Today was the very first field trip for the quads and I got to go WITH them!
After the last two weeks when I woke up at 6:00 and prepared to do the school runs in Quadville, I look at the clock with the understanding of just what is going on over there at that time. This morning Amber and I texted each other early on and all systems were go! Lunches and coolers were packs, kids up and dressed and they were just about to troop out through the kitchen to the garage and board the Quadmobile for the drive over here to pick me up and then we would head to the Pumpkin Patch and Petting Farm. It was the best of plans!
Alas, Harrison slipped in the kitchen, splitting his chin!
Kailey had done the same thing just a few months ago so Amber had to decide if it was bad enough to take him to the ER or should she simply band aid it?
After mush consultation, she picked me up and then stopped for some skin glue and butterfly bandages to keep the split closed. Poor Harrison! He has sure been skinned up lately!
Onward!!! Better late than never so we were on our way!!
The parking was a good ways from the farm but we trudged on - with Amber carrying most of the stuff!
We arrived at the Farm just in time for the class hay ride!
A quick pic before the tractor arrived back to unload!
We all tried our hand at milking the cow.
We chased chickens and turkeys!
All the animals were pretty and healthy!
We saw pig races and baby goats, miniature horses and donkeys....
goats, cows and all manner of farm critters!
Did I mention it was 90 degrees? IN the sun??
Lunch was in this sheltered pavilion and at the end, we had it all to ourselves.
As soon as we walked over there, laden with the pumpkins - one for each of us - AND the cooler AND the lunch bag - the kids ran into the clearing and with one mind and in one accord started carrying this long branch around. They would walk it in one direction, stop and count to 3 and then say, "DROP!" Then they would pick it up again and go off in a different direction to do the same thing. They are so good at entertaining themselves.
Lunch over, we had promised the kids they could play on the playground at the entrance - which was really part of Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie. The playground had been in the shade with a nice breeze blowing across it from the lake.....at least when we arrived that morning!
Another accident just as we had picked up and were walking away from the picnic tables.
This time it was Kailey!
She tripped on a concrete pad by the water fountain - while holding her pumpkin.
She felt flat out and what was worse - she fell right on the big pumpkin stem - which was right where her incision was from her open heart surgery.
My poor sweet daughter!! Amber was just about done in at this point but she continued to rally on - once she was assured Kailey was going to be okay.
However, after walking through the clearing to the playground, we took one look and changed our plans then and there.
#1 - it was totally in the hot sun!! No shade anywhere!
#2 - it was SWARMING and I mean literally SWARMING with kids!!!
Not wanting to risk yet another injury, Amber corraled them all back in the Quadmobile, assuring them we would go to another park! Somewhere shady and quiet.
The kids napped on our way - even through the stop for tea at a QT.
Ah......much better!!
Amber is a tower of strength and endurance!
She is in it for the long haul.
Me? I am a bit less so!
See those knees propped up here? That would be mine!
I was whipped!
I rested on the bench and looked up at the trees above me.
It would be so nice to have a few days of sweater weather before Christmas!
I detected a few leaves tinged with gold......
and I think there is a 'cold' front on the way tonight.
Which may or may not mean one single thing!
Our Kailey Girl was back to her sunny self and the day ended well!
Amber dropped me off at home and she continued on to Quadville.
I came in, changed into loose comfy clothes, drank a huge glass of iced water and went to bed!
As in lights out, room dark, A/C on and under the covers kind of bed!
I seriously thought of just staying there and I would have except for Louis Dean.
So I got up and we spent some time together.
What did Amber have planned for when she got home?
Let's see.....showers for everyone, lunches prepped for school, dinner for tonight, laundry, and more items on her to do list than you could shake a stick at!
My goodness gracious sakes alive!!!
It is a TON of work to have fun!!
However, she AND I would do it again in a heartbeat.
And once again, I am reminded of what an amazing daughter I have and am committed to praying for her every single day.
Linda, you make me feel so lazy. Today I did plant some seedlings (it's spring here) and then I watched that debate! Sigh. Here's to a better day tomorrow. Cheers
ReplyDeleteOh Linda... you are a trooper... I understand how tired you are:)!!
