Go to a 4th birthday party

Who wouldn’t go to a 4th birthday party at a farm when they are invited?  Certainly not me, especially as it was for my elder great-niece, J.  Even though it was the day after I returned from my holiday I wanted to be there – the washing and unpacking could easily wait!

The party was at Roves Farm which is sort of on the way to my niece’s, so I had to look it up and find my own way there.  In theory this was easy, in practice it is fairly remote and involves travelling through winding country lanes, over quite a lot of farm track (not made up, potholes….) and so I did wonder if I had got lost and missed a sign.  I hadn’t and got there OK – but before the rest of the family!

As people were arriving the children went to play in the play area:  ball pools, bouncy castle, toy tractors, climbing frame thing (including a “rabbit warren”, where one could climb around inside!), slides etc.  I could have gone on too, but one had to wear socks and no shoes and I had put on the shoes that didn’t need socks as the weather was warm.  Very disappointing!!!

After a while we were called together for the planned activities.  The man in charge knew J – they have been there quite a lot, I think – and soon knew me, too.  Whoops – drawing attention to myself again!  We started off by going to the barn where we could stroke and feed the animals.

J enjoying looking at some chicks
J enjoying looking at a gosling, I think.
Other great-niece (Nephew's child) with rabbit
Other great-niece, T, (nephew’s child) with rabbit
Great-nephew D not at all sure about the rabbit.......
Great-nephew D not at all sure about the rabbit…….
.......but he did stroke it in the end!
…….but he did stroke it in the end!

So after feeding goats and stroking rabbits and guinea pigs and chicks and a gosling and looking at the llama and the backside of a pony (it had deliberately turned its back to us) we all washed our hands and went to get into the trailer for the trailer ride.

Birthday girl and friends in the trailer.
Birthday girl and friends in the trailer.

The tractor pulled the trailer (a bit bumpy!) to the woods, where we got into groups and were given instructions and made “mouse houses”.

Great-nephew and friend making their "mouse house"
Great-nephew and friend making their “mouse house”
Younger great-niece with their house
Younger great-niece with their house
Birthday girl and friend with their house
Birthday girl and friend with their house

Do you note how much tidier the houses made by the girls were?!!

We then moved to a slightly different part of the woods where there were some corrugated sheets of iron placed down.  The man in charge lifted each in turn and we looked to see what was underneath.  Apart from various slugs….. there was a lizard under one and a vole, with its nest, under another.  The vole ran away fast – who can blame it with all those small children!  The sheets were put back down and we were careful not to tread on them.

It was then time for the trailer ride back to the main building where my niece and husband and his parents had put out the food.   The children sat down and ate and the adults sort of supervised and also ate, mostly standing up!  When the children had finished, they mostly went to play on the climbing equipment, again.

It was then time for CAKE – made by my niece’s husband.  (I gather one orders the top from the internet.)

Birthday cake with 4 candles.
Birthday cake with 4 candles – Princess Sofia is the “in” thing at the moment among small girls.

The cake was taken to the birthday girl and we all sang.

Birthday girl and cake
Birthday girl and cake

The candles were blown out (with a bit of help) and everyone had some cake, or it was wrapped up and added to the party bag.

The children continued to play and were gradually taken away by their parents and it was then time to go back to my niece’s house.  I followed my nephew as I was afraid of getting lost in the country lanes – there was a place to turn right I thought I might miss.  Hard finding somewhere to park with 6 family cars around!

The children played a bit and J opened some more presents – although some were saved for her actual birthday on the Wednesday.  D also had a few presents (as people are kind to big brothers) and as they were mostly Lego he was kept busy putting it together.

J with my present - lots of containers to put things in to carry round the house!
J with my present – lots of containers to put things in to carry round the house!  Also some new presents (Princess Sofia and friends) to put in them.

It was then time for a meal – again made by my niece’s husband.  Then it was time to go home……..

So did I have a good time?  Yes, absolutely.  Great fun.  I wonder what we did for my 4th birthday – not go to a farm, I am sure.  BIG THANKS due to my niece (who did really well, considering that she was not feeling too good) and her husband, who provided a great day.  I don’t suppose I will get to many more 4th birthday parties!

 

 

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