Baby Animal Days

April 21 - The kids and I took a trip to the American West Heritage Center to see the Baby Animal Days.  We had planned for it to be a family trip, but we started on the garage and didn't quite have it done, so Daddy stayed home to finish it.  I really wanted to take the kids for one last fun activity before we had the new baby.  We missed the big weekend for Baby Animal Days that we usually go to, so we went for Farm Baby Animal Days, which is almost the same but without all the vendors and the bears and a few other things.  It was SO nice!  We were some of the only people there and the weather was great!  We were able to do everything in just a little over an hour and the kids got to spend much more time holding animals!  We loved it!  Logan wanted a picture with EVERy single duck and chick and asked me if I would PLEASE develop them.  I think he said that because I'm not too great at printing pictures...  He was so funny about it!  

 

Our first stop was the chicks and ducks.  How sweet is this???

 

 

 They loved holding all the chicks and ducks.  The volunteer who was there helping was a little bit protective of the animals so sometimes she didn't let the kids hold them as long as they liked. 

Avery was really nervous at first, but she finally got to hold one (when the volunteer wasn't watching too close...she didn't want to let her hold it) and she did great! 

Logan is such a sweet little boy and he LOVES animals!  He talked to them so cute and loved how soft they were.  He could have held something all day. 

Next, we went to hold the bunnies! 

Logan

Rylee

Avery

The bunnies made the kids a little more nervous because they were a little jumpy and also had long nails that scratched them!  They did pretty good though and Avery even got brave enough to try it after a few minutes!  They spent most of the rest of the day begging for a pet bunny...

I love Logan's face in this one...

Sweet Miss Avery.

She looked so sweet holding the bunny!

Then it was off to the petting zoo area where they could pet sheep, goats and even a donkey and cow!   The kids loved the tiny goats but were a little freaked out by the donkey that kicked the soccer ball around. 

Avery wasn't sure if she should get too close...  She would pet the animals with one finger from an arm's length away.  I don't think she was too sure about the whole thing...

Avery would NOT get closer than this! 

They wanted to feed all the goats and Avery thought the poop was food and was picking it up and trying to feed them with it....  Gross!

This tiny little goat was a favorite for my kids.  The poor thing got chased around a lot!  Avery was starting to get over her fear by this point, and it helped that this guy was a little smaller.  I think she is trying to pick him up. 

After the petting zoo, it was time for one of our FAVORITE things!  Pony rides!!!  Little Avery was SO excited!   The best part was there was no line!  Logan and Rylee even got to ride twice.  Avery had such a fun time!  She loves horses.

Our little rodeo queen practicing her wave... 

Finally, Avery's turn!  There weren't enough ponies for her to ride the first time so she had to wait.  And, then we were the only people there, so they let Logan and Rylee ride again.  Avery loved putting on her helmet and was so excited to ride!  I love her faces while she goes around! 

After the pony rides, there was only about 15 minutes before closing, so I let the kids pick one last thing to do.  They were a little bummed the train wasn't running, so they decided they wanted to hold the chicks and ducks again.  The volunteer wasn't there this time, and neither was anyone else, so it was just us and the kids picked up one duck and chick after another.  I am pretty sure they each held every duck and chick they had. 

Logan asked for a picture with EVERY duck and chick he held and they turned out better than pics of him ever do so I had to include lots of them.  He had so much fun and was so sweet and gentle with them.

 

 

Avery even got really brave and was just picking them up by herself.  It maybe wasn't so great for the ducks and chicks...

This was their favorite duck - He was a little guy with a mohawk and they thought he was so funny! 

 Rylee was sort of the expert on the ducks and chicks.  They had held them in her preschool class, so she was usually the one to pick them up for everyone else and catch them.  She isn't afraid of anything!

Time to head home!  I think they would have stayed and held those cute little animals all day if the park wouldn't have been closing.  Mom was pretty much done by then, too.  It was a pretty hot day with lots of walking and I was just days away from delivering!  All my crouching to take pics and walking and bending to hold animals caught up with me because I could barely move that night!  But, it was totally worth it!  We had a great day!  I love these sweet kids and was glad to have a fun outing with them before the baby comes and everything changes!