella was playing with the water balloons by herself, she just had a random chicken, she named him Geraldine, come visit her.
When it was time for Mike to collect the eggs Brian and the kids followed to help. Brian ended up catching a chicken.
A gorgeous sunset.
The kids ended the night watching part of Minions and eating ice cream and popcorn.
Sunday
I kind of slept in, which really meant 8:30. By then the chickens were already out of the house and in the yard. The chicken coup has an automatic door that opens at 8am this time of the year.
While at the farm we limited electronics and tv to very little, less than an hour both days. Austin loves playing with the race track that has been there the past 4 years that we have went.
The girls did a lot of coloring.
One of my favorite parts of the farm, breakfast. Carrie bakes a egg frittata every time we are there with far fresh eggs. We also had sausage patties and fruit and yogurt. Served family style and my kids eat it all too.
The marigolds Carrie planted are gorgeous and huge. I thought they were a bush and not a flower. She planted them from seeds and they just blossomed. She also sent me home with seeds to try next year.
Mike's brother just got baby chicks the week before. We had to go down and see them. They all scooted out of our reach otherwise we were going to let the kids hold one.
He also has a bunch of chickens and two ducks. They are in a caged off area and Anna loves to chase them. You can see a video here.
We can't forget the pigs either. Last year we were at the farm there were piglets, this year he just has 3 lazy pigs.
After a slow morning on the farm we headed to a local pumpkin patch. It was $10 to get in per person and it comes with a pumpkin that you pick off the vine. You can't beat the price, we pay more for just a pumpkin at home. My kids had fun with the duck races.
Anna wasn't a fan of the slide she said it hurt her butt.
Cute photo opp.
Who doesn't like bouncing on a cloud ?
Tug of war, Ella and Carrie lost to Brian.
Apple cannon. You load, cock, aim, and fire at a car in the field.
Austin was the best aim.
Free face painting.
Corn maze fun, what you dont see is I am pushing the stroller that Anna barely sat in, but it is a great cup holder.
This years corn maze design. There is a QR code to use when you enter the corn maze if need help with getting out of the maze.
Time to get pick pumpkins
While on the wagon ride the tractor broke down. It only took a few minutes for another tractor to come and pick us up.
Ella caught her own chicken
Bud was a pro at catching chickens by the time we left.
Anna only got to pet them. She also fed them apples, pumpkin, and tomatoes.
Brian hand fed a cow. Then the kids grabbed apples and fed them too. The one cow kept trying to lick Ella's arm.
Look a baby that was born less than a month ago.
For dinner we had tacos.
Then we ended the night playing the card game Pit. It was fun and easy to play. Ella ended up winning.
Monday
I got up before the run rise. It was so quick coming up.
The light fog made it not blinding but still breathtaking.
More fun with this car track.
There was also an air hockey table in the basement that got a lot of use too.
Pancake breakfast
More fun with chickens.
Maybe we just need to get our own.
This boy wondered after this chicken and caught him. He was so proud of himself.
We hit the road by 11 to head home. A quick stop to get Gas, ran into Liquor Barn to grab some Bourbon that was can't get at home, and lunch from Jersey's Mikes.
We had originally planned on stopping at Ikea, but ended up hitting some traffic that pushed us back some. Plus some little girl had a huge temper tantrum at a rest area I am surprised someone didn't call the cops thinking we kidnapped her. Note don't wake a sleeping princess and make her go pee because the rest areas are few and far between.
We drove straight through with only two bathroom stops, then ordered Romeo's pizza on the way. Grabbed it and ate at home. We unloaded, ate, got everything ready for school tomorrow, showered, bedtime stories and bed
We had a wonderful time at the farm. We say every year we need to go more often.
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XOXO
What a fun weekend!! Looks like fall perfection! Our kids love those giant jumping pillows, too. They are so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThey are fun.
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