Hidden Hills Tractor Day, 2016

Daniel's dad and my dad both grew up on farms, and when we were kids, Daniel and I both had opportunities to spend time on farms – Daniel's grandparents still owned their farm when he was small, and one of my mom's uncles had a dairy farm when I was growing up.

As an adult, I don't know a single person who works on a farm. It's a bit shocking to see that shift in a single generation.

Since we can't just pack up and go visit relatives at the farm, I am grateful for places like the Hidden Hills Farm and Saddle Club for opening their gates throughout the year.

On certain dates, they allow you to come play and explore their property. You can ride their horses, feed their chickens, and play on their equipment. It is a fantastic experience for little kids.

A week ago, we took advantage of their annual Tractor Day, meeting up with friends for a fun-filled afternoon at this farm.

It was our second time to attend Tractor Day and I'm pretty sure that it is one of Jack's favorite experiences. Where else can a kid (or adult) ride in the bucket of an excavator, and then operate the backhoe afterward?

There were several tractors to sit on, and Jack was intent on trying to operate them (it's a good thing that no keys were accidentally left in the ignitions!).

Besides the tractors, the kids chased fed chickens, pestered a bull, and had the opportunity to ride a horse.

It was a beautiful day for an outing with friends. We enjoyed a picnic together, and then wrapped up the visit with a hayride.

I'm so glad there are still places we can go where children can get a little glimpse of a farm world, even if it is just for a few hours.

The cost to attend a play day at this farm is $10 for your first child and $5 for any additional kids. If you are interested in a Hidden Hills play day, be sure follow their page on Facebook to find out when the next event is.

Trying to feed the chickens.

Jack taking a turn working the back hoe.

Strawberry Picking

We had a very full weekend. I can tell we were busy because I spent most of Monday playing catch up – tons of laundry, dishes and toys to be dealt with. Today I feel caught up so I wanted to share about our weekend, starting with strawberry picking (there was also a trip to IKEA in Atlanta, T-Ball pictures, hiking and paddling).

Friday morning I managed to get my kids up and out the door by 9:45am. Unless it's a preschool day, we typically don't get out of the house before 11:30, so this was a feat in and of itself. 

Plus, I had to pack not only for strawberry picking, but for the entire day since we were planning on meeting Daniel in Atlanta. But somehow I got it all together and we made it to the farm on time.

Sims Farm is located in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA, about 40 minutes from our house. On the plus side, it was on the way to Atlanta. We met up with friends at 10:30 for some time picking strawberries and a picnic in the sunshine.

Nestled within sight of the mountains, Sims Farm was a very idyllic setting. It is actually a sod farm, but they also plant strawberries for the public to come pick.

To start May off, we had a cold snap and the weather the day we visited the farm was perfect. It was just starting to warm up, but it was breezy so no one got overly hot.

The kids in our group ranged from a baby to a few first graders. Isaac was one of three 1-year-olds in the group. While the other two toddlers seemed content in their strollers, Isaac insisted on not being constrained. 

So I plopped him among some daisies and he ate his fill of strawberries (the first one I didn't realize he had grabbed, and after that he went to town on the sweet berries).

Jack was a really good picker. He was so proud of himself to filling up his basket to overflowing – without any help. 

After we all had enough berries to take home, we paid for our fruit and then set up blankets for a picnic. It was such a pretty day. 

The moms visited while the older kids played games. Jack was excited to learn how to play Red Rover.

Strawberry picking was such a fun activity and Jack seems to be at an age where he really likes to participate in activities, so this was right up his alley. We will have to plan to go again next year. I had two very tired little boys when I left the farm.

Play Dates

 Chattanooga Zoo

Since school has started up, I feel like we are busier than ever. Jack is learning so much already (at home and at school). 

 Creative Discovery Musuem

He is figuring out the days of the week and knows that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday are school days. He has also learned how to count to 100 (we practice in the car, I just have to help with the 10s). 

 Chester Frost Lake

On top of learning, we are also making an effort to do fun things on Mondays and Fridays with friends who don't necessarily go to preschool with us.

