Fun on the Farm

Last week we went to Vernal for a few days. We stayed with Justin's Grandpa and Grandma Southam on their farm. And yes, it is a real farm with cows and everything! Cole and Macie played in the dirt and ran around exploring everything. Grandpa Southam has some really cool old tractors that he has restored and Justin took Cole and Macie on rides and even let them steer! Grandpa Southam took Cole and Macie on a contraption fondly referred to as the "Magic Carpet." It is a piece of plastic and some old carpet on top that Grandpa attached to the 4 wheeler with a rope. Cole and Macie hopped right on and off they went through the field! Who knew riding on plastic and old carpet could be so thrilling, it's a whole new world (he he!).

One highlight was holding one of the teeny tiny new kittens that Justin found burrowed in the hay in the shed. He wrapped it up in a towel and the kids just couldn't get enough of it. They were soooo cute with the little kitten who barely made a peep and just looked at them in bewilderment. It is hard not to bring home a little kitten like that, but thankfully our cat Twizzler is a reminder that they grow up and it's not the same!



Another highlight is that Cole got to drive the 4 wheeler all by himself in the field. Yes he is 6, not 16, but he is a very capable 6 , so says his mother! He drove mostly straight then Justin would yell "turn" when it was time to turn. He also got to pull Justin and Macie on the Magic Carpet. When he finished his feet barley touched the ground (which is probably ok since there was cow poop everywhere!).

Cole, Macie, Jason and Kelly (sorry Amber if I spelled her name wrong!) had a great time making a muddy mess in the "mud box" which is like a sand box but with mud, obviously. They got the hose out and made islands and rivers and a GIANT mess. What fun! Macie loved the little red wagon (which she sometimes called "dragon," close enough right?!) Cole caught some bugs including a tiny little green grasshopper. I tried to be excited but I do not like grasshoppers, thank goodness this was just a little one!

While we were in Vernal Cole, Macie and I stopped to visit a friend of ours that we have known since we were newlyweds. Jon and Laurie Stearmer were married about the same time we were and we met while we lived at the Cottonwood Apartments soooo long ago! We have kept in touch over the years and they now live in Vernal. We had such a fun visit. Laurie made cupcakes for the kids (they have two, Rebecca and Ryan) and a YUMMY salad for the moms. Cole had a great time playing with Rebecca who he says kept "scaring" at him (that is how he says staring). He said he might be in love with her but that she wasn't in love with him, she just thought he was funny. They evidently talked about their feelings for each other. Should I be worried?

We also went to the Field House and Dinosaur Park (or something like that, I guess I can't remember the official name). That was very fun too. We saw a short movie and looked at dinosaur bones (which we got to dig up too), fossils and arrow heads. It was a great rainy day activity!