Especially with good friends like Tara and Lucas. They drove to our house on Monday to make a stop on their way to their summer stay at Papa Steve's in New York. We had a nice dinner of blender salsa, Greek pasta salad, and Tuscan chicken kabobs. I guess I was feeling multicultural while planning the meal. Of course all the while we are watching the kids play. Lucas is still very much into trains and wanted to play down stairs. Which is fine other than we wanted to be upstairs. We brought a basket of tracks and trains to the living room and that worked out really well for the whole visit. The boys were in and then they were out and in again. We tried to have an adult beverage on the deck but the call of the pool was strong. Around 8:45 we went swimming. It was not really very dark when we went in but the flash of on the camera made the back ground appear dark. It was dark when we got out about 45 minutes later though. I brought out our LED balls for some night time fun. We have not had them in the pool since last year when Molly was over and we went for a swim.
Lucas jumped in, climbed out and jumped in again, and over and over. He was really good about going under the water when he jumped, much more that Baylor does
Baylor was funny showing Tara his swimming skills. And he took several jumps himself.
Two happy boys!
Lucas is a good sleeper and went to bed in the guest room while Baylor crashed on the couch with us. Tara and I talked a while watching TV and going through a bin of size four clothes. We stayed up much later than I usually do but it was a very nice visit.
Tuesday morning started nice and slow. The coffee was really good and Baylor requested cinnamon roll pancakes which Tara enjoyed. We eventually all were dressed and ready to head out to Columbia to visit the Turkey Hill Experience. It opened a few years ago and I have always wanted to go. When Tara suggested it I was totally game for it.
The boys were too on the go for us to be able to read much of anything. But we made them sit long enough for photos when we could.
The first area had an old milk delivery truck to play with. The horn worked and the pedals made noises. One mooed!
The two cows had gutters (as Baylor calls them now). You could milk them and water came out. It was pretty weird because they did not just fill up right away but I supposed filled slowly rather like a real cow gutter.
Tara took to the gutters like a milking pro. I never did ask where she learned her technique but I will have to remember to some day.
The tea room had push and smell boxes. The were not tall enough for strong enough to push and then smell but they did like the push part. We came and went in here when we were thirsty because you can sample any of their teas, lemonades and drinks they offer. I am going to make a suggestion that they get pour spouts for the pourers. She had to select from the cooler, uncap, pour, recap, put away over and over again. And he had her right hand in a cast!
The tea room had a little sitting nook with a movie loop on the history of tea. It was a nice place to rest while enjoying their wild berry cooler.
I am not sure when Baylor put his hand on Lucas' mouth but it made me laugh.
And then they found the ball pit. They were in there as often as we would let them. And most of the time they were the only two in there. Most parents hustled their kids out quickly to move on. Since we had time to kill before our 'Experience" we were OK with them playing. The pit itself was to demonstrate homogenization The pit was in the area where you can create your own ice cream flavor on a big touch screens and have it emailed to yourself. There was a stamp and smell station that you pressed an embosser that also dabbed a scent oil on the paper. They were flavoring oils like almond, peach, and mint. We took turns staying with the kids so one of us could wander around.
Baylor picked a tie dye shirt and was almost camouflaged in the pit.
Eventually we went through the tunnel to see how milk is pasteurized and then mixed in a huge vat with paddles to make chocolate milk that does not separate.
The blades were up in a silo like space and a turn wheel was at the base. The fast the wheel turned, the faster the blades turned. It was very breezy once they got going.
One side of the silo had a tube slide which is another little boy bit of heaven.
We found the paper hats and Baylor sported it for a time, until we went back to the ball pit at least.
While wandering around we took some photos.
Some more tea
Where Baylor was making the clouds rain with his fingers.
And some more coconut ice cream.
At 1:30 we went into the secret room for the 'Experience'. We waited in line to wash our hands before finding some seats.
The mix in wall had a lot of choices.
Each station had flavor oils and swirl ingredients.
Lucas was at his limit and took a nice break watching Thomas on the phone.
We were all given a container with some soft vanilla ice cream and the goal was to recreate the flavor you made out on the virtual screens or create a new one. Baylor added chocolate and apple oils and I chose chocolate and coffee.
And then we stirred them in. Baylor was nearing his end also so most of the stirring was done my me!
And then we went up for something to mix in. Baylor choose sprinkles and I had toffee chips and chocolate chips. Then we added swirl stuff. Baylor choose strawberry and marshmallow and I did fudge. They they took the containers, with our names on them, and put them in a freezer for 10 minutes while they talked to us to kill time.
Our hostess and ice cream guide. Once we were given our ice cream we could leave to enjoy our creation.
We decided we were done and made our way out. Baylor wanted his photo take in the ice cream container. I was taking the photo and turned to put the camera away when a woman told me she thought he was crying. When I was taking the photo from across the room I did not notice he was holding his mouth not to be silly but because he hit his chin our mouth getting in there.
Well that was the end of him. I pulled him out of there and carrier him to the elevator. There was no way I could carry him down the stairs. We made a bathroom break and when I said he could get a stuffed cow, the tears stopped rather suddenly. He does love his friends and finds great comfort in them. We piled in the car and headed home, full of ice cream and good memories! Tara and Lucas headed out as soon as the car was packed headed for NY. I hope next year we can make it a longer visit!
