Emerald Insects

A couple months ago, we were visiting Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point.  Jeremy was in the gift shop looking at things when he saw that they had seasoned bugs and chocolate covered insects.  When we got home we looked on the calendar and saw that National Chocolate Covered Insect Day was October 14.  I was hesitant at first (even though the kids sounded enthusiastic), but Jeremy convinced me that we should eat real chocolate covered insects for the holiday, not like the fake insects we ate a couple years ago.
So today was the day.  This afternoon we headed to Farm Country.  When we bought our chocolate covered insects, we were able to inform the cashier of the holiday.  He thought it was great and decided to get himself a box of them to eat in front of his wife later, maybe gross her out.  It's always nice when you're able to help others find reasons to celebrate.
Since there were only 4 bugs in the package, Jr. and Jeremy split a regular chocolate covered meal worm, Nichole ate a white chocolate covered meal worm, Jr. Jr. ate a white chocolate covered cricket, and I ate a regular chocolate covered cricket (that's the one I really wanted).

And yes, we actually all ate them.  If you don't think about it, then it just tastes like a chocolate covered cracker.  I chose to think about it, though.  Which meant that after swallowing, I could still feel the little gritty leftover bug bits that were still there and stayed there for a while.  It's not really gross.  I would do it again to celebrate the holiday.

That wasn't the only way we were able to celebrate at Farm Country, though.  Since this year is the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Farm Country is doing a Wizard of Oz theme during the month of October (and Cornbelly's across the street has a Wizard of Oz themed corn maze this year).  They had decorations up around the whole place. 

The kids got to dress up in costumes for pictures. 

We followed the yellow brick road to the emerald city where the kids got to ride the horses, some of them with bright colors in their manes.  "Now that's a horse of a different color." 

We also went on a carriage ride, just our family

and played a little in Munchkinland.

It was nice.

We were also at Farm Country in time for milking the cow so Nichole and Jr. each took a turn again.  We didn't get the greatest pictures of that, but you've seen it before.
We had fun celebrating today. 
I wonder if anyone else I know ate any chocolate covered insects.

How about a game and a movie?

The other day, the kids reminded me of yet another place in our apartment that needs to be organized. We have a bunch of board games and miscellaneous toys in a cupboard under our bookcase. I really need to go through and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. They are often forgotten because they are hiding in that cupboard (out of sight, out of mind). Since the living room was clean (thanks to super helper, Jr.), the kids decided to get into the cupboard and start playing with the things in there. And yes, everything did get put back. Yay, kids.

Anway, this playing led to the kids and I playing a board game that I've had for years (but haven't played for years). It was a Wizard of Oz trivia board game. It was simple enough Jr. and Nichole were able to play it with me. They did pretty well guessing things (and knowing some, too) about the movie and story. Now for those of you who knew me in high school, it wouldn't surprise you to know that I have quite a few Wizard of Oz items around. So it was a good game (we all finished a little after each other).

That evening, I let the kids watch the movie. They had been good that day, so I was happy to let them watch it.

Good bonding time with the kids.