This morning, I had the pleasure of going with Cal's class on a field trip to Spences Farm!
I wasn't going to get to go. Siblings were not allowed to join us on the trip and Thursdays Andy doesn't have school. My mom couldn't keep him and Eddie was heading out of town for the Masters. All of my babysitters are in high school (I know-- people think I am crazy about that one...but we LOVE them...). ANYWAY, I told his teachers that I would try to make it work, but I didn't think it would. Then it dawned on me that Andy's school offers "drop in days" for days that you just really need your kid to go to school. I haven't ever used these days before and after today, I am going to start using them ALL the time! It was awesome! He has his current teacher and it is only $18 for 3.5 hours! It is fabulous!
Eddie took Andy to school and I went with Cal. He was just beside himself knowing that I was getting to go. I told him on Tuesday night that I wasn't going to be able to go and he broke down crying saying he didn't want to go without me...so so SO glad I went today!
The owner of the farm came out to talk to the two classes all about farm life. This farm had chickens and horses. The man was sweet as can be, but he was VERY long-winded and talked to these kids like they were high schoolers. I think he forgot who his audience was! He was asking the kids questions that the adults all had no idea the answer!
After listening to him talk (and talk and talk and talk...! ha!), he walked the kids over to the garden where they basically did some weeding for him.
After filling up their buckets, the kids headed over to the chicken area...and the chickens were ready for them! They were literally lined up at the gate waiting for the kids to bring them some food.
Cal was super apprehensive about the chickens-- they were fearless and would walk right up to you. The man also was trying to tell them that the chickens PECK at your hand when you are feeding them, but in his long winded-ness, Cal heard him say "oh no, they are biting my hand!' (when he was really saying that he had a kid once think that, but the chicken was actually pecking....) so Cal was convinced the chickens were going to eat him.
The man told the kids they could dump their buckets full of weeds for the chickens and they all did immediately! He then brought out some corn for the kids to hand-feed the chickens. Cal loved to feed them, but he was pretty scared of them, so he had me hold the corn in my hand and they pecked out of my hand. Cal did it once and it scared him, so from then on, he held his hand right under mine and we fed them together.
The kids walked into the hen house to see if there were any eggs ready for collecting. And wouldn't you know it...
CalBoy came out holding an egg!
After leaving the chicken area, we headed down to the barn to see the horses. The man gave the kids a LOOOONNNNGGGG talk about acknowledgement and communication and on and on and on and on.... the poor kids were over listening! They wanted to see the horses!
Cal was VERY unsure of the horses when we first walked into the barn. The staff was SUPER laid back about them. They encouraged the kids to walk into the stalls, walk around the horses, brush them, etc. That made ME nervous! I've always heard even the tamest of horses could kick out of nowhere! Cal was very clingy to me at this point. We walked up to a few horses and rubbed their noses and then Cal saw some of his classmates brushing the horses. He decided he wanted to try too...
He stunned me when he went and grabbed a helmet to ride a horse. I thought there was NO way we would be getting our timid little guy on a horse today. But he put that helmet on and said, "I'm ready to ride!"
And sure enough....after waiting his turn, he climbed right on up there and rode a horse! I literally was stunned. His teachers were stunned too. He isn't a scared-y cat kid, but he is very apprehensive about a lot of things. Well, not today, I guess...
He had each kid get on the horse and put their arms out to the side to test their balance. Cal was none-too-thrilled with this exercise, but he still did it and was SO SO proud once he did! Ava was cheering for him and he was just so excited and happy up there! His horse's name was TONKA... which I thought was fitting because we love a good Tonka Truck!
Again, this place is SO SO SO laid back with their horses. They handed me a rope to walk the horse around the ring. I am a dog girl. Not so much a horse girl. This thing was really leading me around the ring. I think he knew he had an amateur on his hands- ha! I tried to take pictures while walking this thing. Cal was ALL smiles and was just laughing away up there.
At the end of the loop, Cal said "mommy that was just great! Can we do it again, please?!" hahaha Maybe I need to get this kid some riding lessons!
After riding horses, we had to grab a quick picture of Cal and Ava...
The whole crew had a wonderful day and I am beyond thankful that I got to be there to see Cal ride a horse for the first time!
