The Rock Ranch

After a few years of waiting until the kids were big enough, we finally got a chance to go to The Rock Ranch with Grandpa Jim, Amy (sister), Tim (bro-in-law), and Matthan (nephew). Wide open spaces, beautiful weather, a corn box, a giant slide, a huge jumping pillow, a kid-sized town, pumpkins being shot hundreds of feet...what more could this mom my kids want? Davey wasn't able to come because he was recovering from a root canal re-treat (read: getting a SECOND root canal because the first was done incorrectly). Yikes. Another story for another day, but praise the Lord it's getting better now.

To start our day we rode in a huge covered wagon behind a tractor. I love the variety of expressions in this photo. And yes, that's Maddox under "Miney Stripes."

The Corn Box!

Matthan was cracking up with all the action going on around him.

She couldn't get enough of the Corn Box

Somersaults

Maddox spent...oh, 5 seconds in the Corn Box and wanted OUT. Tricycles and time with Grandpa were much better.

Thanks to having a big sister, he loves all things pink!

Definitely one of our favorite things was the giant Jumping Pillow. What is this, one might ask? A giant air-filled trampoline that looks like a pillow. They gave us 10 minute turns and it was a blast. I'm sure my sister will love me for posting this video. (wink) I am proud to say that we two moms can still have fun and survive.



On to the tunnel slide. It is a rather long slide that goes through a hill. Maddox and Lailey both enjoyed riding with us and alone. This is my favorite video from the day!



"More Chicken!" Grandpa had been sharing his chicken fingers with Maddox prior to sliding. Food is always on his brain.

Pumpkin canon!

So big.

Lailey with her pumpkin

Uh oh, don't tell Lailey, but I have her pumpkin!! (thanks, Amy, for this adorable picture!)

I couldn't find any food info on the website and I decided to be all prepared (I'm not always) and actually packed a good lunch the night before we left, thinking we'd have a nice picnic lunch...until we got to the entrance and it said no coolers. Dun dun dun. Well, we had to head back out by riding on the wagon again, walking to the car, eating our lunch in the grass, and then heading back. I wish I had gotten a picture, but my kids ate in the huge trunk of my car. I think there are still some pretzel pieces back there.

After lunch it was on to Tiny Town, our last activity before the kids officially expired.

Lailey and the talking chickens. You press the button and they tell jokes.
"Knock knock." 
"Who's there?"
"Cows."
"Cows who?
"No no, owls who, and cows moo."
Gets me every time!

One of the many miniature buildings in Tiny Town. Don't beat a dead horse, Maddox.

He loved being a fireman.

Uh oh! Someone stuck Mommy in jail.

Not anymore!

Pitiful. (Again, thanks, Amy, for the great pic!)

She was beating her pretend gavel, saying "Order!"
She has since told me she wants to be a judge (her 3rd job choice, after veterinarian and photographer).
"Why?" I asked. "Because they have a cool hammer." True story. 

The Tiny Chapel

Preach it, Lailey.

Snuggling on the way back to the car.

(Taken by Amy)

Thanks again, Grandpa Jim, for the wonderful day of memories!