ReplyDeleteLove the pics, and wow, the Quads are so photogenic. Who wouldn't fall in love with them on sight? I imagine, at nearly 1:00 here in Virginia, you may be at least an hour or more "behind us' and I need to go to bed myself. I have PT tomorrow ---to try and get back some strength and work on my gait since I had the BIG blood clot in May! After surgery, they said they got 80% of it out of my leg. A part of it had already broken off and gone in my lung---but I'm not really worried. If I go to be with the Lord tonight--I'd be in such a wonderful place!! I just want to be able to enjoy this life I have, and to add some strength to these old muscles and joints! Gotta keep going!!;)
ReplyDeleteThose kids are going to have the best memories and never will they feel like they were 'too much work.' Your daughter and son in law are doing a great job and you and LD are such a big part of the team!
ReplyDeleteGood post and you were awesome today too! I wouldn't have survived intact without you there and it's more enjoyable too. Not many Meemaw's that can keep up like you do! You might feel down and out at the end of whatever adventure, field trip or day we had going on, but you never quit early and I can always count on you. You made that promise since probably the week we found out about me carrying four babies! Love you mom, and love that my kids know and adore you too.
ReplyDeleteHope that good recuperation is taking place for all. Life is filled with bumps and boo boos. It's enough to give a gal wrinkles, gray hair, and anxiety. Good thing that we have a mighty God Who stands in the gap for us. Wow! I am so impressed with the quads working together as a team that way. They are amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet comment from Amber above mine. Made my eyes water.
DeleteI feel for Amber. I know how busy I am with the grand and I can't imagine 4 of them to care for daily.
ReplyDeletethis is an outing I would love to go on. loved all that you saw. the dropping the limb is hilarious. and good that they can entertain themselves. glad the two accident quads survived and are good... Amber is a super mom and you are even more super at being grandmother.,.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason us older laddies do not have children, and this is it! You did GOOD, I would have pooped out long ago. Amber is SO beautiful, and such a great mother. You really do have a one-in-a-million daughter. My favorite here is the beautiful picture of you, Amber, and the Quads. Oh my, your posts do read rather like a suspense novel! What a day of accidents. SO glad they are all fine. Kailey's fall really did scare me...potentially much worse than Harrison. I think Harrison would have been much more hurt if he did not go! The tree limb story is really something else! ONE mind among them all! I think this counts as your exercise for the entire month!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I think all young mothers need our prayers. Your Amber is a dedicated mom to her family. The children are blessed to have all of you there for them. Poor kids...scraps, bumps, and bangs. I used to tease that my grands should wear helmets till they graduated H.S. I loved seeing all the animals at the zoo. Hope and pray Amber has some quiet days. Blessings to all of you, love you, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteI agree, your Amber is truly amazing and am sure she got if from you:)
ReplyDeleteOh, what fun :-) I miss doing things with little children. Your daughter is awesome!!!! the quads have great parents.
ReplyDeleteThat was a roller coaster of a day! And you got to go home early and take a nap! Blessings on your daughter.
ReplyDeleteShe does have a huge amount of strength - which is why it is so nice you guys gave her and her hubby a break to Hawaii, much needed, I am sure. Perhaps you should take a road trip to Canada - lots of sweater weather!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great team you and Amber were on this trip. I winced when I read about Harrison's chin, but gasped when I read about Kailey's fall, that must have been super-painful, on a still tender spot. Poor wee lamb. Amber is a wonderful mother, you must be so very proud of her x
ReplyDeleteAmber is, indeed, a miracle worker and such an incredible mom! You are an amazing tower of strength and energy. The quads are adorable and get cuter by the minute! Poor Harrison...little guy is a trooper. Scared the %@*^ out of me to read about Kailey's fall! So glad everyone made it through the day and is ok. I could NOT have done all that in the heat we had!
ReplyDeletexo
Pat
Wow I'm exhausted just reading this. Poor Harrison and Poor Kailey. you know that pumpkin stem had to hurt.
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