Faithfully Fit: ....day at the farm: part deux

.....the farm was Elsie's first field trip last year, so this year's trip to the farm was been there, done that for my oldest sprite.....Elsie confidently swaggered towards Green Meadows Farm with sister not too far behind.....and because Stefan had guys in from London on Thursday and couldn't make it, we had a special visit from our Pops so that each of my girls had a chaperone to spend this special day with them.....

.....and in leui of the school bus this year, the four of us drove.....me gunning down the highway, running late as usual......but I had excited girls hollering from the back seat with the ever so often question of, are we almost there?......

.....and they were ecstatic once I could finally (after detours, incorrect maps and wrong directions), announce, we made it!......

....and upon our arrival, Pops and Elsie made their way to tour with Elsie's 3's class and Callie and I made our way to her 2's class....the sisters promising to tell each other about everything.....

Callie fed the goats one piece of grass at a time.....

....and I remember watching Elsie last year and having moments of amazement as I watched her interact with her new friends.....she was certainly growing up and it was apparent that she was on her way to independence-ville......

Elsie, on the other hand, fed the animals large handfuls at a time.....

.....and she still is......

....and I felt like I was in a time warp again as I watched my youngest daughter.......reliving the same thoughts and observations as I did at this event last year, as she frolicked around with her new friends.....bravely trying new experiences.....

....hopping right up to the front of the line to milk a cow or gently touch the head of a baby chicken; my baby girl is growing up.....still occasionally looking over at me to ensure I was close by and still reaching for my hand to lead me to a place that had her excited.....but once she felt secure and safe, she was off and gleaming in her own independence.....

.....and as I observe her in this space of time, these fleeting moments; I am reminded of how fast the time goes by.....so these opportunities of reflection are important because without them, it would be easy to wish the time away.....because as many moments that there are of watching your children in awe, there are triple the moments of feeling tired, overwhelmed or exhausted from the routines of life....the physical drainage of having small children can catch up to a Momma very quickly and I feel like the glimpses of seeing your children soar reiterate that the love, care, compassion and the time we exert into raising little ones validate that it's all coming together......I am recharged knowing that we all do the best we can to raise little people who will someday make a difference in our future.....

....and so this trip to the farm came at a good time for me....I needed a day to slam the brakes on the back and forth of school, rushing through lunches, nursing a baby simultaneously and feeling overwhelmed at the new Fall routine......I needed to be forced to take a time out and just be present......

.....and I got to spend some quality time with my Dad, too....

.....icing on the cake.....

.....and this upcoming season is one of change, as the colorful leaves remind me that all things evolve.....phases pass and challenges become easier.....

......Callie, I loved spending the day with you.....your love for life and new experiences is so fun to watch....I'm still grinning ear to ear.....