Emily's First Birthday

Emily is one year old! We had an awesome birthday for her!

6:30AM - Mom wakes up and looks at the clock disappointed it's not time to wake up yet...(when's the last time that happened?) She dozes for about an hour and receives a call from E.E. that Connor woke up with a nasty cough that could be an upper-respitory infection and unfortunately they will be spending the morning in a doctor's office. :(

8AM - Phone calls go out to the remaining party-goers that despite some shaky weather forecasts, we will be proceeding with our Cagle's Dairy plans.

9AM - Gran-Gran calls us to say Emily's getting birthday greetings over the radio. We tune into WBHF 1450AM Cartersville (Your dose of A & M in the AM) to hear Alan's wonderful birthday wishes that send us on our way. We meet up with the Browns outside the apartment complex and head out en caravan!


10AMish - We arrive at Cagle's Dairy Farm to some cloudy skies but surprisingly lots of farm goers. We purchase farm tour tix and take the kids to the Kiddy Corral for jumping bean fun on the bouncing pillows! John Allen and Emily are so adorable we have to take a little video:
(silent film)


We have some fun there then decide to start our tour! We go under the 'cow subway' to the farm portion across the road where they have the measuring stick. Emily takes to it for a few pictures but then decides that's enough.

First stop: Calf barn! We feed the calves cornstalk leaves. They're pretty vocal too moo'ing all over the place. One of the calves ignores us after he realizes we have no milk. Turns out calves drink one gallon of milk a day...in a bottle. Emily gets kinda upset about that part. She didn't get a bottle.

We take a few pictures among the pumpkins and hay in the barn.


Next up: Milking the Cows! We didn't actually milk the cow, but learn a bit from the presentation and watch how the milking machine works. Then they let us see how much pressure the cows were feeling on the milking machine. I'll just say: "Not me, buddy!"


Next stop: Processing line! She's pretty fascinated with the machinery. Thankfully she isn't scared by the noise. After that we experience the advertised "perk" of the farm tour...a free chocolate milk pint! It's definitely a perk! Yummy yummy yummy!


It's Hayride Time! Look at the silos, settling ponds, open air cow shed, commodity shed, and Grandpa Cagle's fresh garden. There's the farm's border collie giving a herding demonstration after which the cows and Tibbs (I think), come right up beside the wagon.



By this time we are all pretty tired. The hayride is nice and all, but we are winding down. A quick stop at the goat corral to feed the goats and the kids are still in the mood for a few pictures in the Pumpkin Patch. Courtesy of Mr. Jim and Ms. Gayle, Emily got to keep an Emily-sized pumpkin!

Here's a few of my favorites:




Want more? Check out all the photos from Emily's Birthday here.

Before we leave, Emily participates in a free drawing sponsored by Kicks 101 and racked up a chip clip and a sticker. We also open her present from John Allen who reportedly picked it out (including the color) himself. He also decorated the card.




1PM - We decide to lunch at Williams Bros. BBQ in Canton on our way home with the Browns and end up at home where we all crashed very quickly for a LOOOOONG nap!


8PMish - after dinner, mom decides it is time to make Emily's birthday cake and icing from scratch. Having never made one from scratch before, we didn't get to eat it until 9PM. Dad helps to blow out the candles and Emily rakes the cake to her mouth with both hands! Afterward she helps mom and dad enjoy some too.

Of course, Emily then it's a bath and opening her present from Gran-Gran right before bed. This new toy will definitely be going to Gran-Gran's house for all the beeping it does.


10:30PM - Finally after mom and dad realize that sugar before bed is a really bad idea...Emily is rocked to a quick sleep and put to bed after a long day of celebrations!

Happy Birthday Bundle!!!