Preschool Field Trip 2: Thomasson Farms

We had another cold field trip come about this week. We went out to a nearby dairy farm that they turn into some harvest fun for the winter season. They use all the proceeds to keep the farm running during the spring/summer, and everything they grow and use they feed the cows with later. I was impressed with the resourcefulness.





They had the kids go around to different stations and first on the list was the corn pit. Lydia made a corn angel and they had some fun tubes that you could slide down and land in the corn pit. They grind all this corn up later and feed it to the cows.

The kids loved this one and didn't want to leave.







Next came the hay obstacle course with more tubes for sliding and lots of hay bales to climb on, jump off, and frolic about.

The preschool group of kids with Mrs. Feather

Next we got to look at some farm animals.

There were cows, donkeys, pigs, bunnies, kittens, and goats.

Then we took a hay ride to go pick out a pumpkin!












My kids pretty much picked out the first pumpkin they saw.

With some guidance we took a second look around and they picked out their favorite ones.






My favorite part was the pumpkin patch. It was fun looking at the different shapes and sizes with the kids. Ammon was very particular about which one he wanted.

Did you know that cows like to eat pumpkins? After the pumpkin patch season is over, they let the cows into the pumpkin patch to eat all the left over ones and they love it! Apparently it's a special treat.

After the hayride the kids also got another mini tractor ride. Ammon was in heaven, he had a grin on his face the whole time and was sad when it was over.

Finally, the kids had some free time to play on the playground.

We had lunch in the barn and then we went home. It was a fun trip! I was impressed with how everything was run and how useful everything was. And the prices were very reasonable! All of the activities and the pumpkin for only six dollars per kid and parents are free! They also gave the kids a complimentary chocolate milk (it was lactose free...anyone else think that's weird for a dairy farm?...) on our way out.

I think we'll visit this one again next year as a family, we had such a good time. Fall fun for the Tappanas! We're looking forward to Halloween next week.

Girls Night Out at the Corn Maze

I was excited for this last General Conference because, for once, I was going to have some ladies around from my family for girls night out during the Priesthood session. Ever since I left home, I've spend most priesthood sessions alone, moping around because I had no girls to go do something fun with. There were the couple rare occasions when it worked out and I was able to go with a sister-in-law somewhere, but mostly I sat at home and called my mom and we both grumbled about how our lives were the worst because we had no one to do anything with.

Luckily, this year I happen to live with said mother and we planned an exciting girls night out with my aunt and kids to the corn maze.

We had a good time trying to find each number in the corn maze so we could punch our maps, proving that we made it to each pit-stop.

At first we let each kid take a turn picking what way we went, but after marching down the same path for the millionth time the adults with the maps took charge. We still were having a hard time until I took things into my own hands and grabbed a map and finally figured out how to read it right so we could actually get where we wanted to go. That's right, I've got some mad navigational skills.

After the corn maze we took a hay ride. We had to wait fifteen minutes for the ride to come back around so we could get on for our turn, so I killed time taking some a couple pictures...

My  mom thought I was trying to show her something, haha!

Our hay ride took us around a field of grass or something and my mom and I agreed that they need something more Halloween-ish to look at. So instead, I entertained myself by taking more pictures:

I was threatened that I'd better not take anymore pictures of my mom after this...or else.

We had fun looking at some farm animals after the ride while my aunt perused the pumpkins and fresh produce.

Nauvoo, London, Tahiti, Ghana

We went to dinner afterwards and had a great time that night and it really set the tone for fall.

I loved spending time with my family during Conference Weekend, even though I missed the family in Utah that usually comes around during General Conference time. Conference really touched my heart. I had some questions I was really praying about and some of the talks were written just for me. I'm glad that Heavenly Father listens to my prayers and knows me and loves me enough to answer me. I'm grateful for prophets who are inspired to receive guidance to answers my prayers.

Now I'm on to becoming a better person and trying to help others. Also, check out my sweet Temple origami I tried out while listening to Conference.