The Pumpkin Patch

Play dates in September included swimming at Chester Frost lake, visits to the Creative Discovery Museum, the zoo and the aquarium. 

 Hidden Hills Farm Tractor Day

We also went to a local farm day, took a family bike ride and are always ready to hit up our local parks (The Pumpkin Patch on Signal Mountain is our favorite, though having a park right across the street from us is pretty sweet, too).

Chattanooga Aquarium 

Jack recently convinced Daniel that they should take his powerwheels car and our four wheeler to the park across the street so that they could "play tag." This involves chasing each other with the vehicles. The goal is to get close and yell "you're it" and then the other person becomes the chaser.

Neighborhood Bike Ride

Isaac also got his first, brief, ride on the four wheeler. As usual, he could care less and was content to just hang out (even though the four wheeler is loud).

 Tag, you're it.

Another new game that is a favorite at our house is walkie talkies. We had a set from years ago and Daniel busted them out and recently showed Jack how they work. We play a form of hide-and-seek in the house that involves Jack hiding and us guessing where he is over the walkie talkies. I actually love this game because I don't have to physically go look for him. Also it is fun to give him orders over the walkie talkies and he tries to do the things we say.

This week is Jack's Fall Break and while I had dreams of doing a lot of outdoor activities, the weather has not been cooperating. Instead we are enjoying having Daniel at home and getting some things accomplished around the house.

Chattanooga Aquarium Play Date

Now that school is in full swing (Tues - Thurs), we have been making an effort to have a friend day on Mondays and Fridays (sometimes this just means going to hang out at the Y, sometimes it means doing an activity, sometimes we do both).

On Monday we met up with some friends at the Chattanooga Aquarium. We had 8 kids with us, so we worked on a buddy system to keep track of the kids. They all did great. It didn't hurt that it was the middle of the week and not busy.

The oldest boy in our group, Patrick, buddied up with Jack. This worked well (for the most part). Jack kind of likes to do his own thing, but he also really likes hanging out with our friends' older boys.

We only had time for one building, but we did catch the divers in the big tank. I think all of the kids with us were brave and each asked a question.

 

We had such a fun time, even if we only had 1.5 hours to play.

If you haven't been to the Chattanooga Aquarium, I would definitely recommend it. We have a family pass this year and try to take advantage of it when we can.

Hidden Hills Farm Tractor Play Day

Today marked our second visit to the Hidden Hills Farm and Saddle Club for a play day. It's hard to believe that Isaac was only a month old for our first visit! Thankfully Daniel was off of work today (after working the last 10 days with only one day off) and we were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather and a farm full of tractors to play on.

This play day was made for Jack and Daniel. They were in a truck heaven. Hopefully in a couple of years, Isaac will be enjoying this experience just as much.

There was a skid steer that Jack got to drive (and then ride in the bucket of).

There were tractors to sit on and play with all of the controls (and Daniel gladly patiently answered every question Jack had about every lever and button in every tractor).

There was a backhoe to operate (Daniel was in his mid-twenties before he got to use a backhoe, and may have been a teeny bit jealous).

There was a bucket on the backhoe to ride up in the air in (you just had to trust the operator working the bucket).

There was a Kubota utility vehicle to drive in the back field. Jack had fun steering it any way but in a straight line.

 

 

And of course, there were horse rides again.

This was little boy heaven (and I have two little boys and one big one if you count Daniel).

The Cow Milking day that we attended in May was a fun event, but the Tractor Day is going on our calendars as a family day for the future.

If you missed this week's Tractor Day, they are having another one next Thursday, Sept. 24. The cost to visit the farm is $10 for your first child and $5 for subsequent kids (babies are free). Tractor Day is definitely worth the visit. We had a wonderful time!

Jack gets to help drive a skid steer, then take a ride in the bucket.

Jack and Mommy ride in the Backhoe bucket.


Jack and Daddy play with the dump truck, while Isaac gets up close and personal with the skid steer and Mommy almost has a heart attack.