Farm Visits at Easter

Well, Easter weekend came and went without event (STILL no baby!). We were sorry to miss Don and Hope's recent visit to Madison-- and the fabulous brunch at Morel's-- but decided I'd better stay nearby the hospital, just in case.

We did manage to do a few fun things this weekend, though. Saturday morning we went to a local farm that had invited the public to see their baby sheep being born. It turned out to be a very popular event-- lots of us non-farming folk and kids paid $3 a piece to take in the sights and smells of the barnyard. But we actually saw a lamb being born, and lots of other newborns in the stalls with their mothers. They were remarkably calm, considering all the excited children hovering around them. Emma held and petted a lamb for awhile, with help from one of the owners.

Emma was in her element on the farm, thoroughly engaged. We saw piglets (very squirmy and vocal-- no one spent much time trying to hold them), Holstein calves and chicks. The chicks were in a big open incubator, and kids were allowed to pick them up and pet them. Emma insisted I hold one, too, and I was surprised by how soft and cute they were.

Michael was not a fan of the farm outing. For him it was just sensory overload. Too many strange smells and sounds, too many people crowding and pressing against him, too many unfamiliar things in a confined space. He had a similar reaction when we took him to a conservatory in Minneapolis a few years ago, where the climate was kept tropical . It was hot, humid, and the air was thick with aroma from all the vividly colorful plants. There was lots of bird noise as well. He actually wept while we were there.

He's a lot more adaptable now, but still likes things plain and simple.

On Easter morning the kids found their baskets and we had a leisurely morning around the house. Mom and Dad called from Florida, to say hello. We had just received a post card from them a few days before-- it sounds like their trip is going well and no problems so far.

We had lunch at Jon's sister Sally's house in Holcombe. Emma decided to wear a dress that originally belonged to her cousin Allison (now a college student) and was also worn by Sally's daughter Lisa (who graduates from highschool this year). It fits Emma nicely right now, and she wore it like a princess with a string of pearls and bows in her hair. Michael agreed to wear a button-up shirt, which was a big concession on his part.

Bud and Jane were also at Sally's. We had heard that Jon's mother had fallen recently, but were surprised to see her with a seriously black eye. But she had been getting the car ready to take Bud to a doctor's appointment, and fell on the sidewalk, landing on her temple just above the eye she'd recently had surgery on. Luckily she wasn't knocked out or anything; she got up and drove Bud into the doctor, and then had the doctor take a look at her, afterwards.

The pictures below really don't do their house justice. It's large and open, with the living, dining, and kitchen space all in one enormous room with vaulted ceilings, but different areas of it are painted different colors and everything is decorated very thoughtfully, so the overall effect is warm and intimate. Lots of interesting antique pieces and a country feel.

We had a great meal and enjoyed talking with Sally's adult children-- she has three boys and a girl (daughter Lisa is pictured at left, with Jane and Sally's husband Larry). Jonathan joined us as well, but he was late in arriving because his car didn't make it up their (pretty daunting) unpaved driveway. It's a long, hilly driveway, and once you start up it you better not stop. Jonathan had to walk a 1/4 mile or so up to their house. Luckily there was still plenty of food left...

After the meal we played a fun game with Easter eggs that Sally's youngest boy (Sam) had colored for us... I can't remember the name of the game, but Grandpa Bud was the winner and so gets to have a year of good luck (according to the game).

Sam had also helped helped set up an Easter egg hunt outdoors for Michael and Emma. All of the eggs had candy treats inside, but some of the eggs were also numbered-- and numbered eggs could be traded in for prizes. The hunt was located so that we could watch the whole thing from above and indoors, through their living room windows. Both kids ended up with bags full of little toys and treasures.

After lunch Jon's other nephew Steve and family came by for a visit. While we talked to them, Emma played outside by herself for awhile. When I remembered to check on her I could see her walking behind the fence with their horses (they have four, including Shadow and Macy, the two we used to own). After we got her out of there and explained that she should not go in the horse pen without an adult accompanying her (because otherwise Mom will be a nervous wreck), she stopped doing that, but later on made a solo trip to the chicken coop by herself and collected eggs for Sally.

Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter! I also hope the next time I write to you that I will have a happy, healthy baby to report. I have a car seat now, have read (or skimmed) four childbirth books, and am as ready as I'm ever going to be for baby #3. So it can happen anytime now!!!

Here's me wincing as Jon takes yet another photograph of me in my swollen state. Arggh.