First Farm Fun

Last weekend, we decided it was time for Mary to visit the farm.  We've been sticking mighty close to the house since coming home on July 4, so ALL of us were itching to get out of town..... and Shady Lane Farm is the perfect place to go for some family fun and relaxation!

On Friday afternoon, we checked the boys out of school a bit early, picked up Dad at his office in Birmingham, and drove to Guntersville!  Mary did GREAT on the drive.  We pulled up to Mudger and NightNight waiting for us on the front porch and a big meal cooking on the stove.  Just right.....

This was Mary's first time to spend the night away from our house and she did AWESOME.  She made herself right at home, stuck to her usual schedule, slept well, and had SO much fun seeing everyone.  I told myself that I would get tons of pictures, but just doing NOTHING took over...... that seems to happen a lot at the farm..... time just seems to slow down and you kinda get lost in just sitting..... so nice.

Mary, of course, was her usual busy self.  Between emptying the ice out of the rolling cooler, stacking the red solo cups, playing with the toys from when I was little, visiting extended family, and playing outside, she didn't have a minute's rest.  Then throw in the pre-birthday birthday party that we had and, well, she had herself a mighty fine time!

Course, I did get a FEW pictures.......

We hadn't been there two minutes before Mary had Night Night down in the floor playing with her.  I spent HOURS upon HOURS of my childhood playing with these toys..... and Mary loves them, too!

Are you serious?  We get to come here any time we want?  

Just taking a walk past the barn.....

Which one of these rocks should I throw first??

See ya, Dad.  I see my Night Night up ahead.

Mary discovered Night Night's stash of golf balls in the mule.  The farm borders a local golf course and, lucky for us, some of the golfers aren't very good.  They FREQUENTLY hit their golf balls over the fence into the field on the back of the farm.  So, one of the fun things that we ALL love to do at the farm is ride over to the back and look for golf balls.  It's like hunting for Easter eggs all year long!  And after a holiday or a beautiful weekend, you can find LOTS!  When we pick them up, we put them in this little "glove compartment"..... then Night Night stores them in 10 gallon buckets in his garage.  He has MILLIONS, we think.  We didn't have time to take Mary on her first golf ball hunt this weekend, but over Thanksgiving, it will be one of the highlights, I'm sure!

She's gonna be a GREAT driver.  

It got COLD, so we had to put on our hat.  Uh, Mom.... do I look funny?

We went up the road and visited with both of my aunts.... Night Night's sisters.... Aunt Pat and Aunt Sis and my Uncle Billy. They are a hoot and they were so happy to see Mary.  I'm reminded in moments like this that Mary didn't just join our immediate family - she joined a BIG ole family! Between the Powells and the Ryans and the Durens, there's LOTS of love and laughter.....and she fits right in!  

A Mary sandwich! Gonna need a TINY helmet for this one.....

Woman, are you STILL taking pictures of me?

Well, okay.... go ahead!!!

Having a little croissant on the porch while I talk to Mudger.

Meeting Belle for the first time..... 

That hair is killing me..... it's gonna get ROUGH before it gets better.  But who cares?!  I'm in my Roll Tide cheerleader uniform and I'm on my Daddy's shoulders.  Life is good!

One VERY exciting event this weekend was Cousin Will's new car!  He turns 16 on October 30, and on Saturday, HE GOT A CAR!  We were all THRILLED for him..... and now Jack is starting to think about what kind of car HE wants.  I begin to feel sick at my stomach when I think about THAT, so he's not really allowed to talk to me about it.  When did these boys grow up?  

Hey, Will... you gonna give me a ride in this thing or what?

Three amigos.

Mary had her pre-birthday birthday party at the farm.  As soon as Mudger set the cake down and we started singing Happy Birthday, she started running her finger through the icing!

Within seconds, there was the most precious little finger line running through that side of the cake.... and Mary had pink fingers, lips, and tongue.... she like the cake.  (By the way, that's not a #8 candle.... it's a 2.... but, as EVERY boy in the house pointed out, it looks like an 8 from behind.  But it's not.  It's a 2.  Cause she's 2.  "Mom, why are y'all putting an 8 candle on the cake?"  Duh, people.)

Max stepped right in to help Mary unwrap her presents.  Not sure if he was just trying to be nice or if it's that he just REALLY likes unwrapping presents.  Here is her Minnie Mouse magnetic dress up wooden thingie.... you can dress Minnie up to look like any of the princesses!!!

This picture is my favorite thing on the planet Earth.

There's ANOTHER one?  Birthdays are GREAT!

In this picture, please note Cousin Josh.  He ADORES Mary..... see him just staring at her?  Yep.  That's what he does.  Just watches her.... all the time.  You reckon this child could possibly be more loved?  Precious.

On Sunday, we went to church in Cullman with the cousins.  Mary spent some quality time with Aunt Paige..... you know.... doing some paperwork.

THIS is what one looks like when they discover that WATER COMES OUT when you push that button on the front of this big silver thing!  

All FIVE Ryan grandkids.  All unique.  All awesome.  All VERY loved.

Woo Hoo for a GREAT weekend at Shady Lane Farm!!