Ramseyer Farms

Thursday, I was able to be a chaperone on Ellie’s preschool field trip to Ramseyer Farm.  It is a local potato farm that has also created a fall experience with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, slides, corn maze, and much more.  I had never been, although the girls had been before with Grandma and Papa Yoh.  So, I was excited.  (Plus, Ellie had missed the last three days of preschool – and consequently been home with me every day all day for the last week and a half – due to fevers and an ear infection.)

We took a little girl named Sayge along with us.  She was an adorable little redhead from preschool.  We started the tour with a lesson in what potatoes make (potato chips among other things), what the farm grows, and how they send their food all over. 

We then got to see “Potato Mountain.”  A huge warehouse that slowly fills with a million pounds of potatoes.

From there, we went on a hayride to the pumpkin patch.  The kids each chose a pumpkin and a potato to take home with them.  We bounced through the woods and then returned back for other fun stuff.

      

The girls sat in the giant rocking chair,

crawled through the hide-and-seek tunnels,

  

spent lots of time on the big slide (no pictures because I was going with Ellie), played the musical “instruments,

and helped ducks float down the water chutes.

It was a good morning, and the weather could not have been better. 

Fair Fun

The fair is becoming a tradition in our home.  While we went to the fair every year, I don’t remember it being a big deal growing up.  We never showed animals or spent much time there.  There were four of us kids, and the fair – let’s be honest – is not cheap once in the gate.  (The admission is cheap at $3!)  Our girls are enjoying some of the free stuff – animal barns and other buildings,  But they are also really starting to enjoy the rides.  We did not splurge on the unlimited wristband this year, but I foresee that happening in the very near future.  Instead they rode two rides on Sunday when we went as a family and two more rides on Monday when I took them while Jeremy worked.  As Madison pointed out, that was FOUR rides!  So, here is a recap in pictures:

The animals… The girls (particularly Ellie) were much braver this year about get up close and personal with the animals.  It was cool to watch them interacting and feeling the differences between the animal coats. 

      

Rides, Day 1… Madison conquered the Wave Runner and the Motorcycles

    

Ellie conquered the Ferris Wheel and the Carousel

    

Rides, Day 2… Madison rode the Dragon Wagon and the Carousel

        

Ellie rode the Cars and the Crazy Bus

    

On Monday, we watched Triway band perform because Jeremy’s cousin was performing (and they played late enough we made it in time); she is the girl with the bass drum.

    

Miscellaneous pictures

       

Finally, on Tuesday night, Jeremy and I worked checking passes and stamps at the Exhibitors’ Gate; it is a fundraiser for the SYF.  Jennifer and Arturo graciously agreed to watch the girls while we did this AND spent some time on a fair date.  We finished our job at 7:30, grabbed some food, and headed to get tickets for the Clint Black concert.  At the ticket booth doors, a lady Jeremy knew from high school sold us her extra tickets – $10 for TWO tickets… it was a ridiculously low price considering they were about $20-25 each.  We actually offered her more, but she refused, and we relished the cheap date night we had just acquired!  The concert was fun.  I hadn’t listened to much Clint Black since high school since they rarely play him on the radio anymore.  I enjoy his music and didn’t realize how many hits he had. 

   

I think we are done with fair week, although there are two days left.  I have been there Saturday (working the ticket gate), Sunday (as a family), Monday (with the girls), and Tuesday (work and fun).  It is enough for me.  Until next year….

Ellie’s First Day of Preschool

The day arrived (yesterday) where I had BOTH my girls in school.  Yep, Ellie went to preschool for the very first time.  She was so excited and proud to be able to go.  I think she has watched her big sister do it, and it was finally her turn.  She picked out her clothes the night before – pink, pink, and pink…. but sporty pink!  She requested baked oatmeal for breakfast.  She “helped” Madison on the bus.  And she waited her turn to load the golden bus (er, van) to go to school. 

         

When we arrived, she posed in front of the sign.  She will be going for two years to preschool, so it is good to distinguish! 

She went in, stood in line for her name tag, and picked the slide to start playing.  Although she did ask me not to leave, I think it was more habit than need.  She was fine when I did actually go.

I picked her up – still smiling and full of energy.  She shared about her day: circle time was best, went outside to twirl ribbons, goldfish and water for snack, Mrs. Kurtz only sometimes wore her glasses, and showed me the papers she brought home.  It was a good day.  I had little saddness.  I enjoyed my 2-1/2 hours – took a run/walk in Smithville and went grocery shopping without any kids!  I am not sure if I am selfish/self-centered and that is why those normal tears don’t flow, or if I just really needed a short break to revive myself.  Either way, the point is, my girl was happy and excited for this adventure.   She is craving playdates, people, and interaction.  She wants stimulation and learning.  And as much as we do at home, it is not the same as being in an environment with other kids your age.  She is ready, and I am proud of her!

Catching Up with Pictures

So, my list from a few posts ago was long.  I originally intended to post fairly independently about each of these.  I am coming to the understanding with myself that this is not going to happen.  I am not that motivated.  So, I will do one post here with a few from each thing.  It won’t cover it all, but it will suffice – and you will be caught up, I won’t feel guilty, and I can maybe be back on track!  Here goes something…

• Madison at Fairy Tale Dance Camp

  

    

• Ellie at Creative Movement

    

• Playdates

             

• a vacation with the Yoh family to Michigan City

• Packing our home; Closing on our first house we purchased together as a couple; Moving boxes to our new home; moving furniture to our new home; taking the giant bear I had growing up from my parents’ house to our new home

    

    

• helping with a garage sale with my friend Laura (truth be told, she took my baby stuff, priced it, set up the sale, and ran it for all but one day)

• a vacation with the Ediger family to Myrtle Beach

• Having fun at the MCC Relief Sale

         

• Madison going to see Cinderella at Playhouse Square with Grandma Yoh, Marianne and Erin

• The chicken BBQ complete with horse rides

         

• Ellie’s first haircut (barely cut, I would call it!)

         

• And a few more that never made it from Father’s Day:

           

• And from this past week’s cuteness!

         

That’s it for now.  I think I am on track to be on track.  I am also starting my grad class next week…. Have a great Labor Day Weekend.