Chaperoning a Field Trip

This past week Calder had his very first 1st grade field trip. They (along will all 5 other 1st grade classes from our school) went to Lee Farms to visit the animals and the pumpkin patch. I was able to chaperon (and ride the Bus.....wooo whooo!!) with Kaelan in tow. I did have triple duty though, because I was also supposed to be the official photographer of this trip (for the yearbook) for our class, be in charge of three little boys that all wanted to go different directions (and don't seem to remember their own names when you call them), and keep Kaelan (the 4th little boy) from running off or throwing rocks at people (he loves rocks and seems to think that people would really love it if he threw the rocks at them). It was really crazy, but fun. Calder LOVED having Kaelan and I along. I was Calder, Steele (Calder's best bud), and Ethan's chaperon.

At first everything was great, (other than having to look 5 ways at once), but then Kaelan really got into doing his own thing and I had to keep an eye on him constantly. Finally, Mrs. Lang, Calder's teacher, asked if she could hold Kaelan so that I could photograph more easily. She has an 18 month old baby boy name Kai and she says that Kaelan looks just like him. Kaelan loved her, so they both had a good time.

One of Kaelan's (and Calder's) favorite things at the Farm......PUPPIES!!!
They were so cute!! It really made me want to get one.

This was really neat. It is hard to see, but this enclosure was for bunnies, it was all fenced in and riddled with burrows. It was so cool to see them popping up from them. I have never seen that before.

Every animal we saw had a lunch made up of corn stalks. They were all going to town on them, so they must be tasty.

I think that the kids were most fascinated by the Turkeys. They were so huge and aggressive, puffing up their feathers and posturing at us.

Kaelan was amazed by these birds, but he didn't dare get too close.

The birds are facing off the kids in this picture, puffing up their feathers! So funny.

The nicest, most calm horses I have ever seen. These kids were screaming and jumping and grabbing at them and they didn't shy once.

Calder, helping mom out. See the rock in Kaelan's hand? Yes, he was throwing rocks at the kids.

These painted hay bails were all over the farm. The boys were always trying to climb on top and the girls were always exclaiming "oh how cute!"

This sign didn't really work for our kids, we still had to tell them!

Baby chicks! The kids were told they could only pet them with two fingers, but some of the girls couldn't resist trying to catch one.

Kaelan was pretty impressed with the Apple Cider mill. He watched the whole process and them asked "eeees" (please) to have a drink of it. We all got to try some, yum!!

Steele and Calder (trying to do tough guy poses, and failing miserably .... they are just too cute!)

A type of pumpkin they grow, it looks warty. Yuck. He showed the kids 5-6 different types they were pretty amazed that there was more the one type of pumpkin.

Kaelan and his buddy, Mrs. Lang

Who can resist this cute little pink bottomed piglet?! (well, the kids did, they all thought he was gross, poor piglet..... he is so cute!!)

Kaelan looking on at his treasure field of rocks, so many to choose from, so little time.

All the little girls loved Kaelan and wanted to help out, I had to keep saying "Don't grab him by the hood, that will choke him!"

The proud big brother, playing with his baby!

Calder and Ethan trying to "help" me out with Kaelan.

Kaelan loved picking pumpkins, he kept bringing one after the next, and then promptly switched to kicking them around the patch, like a soccer ball!

At one point, one of the little girls fell down and hurt her knee, Kaelan was so concerned for her. This is him, looking on at the girl crying. He was so worried, it was really cute.

Apparently, cats really like to eat rotting pumpkin. Who knew?!

The final attraction.... a hay ride.

After the hay ride we all ate lunch and then hopped back on the bus. Ethan, Calder and Steele were very tired. Right here, Calder is giving me the "look" that says "I am feeling put upon because you wouldn't let Kaelan sit with us boys!"

Kaelan on his first school bus ride (well, actually second since this is on the way home!!) Some one needs a nap.................... Mom!