An Afternoon at Deanna Rose Farmstead

(aka: Operation: Wear Out the Kids)

Another day of fun! What?!

Now that the awful "we-just-moved-in-and-the-house-is-a-mess" feeling has dissipated, as has all that rain, we can do fun stuff!

And boy oh boy, does the OP deliver on that!

This afternoon the kids and I went to a super neat "little" place in town:
the Deanna Rose Farmstead.
(we were going to meet our buddy LC there, but life happened, so we got a raincheck!)

Keep in mind that our day was entirely free and we did not see or do everything that this farm has to offer.
(there are a lot of activities that you can pay to do)

When we first got through the "door" we saw a herd of baby chicks!




...and I thought my kids ran everywhere!




then it was time for a photo op!

Breck loves playing with hair!


this is my absolute fav!



Speaking of photo ops, this place is an absolute photographic wonderland!!!
I think if I am ever "stuck" on the 365 Project, I shall go here and be stuck no more!


On the drive, Breck had even asked me if there would be a windmill at this place...I assumed so.



Next to the windmill was the Dairy Barn,
where Breck "learned" to milk a cow!

...although he told an older kid that "this is the cow's poop."
He was quickly, but nicely, corrected on that one by the other child.


And outside, the kids were able to ring the cowbells!
"More cowbell! I need more cowbell!"




Then we took a "break" and went to one of the various playgrounds.
The kids walked through a mini log cabin, which I thought was super cool, but I guess it wasn't because they walked in and then right out.


Here's something funny (to the KSU fans) that I overheard at the playground:
Lady to little boy: "Hi! Are you a Jayhawk fan?!"
Little Boy: "No."
Lady: "But you're wearing a Jayhawk shirt."
(Boy: I didn't actually hear his reason for wearing the shirt, but I'm guessing he was forced at gun point and threatened that he would miss out on Deanna Rose if he didn't wear it. It's a logical assumption.)


And then over the bridge


but we stopped to stare at the ducks,
because this town seems to be lacking in the bridge and ducks area.
(Said with thick sarcasm. We were just at a playground with bridges and ducks on Tuesday.)






After that fun, it was time to look at various animals!

Like this little goat,
who turned around and pooped right in front of us.
Breck was probably in heaven...he thinks poop is cool.



and this irresistible fuzzy little bunny



a ram who didn't seem to care much about anything



...and then, all of a sudden, I had a strong craving for stuffing and pumpkin pie...
Hmm.



Next up was the hand washing station!
(there were several around)
Breck did not want to leave this part of the farm!



but we eventually did and walked across the path to where there were hay rack rides to look at the horses



a little ways around the next bend was the K-State Extension Research Garden (or something like that....it was K-State sponsored, I know.)

where they had a bridge
(but no ducks)


a variety of pretty flowers


and a fun play area with stepping stone that are great for hopping across!



Right as we came out of the garden we saw this:

My gut reaction was "oh no, a pretty dead butterfly!"
Upon further inspection, it was not only alive, but there were two.
Nothing like witnessing the birds and the bees in action!
...or maybe it was a butterfly fist fight???


Then Breck ran around the corner


and we saw this nifty old tractor



the next path had birds of prey and other predatory animals,
like the bobcats that Rowan was trying to woo her way



and then there was a neat little nature path that had a bunch of cool garden art.
(Lorrie, I thought of you during this part!)



...but 2 hours was enough. Breck was hot and tired and ready to go home (he told me this!) and my camera was out of memory, so the kids packed into the stroller and we headed home.

Breck was asleep by the time we arrived home, which wasn't too far a drive, and Rowan went right to sleep when I laid her in her crib!

We will definitely be going back!