Adventures of the M&Ms: Rochesterfest, Breakfast on the Farm and Meet the Vikings

Our good friends, Jen and Joel, and their adorable son Charlie came up to visit on Sat. and take in Breakfast on the Farm and the Meet the Vikings event. We were so glad they were able to come up for the day. Josh and I were a little in awe of them as they were able to get themselves and a 2 1/2 year old ready and on the road before 6:30 am so they could meet us for Breakfast on the Farm.

We had a great time. The pancakes are always really good, and it is always a treat to go through the line and have the pancake servers throw the pancakes at you! Yep, you are supposed to catch them. Of course, as you go through the line, you have to step around all of the "lost" pancakes that didn't make it onto a plate and are now ground covering. Aiden looked a little concerned as he watched me catch my pancakes. I could just imagine the thoughts going through his little head:
"Mommy says that you aren't supposed to throw food."
"That man is being naughty."
"Please don't throw them to me, I don't want to get into trouble!"
I am sure there were many other thoughts that went through his head, but I think that he felt relieved when the server simply placed the pancakes onto his plate! :)

After breakfast we told the kids we could go find some cows. So the three of them went running off in direction of the cows chanting, "MOOOO! MOOOOO! MOOOOO!" I think that the"Mooo" got so ingrained in Charlie's head that when we stopped first at the petting zoo area instead of seeing the cows and I asked him what a sheep says(we were looking at sheep), instead of saying, "Baaa." He said, "MOOO." :) It was very cute.

We finally got to see the cows and the milk room. Kiera obviously loves her milk because she immediately climbed up on the step by the milk tank and while bracing both hands on the tank, leaned in with her tongue out. I was sooo afraid she was going to lick the tank, but thankfully she did not!

It was such a fun day and we really enjoyed our company and being able to chat while the kids were napping. Unfortunately, the only picture we really have of the grown ups is the group one that we took before Jen, Joel, and Charlie left.

Kiera, Aiden and Charlie had lots of fun twirling around the tent pole at breakfast.

There they go!

How hard is it to corral three wiggly, excited kids and take their picture? I don't know how many butt pictures I took before all three of them were turned around and looking at the camera.

Finally, they all turned around. This was the best shot I got! :)

Kiera, the insistent climber, tried to climb up the gate and join the miniature horses as Charlie watches. She has no fear!

Look at those cows! They are really, really close, and my secret fear is that one will decide to poop or pee as one of my children ventures too close or as I trip or stumble as I am sometimes prone to do! :)

Charlie finally got up the nerve to pet the calf. He wasn't quite sure at first, but Joel talked him into it!

We had a nice surprise, as a airplane circled the farm and then parachuters jumped. This last parachuter has an American flag attached to his foot as he floats down.

Tractors, tractors and more tractors! Always a big hit at the farm!

Kiera loved the tractors too!

Aiden and Kiera driving the tractor.

VROOOOM!!!!!!

BEEP, BEEP!

Kiera and Aiden decided to take a break in the wheel of the tractor.

The big Vikings football player. Josh and Joel and the kids are standing under him.

This is a big Vikings helmet that the kids went inside and jumped in. There is a time limit for how long you can be in and Kiera had a complete meltdown when her time was up. She LOVED jumping!