Toddlers at the Farm

Well folks. It has happened. already I have worn out the Motherly Toned "one...Two.. THREE.."

Tonight Miss Sassy Pants was refusing to come near me so I could give her her medicine. (in her defense.. it does taste really icky).  So I put on the Mom Face... and said firmly "one..."  and then. she looked at me. cocked that little head. and said, in an already apparent Southern Drawl..  'twooooo...'   and I, of course, cracked up. I mean, honestly! How is one supposed to be a firm parent when children are so hilarious?

Sissy came over after work to entertain Eileen while i did laundry and dishwasher and got dinner ready.  We all took a quick walk around the neighborhood.. it was either that or have Gracie implode from wanting to enjoy the perfect Fall Day. So Sissy and I were walking and Eileen on her Big Wheel (Disney Princess Themed, of course). It should be noted she has gotten quite speedy on that big wheel! Steering and remembering to look for cars.. well those areas need some work. So anyway, she's pedaling along. Stop. Stands up. and Toots. and cracks herself up so much she's doubled over in laughter. Sissy was horrified. and I, mother of the year and clearly the Queen of Little Girl Etiquette, cracked up right along with Eileen. Way to encourage such behavior. She'll make a great Frat Boy someday.                                                             

As you have probably deduced from these pictures, the Field Trip to the PumpkinPatch was earlier this week. Wowo. How those teachers deal with a roomfull of three year olds is beyond me. They are some strong women! But oh we had a blast.  We got to school and they loaded the car seats onto the school bus. Then we had the caravan of SUV's and minivans following the bus out to the Land of Pumpkins. Oh - and it just so happened that Eileen and BFF Syd had on the same shirt, only adding to the cuteness. They are clearly an exclusive club.   So we get there and this man greets us. And he's like a frightening Halloween Creepy Santa Claus. Hes tall and has a long white beard and a big belly. It does not help that he has a red shirt on. But i'm not sure he had all his teeth. And he starts out by showing this mob of 3 year olds some leaves and berries. And then tells them NOT to eat them. because they are poison.  I'm like "what the hell??? is this man insane? has he never MET a 3year old?" because you know - as soon as they hear not to do something, their little brains start scheming on how to do this thing they are not supposed to do. Good LORD man stop talking.

When it was time to get on the hayride, which thankfully did NOT actually include hay.. Eileen was scared. She didn't want to get on the trailer. So Syd looks at her - and I am so NOT making this up- says "c'mon eileen! what is your problem?"   hil-a-ri-ous. Syd's mom and I died. so funny. and hey.. it worked. Eileen stopped being a fraidy cat and hopped right up there.  Three cheers for Toddler Peer Pressure!!

We fed some goats.. I am fairly certain Eileen attempted to kiss one.  oh yay.  We then traveled to a pumpkin patch. Where the kids were told not to go past the pink ribbon. So who wants to guess at what to blond girls in matching tee-shirts took off straight for that ribbon? I'd already run 6miles before this field trip, and I easily covered another couple while chasing the Little People.  And then they took us toa corn maze. At which point I thought surely we were on Candid Camera. Who in the world turns loose all these short people in super tall corn?!?  (and yes, it did occurr to me that I was living out my very own version of "Children of the Corn.")  Thankfully.. it wasn't so much a maze, as it was a curvy path.  We got behind a slower little girl and her grandmother.  Her grandmother who pointed out every.single.ear.of.corn to the little girl.  This was after we'd been there two hours, and were hungry, thirsty and a little bit over the farm.

Evidently Eileen and Mateyah were also a little ready to move on.. the two of them suddenly just ran full speed in front of the woman.  The woman who did not seem phased that these two just took off on their own into the corn. The woman who did not move to the side to at least let me and Mateyah's mommy by to chase after them.  The woman who clearly is one of those Stupid People who is let out of her house every so often. (Ok, that was mean. but really?!?! )  So after what seemed like a lifetime, but was probably just a couple of seconds, we gave up on attempting niceties and just ran right past the woman and hoped we didn't knock her over.  And there were Eileen and Mateyah just happily leading the group through the corn. Ohhh Heaven Help me.

Anyway. the last stop was an apple orchard. with old apples on the ground. that the kids wanted to eat. at this point i didn't have much argument left in me and didn't really fight any kiddos taking bites. no one fell over, so no harm done.

And so that was it. It was a blast. So hilarious to see all the kids interact. And it was fun to get to hang out with some of the other parents.

And lastly, we have the photo of the day.. the one where i looked at Eileen and said "Smile for Mommy..."  and here's what I got: