31 Weeks at Deanna Rose Farmstead

When Deanna Rose opened for the season on April 1st we didn’t set out to go every week until they closed on October 31st, it just kind of started to happen and as the season went on we made a point of making a visit each week.  Most weeks I took her, some weeks Tyler did, sometimes we went together, and while we were on vacation she went with her grandparents.

I love seeing the animals and the flowers grow throughout the season.  There is so much to enjoy and discover there, we never got bored with it.  Also, it’s free Mondays – Thursdays, can’t beat that!  Usually we only did one side or the other.  Sometimes we only went to play on the playgrounds or see the goats.  During the hottest parts of the summer went during their evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Much cooler and MUCH less crowded.  Those were some of my favorite visits.  We made some great memories and I’m so sad it will be closed for the next 5 months.

Some pictures that chronicle our adventures at the farmstead this year.

Spring

First time meeting her favorite goat, Benjamin.  AKA “the goat with no ears”

Bottle feeding Benjamin for the first time, he is a hungry little goat.

Every time we went she had to check up on him and see how he was doing

Introducing Daddy to Benjamin

She loves the colorful garden stones throughout the children’s garden and butterfly trail

First time fishing, sadly we didn’t catch any.

First time riding the ponies.

Her legs were too short for the pedal tractors this year but I bet by next spring she’ll be doing it!

I love watching things sprout and grow in the children’s garden.

She loves to sing the alphabet song while she walks along the alphabet stones.

Summer

Summer evening. We pretty much had the whole place to ourselves.

The butterfly garden, love the creative ways they grow things out here.

Showdown with a very territorial rooster

Only time we saw all three bunnies out.

She loved to find the “G” brick.

Playing in the little cabin with her daddy.

Trip to the farm with her 5 cousins.

Watching the baby ducks swim.

Holding hands with her cousin Hosanna

Milking the “cows” with two of her cousins

Feeding the ducks with Hosanna and Karis

Checking on Benjamin (can you spot him by now?)

That one time a rooster got loose and chased us down.

Feeding duck food to the fish.

Fall

 

Hay bale slide at Pumpkin Hollow

Visiting Pumpkin Hollow with a friend

Riding the cow train for the first time

Ghosties

Night of the Living Farm (with her broken leg)

Last visit to the farm this season

Absolutely loves dancing to the Disney songs at the gazebo

Til next year Deanna Rose!

2nd Birthday Party- Red, White, and Two!

OMG yes I know my daughter will be 3 in less than a month but better late than never, right?!

Since Gretchen’s birthday is right after the 4th of July I thought this theme would be perfect.  With so many toddler friends we wanted to invite we knew there was noooooooo way we could host the party at our house. We decided to do the party at Deanna Rose Farmstead, one of Gretchen’s favorite places.  We got there early to set up and when her friends arrived we encouraged them to go explore and play for about an hour and then come back for food and mini pies (Trader Joes FTW!)  Deanna Rose gives the birthday kid a cowboy hat, t-shirt, and then each of the guests gets a ticket good for a pony ride, hayride, or mining.  It does not have to be used the day of the party.  One of the great things about the party corrals at Deanna Rose is that it’s in an extremely shaded part of the park, so even though it was a hot July day, the shade and a breeze kept us mostly cool.  We had a great time and hopefully our guests did too!

invitation design by misspokadot on etsy 

For food we got sandwich trays from Mr. Goodcents and then had veggies, cheese and crackers, and watermelon to go with it.  I cut the watermelon and cheese into star shapes using a mini cookie cutter. For dessert I had star shaped brownies and sugar cookies made by Smart Cookies Bakery.  In lieu of cake or cupcakes we served mini pies from Trader Joes.  They are in the freezer section and come in cherry, blueberry, and peach.  Super yummy!

The red, white, and blue serving platters and decor were from Michaels.  Balloons from my friend Adriane’s shop in Shawnee, FUN Party and Wedding Shop.  

For favors I bought some blue and red striped bags at Michaels and filled them with stickers, custom cookies, fruit snacks, and red, white, and blue sunglasses from the Target $1 spot.

       

Gretchen’s dress is from hazelbeebaby but sadly she has closed up shop 😦

 

Our corral was right next to this big goat’s pen and he got a bath during the party.  He wanted to come join the partyThe kids loved it!

 

I think the sunglasses were a hit!