Pumpkin Patch, Baby Gates and M&M's

Last weekend was busy. Gull Lake High School had their homecoming parade in Richland. We went to see the floats, band, and football players. They threw out candy and Sophie got to try her first sucker.
After visiting Gull Meadow farms with Lillie's Preschool class, we had to go back to pick out our pumpkins with Brian. Lillie and Sophie rode the apple train, bounced on the inflatable pillows, and went down the slides.
It was such a nice day, that we wore shorts to the pumpkin patch.

The next day, Lillie was invited to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. She had a great time playing the games with some of her preschool friends.

Lillie has learned how to count to 100, by tens and Sophie has learned how to open the baby gates. We left them up, so we can hear her go upstairs to play in the playroom. Sophie also went poopy on the potty chair last night. She got 3 M&M's. We now keep the M&M's in linen closet.

MSU - Kellogg Biological Station and School field trip

We have been enjoying the fall weather here in Michigan.
The Kellogg family was very charitable. When Mr Kellogg died he left some of his land to the Michigan State University. MSU does a lot of research at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) near us. It features, the Kellogg Manor, Bird Sanctuary, Research facilities and a Dairy Farm.
Two weeks ago, we went to a playgroup activity at the Dairy farm. The cows are milked by robotic machines. Each cow has an collar with an electronic identification chip. The computer knows exactly when the last time the cow was milked, how much the cow produced, and how much it weighed. If you come to visit, this is definitely a place we need to take you. The girls loved it and could have watched the cows being milked for hours.
Yesterday, KBS hosted an open house event. The Manor house, Bird Sanctuary, Dairy farm and Research buildings had special events and tours. Our first stop was the Manor house. I have never been there, but Brian has for several meetings and dinners. It is a big Tudor home and they offer tours and special events through out the year. Next, we went to the Dairy Farm to show Brian the milking process. We even got to see two 1 week old calves. After the Dairy Farm we went to one of the research facilities to learn about carbon footprints, living soil, and small creatures in the water. Last, we went to the Bird Sanctuary. We have a membership and we have visited many times, but we still love to visit. We like to feed the birds. Brian is hand feeding a trumpeter swan in the photo below. We saw ducks, geese, swans, hawks, owls, and pheasant. They also had face painting, information and learning tables. The bird sanctuary is also another place we need to take you when you come to visit.
Today, Lillie had her Jack and Jill Preschool field trip to Gull Meadow Farms. We started with a hay rack ride to apple orchard to pick apples. We got to eat an apple on the ride back. Then we got an apple doughnut and apple cider while they talked about pumpkins. Next, the kids identified the different plants in one of the greenhouses. Corn, Cotton, Peanuts, beans, peas, etc. Then the kids were able to slide down the big slides and pick out their own pumpkin to take home with them. Not bad for $5 a person.

Lillie is pictured in the photo below with her teacher, Mrs. Hoard, and her classmates.