It has been some time since our last post, and here are some pictures of the festivals and fall fun that has been keeping us busy!
We took our second family trip to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Although Collin enjoyed the turkey drumsticks a lot, and took great interest in all of the loud and costumed Renaissance vendors, his heart belonged to the elephants! Both Doug and I got to take several turns riding the large elephants with Collin and that was the highlight of our trip too. Collin seemed to really enjoy it-not minding at all how high in the air you are or how "bumpy" the ride itself is. The only part he did not like was when it was time to leave!Daddy and Collin experiencing high adventure atop an elephant
We also took some time to visit my uncle, aunt and cousins from the Westphal side of the family (my maiden name). The Westphal's still live a small, family farm life-style, complete with chicken coops, cows, corn fields and huge tractors. Although this was not our first visit with this side of the family, it was the first time that Collin has really been mobile enough to enjoy himself and be interactive with his environment.
We took advantage of the "ultimate petting zoo" experience that only a 
family farm can provide. Our first adventure was to the chicken coop, where Collin was a bit taken aback by how LOUD those chickens really 
family farm can provide. Our first adventure was to the chicken coop, where Collin was a bit taken aback by how LOUD those chickens really 
were!
He fed and watered them, and
then it was time to collect the eggs of course!
Although not dropping the eggs into the bucket was a skill Collin has not yet mastered, some eggs were salvaged and we were given a few spares collected by the adults. We were able to take these eggs home with us for a genuinely "farm fresh" breakfast the next morning.
Next we ventured to the barn and pasture, where we met calves and cows and steers. 
Collin was a helper and fed the cows, taking an opportunity to pet them
as they ate fresh hay. We then went to see the bulk tank where the milk is collected before it is taken by the creamery and turned into the milk we buy at the store....and that Collin literally consumes by the gallon every few days. He is a HUGE milk drinker and now has gotten to see firsthand where it all comes from.
Collin was a helper and fed the cows, taking an opportunity to pet them
as they ate fresh hay. We then went to see the bulk tank where the milk is collected before it is taken by the creamery and turned into the milk we buy at the store....and that Collin literally consumes by the gallon every few days. He is a HUGE milk drinker and now has gotten to see firsthand where it all comes from. So, this is where milk comes from?!?
We also toured some of the crops raised on the farm, including a visit to the cornfield which feeds those cows and chickens. If the stalks are dried that same cornfield can make an awesome scarecrow too! Collin also picked his first apple, straight from the tree.
Checkin' out the crops...and meeting a new "friend"
For the grand finale, Collin got to experience some huge tractors and other farm equipment...I think the scale of everything surprised and delighted him. He has toy tractors and trucks, 
and 
to see them on such a large scale, where he could really drive them behind the wheel, must've seemed like something out of a dream. He enjoyed
and 
to see them on such a large scale, where he could really drive them behind the wheel, must've seemed like something out of a dream. He enjoyed Tough guy behind the wheel
showing off his driving skills, motor noises included. Like the good boy he is, he was
still always about safety first and demanded that the door to the tractor cabs were closed before he began to "drive" them.
showing off his driving skills, motor noises included. Like the good boy he is, he was
still always about safety first and demanded that the door to the tractor cabs were closed before he began to "drive" them.I grew up on a farm right across the road from this one, and Doug worked on family farms throughout his childhood. Although farm life is not for us, we strongly agree that the work ethic that comes from being a farm-raised child is important and want to instill that in Collin as much as possible. We also do not want to parent the type of child who grows up thinking that his apples and milk magically appear in the produce and dairy aisles at the grocery story! We hope to keep a good connection with the Westphal farm in the future and are grateful to have this opportunity!
Kiley Marie Bartsch
