Merry Mead Farm

I couldn't wait to get out the door this morning. The weather was perfect and we had plans to visit Merry Mead farm for our annual apple slinging. We started this tradition when Savannah was the girls' age - very hard to believe. Savannah has great memories of the place. It is funny what she remembers and what she doesn't. One thing was certain, she remembered the Apple Slinger.

When we arrived at the farm, my "perfect day" quickly dissolved. We had a camera but no battery (it was conveniently laying on the desk at home). Since I have been to this farm before, I know what a wonderful photo opportunity it is. I was also determined to document our last trip to the farm as a family of five. Who knows what we will be doing for harvest fun in Texas.

Alex left the girls with me and ran to WalMart. Unfortunately they didn't have a battery that matched our camera which forced him to return with a $20.00 piece of crap digital camera. My cell phone could have done a better job! So when you are looking at the pictures below please understand that I realize they are horrible quality. They are all I have.

After the shock of the camera debacle wore off (I am sure Alex will tell you that it never really did) we had a great time. I saw my little girls do the same things Savannah was doing three years ago. They participated in the bean bag toss, Apple Slinger and ring toss. Lila sat like a champ for face painting but Adeline wouldn't let the brush come near her. They went on wagon train and scaled the numerous pumpkins.

My big girl had the best day of all. If you haven't been to this farm, you have no idea how fun the Harvest Slinger is. We have tried for years to shoot our apples into an old bathtub sitting in the middle of the pasture. Wouldn't you know that Savannah walks up, places her apple in sling and rockets it off right into the tub. For that she won a gigantic pumpkin! She was so excited. The girls tried very hard to do the same but weren't quite on target. They were very cute as they picked their three apples from the bin and then placed them in the Slinger. They knew exactly what do to and loved every minute it of it.

Weather permitting, I think we will return next weekend. There will never be a farm as good as Merry Mead and this is our last year to experience the fun.
Here are some pictures of the past and present. Double click on the slide show below to see an option for a larger slide show

Add it to the List

That's right. Adeline's food list is getting longer and longer. Her willingness continues to improve and the light at the end of the very long tunnel might just be giving off a flicker of hope. Things are still hard and there are always moments like today when she whacked the cup of milk (open face, just like the big girls use) right out of my hand.

Here are the latest additions to the list:

Cheese Omelet - oddly enough Miss Grace won't touch it but the Belle loved it

Bananas - after spitting the bite out 5 times she finally chewed and requested more

hot dogs

Taco Soup

Some rice and chicken concoction out of a box (daddy's dinner not mine)

Chips (much to my chagrin)

Cider doughnuts (an odd texture with all of the sugar on the outside)

This evening, the Belle was very hungry as she didn't eat a great lunch at the farm we visited earlier in the day. She was fussy and wanting up. Up wasn't good enough though. Finally, she spied the rice that daddy had laid out for dinner and frantically signed for more. I gave her a bite (her mouth was waiting wide open) and she immediately reached for more. I think this is the first time she has requested to eat something that is dinner material.