Rees' Fruit Farm

The last few days have been fun yet definitely back-breaking...quite literally. I'm so mad at myself for hurting my back. I either hurt it moving heavy boxes to the new house by myself, OR the daily grind with lifting and manipulating Jocelyn with her therapies, and her every day life, is already taking its toll on my body. I pray I just strained a muscle and nothing else is wrong, but I've been taking medicine, stretching and a wide variety of non-pharmacological treatments with no real relief. :s

But the fun stuff? Last week we went to Pet World here in Lawrence for the first time. Jocie LOVED the fish but literally nothing else! I have to admit, I'm not a fish aquarium type of person, but watching all the beautifully colored fish swimming around was pretty relaxing. I know your not suppose to tap the glass, but if Jocelyn wants to engage in something, I'll just about break any "rule." We had a bird jump on my shoulder and attempt to eat my flesh which made us both freak out!! Then a random customer thought she'd be "helpful" and try to show Jocelyn the hamsters, chinchillas, rabbits and every other creepy animal in that place. She was a super sweet gal that was oozing over Jocelyn (it truly was very sweet) but BOTH of us wanted her to quit bringing anything fury and moving in our vicinity!!! I really do love animals but perhaps I'm more of a domestic animal lover?? But, I'm glad we went to Pet World when we did because only days later an elderly woman mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the break when trying to park, and crashed right into the front of the store where they keep all the animals. That would've scared the holy hell out of me, not to mention Jocelyn would've NEVER allowed me to take her to another pet store, or any store, ever again! :P

We also checkout the Lawrence library storytime for toddlers and the topic was all about Wolves. There were so many children there and that was a pleasant surprise. Everyone really seemed to enjoy the stories, but Jocelyn didn't show much interest though. In either case, it was good for her to be out, around a large group, hear all the voices/noises and hear someone else reading a book. Jocelyn does a lot of head turning and that kept catching some of the kids' eyes, but they were simply inquisitive. The adults were a totally different story but I don't really feel up for discussing that right now.

On Saturday, Jocelyn and I went to a place right outside of Topeka called Rees' Fruit Farm with some of our good friends.


{Inside the store with my friends Cherry & Ashley, and all of Jocie's little buddies}

The farm wasn't quite what any of us thought, but it was still a good little outing. As luck would have it, they had "musical instruments" for us to play with! :D

This place truly makes the best apple cider I've ever had (just the juice from the apples and nothing else). On the weekends they make slushies and soft serve ice-cream with their homemade cider that is suppose to be fabulous! I had all intentions of trying both of them but I didn't, and I'm not quite sure how that happened? :P

Also, to our surprise, someone had dropped off kittens that morning at the farms front door. The ladies in the store were trying like mad to get us to take some home with us. I LOOOOVE cats and still hate that I had to give our cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, away over 2 years ago. He was such a loving cat but he sort-of-kinda had a peeing/spraying problem that did NOT fly with the hubby. If I would've brought a kitten home, then I probably wouldn't be writing about it right now hahaha. It was fun to watch the kids play with them (ok, ok...I probably played the most), but the one that HATED them? ding, ding, ding...you guessed it, JOCELYN! :s

{Jocie smiling made me giggle...but...}

{Her enthusiasm lasted literally seconds hahaha}

{Grady loved the kittens though}



We finished up our trip to the farm with a short stroll outside (it was H-O-T!!!), and then all headed home for some lunch. When Jocie and I got home, daddy called to say he was officially finished with AT (ie annual training) and ready to come home! Woohoo!!! So, now its time to get moved into our new house and really get to crackin' on some summer fun! ;)