Alpaca Farm

 Lucy and Garrett are on spring break, to bad they all weren't on spring break at the same time.  It really threw my schedule off, it was hard to remember what was going on each day.  Nolan still had preschool while Lucy and Garrett were on spring break.  The weather was only going to be nice and sunny one of the days.  We decided that would be the day we would plan to go do something fun together.  Nolan was fine to miss preschool that afternoon so he could spend time with us.  I was trying to think of something fun to do that wouldn't cost to much but also be fun for the kids.  I didn't want them to have such a boring spring break.  We thought of the zoo but knew it would be busy, we thought of Big Joel's safari but they aren't open yet for the year.  I then remembered something posted on Nolan's preschool page.  They have been posting people's favorite things to do and there was an alpaca farm that I remember seeing and thinking sounded fun.  I looked up their website and knew we would love it.  It is someone's private family farm but he gives free tours of his farm.  I called that morning and asked if we could come and so we made plans to head over after lunch.  It really was his private property with animals not to far from his home.  It was so neat and the guy was so nice to give us a private tour of all the animals.  We started with the chickens, they have over 200 chickens there and they sell the eggs.  He said they have been very successful selling the eggs.  He taught the kids how to pick up and hold a chicken properly.  They loved that and all took a turn holding a chicken.  I even held one, he was a very friendly chicken that use to be a family pet.  The family could no longer have it so they gave it to him.  He showed us that the chickens only come in the chicken coupe to lay eggs.  Sure enough as we were there a chicken got down and we saw the freshly laid egg.  He picked it up and let us feel how it was still warm.  All the eggs looked different and it was so interesting to see them all.          

 

 He drove us around in his gold cart showing us the goats and the ducks and geese.  They have several goats that they breed and use the goat milk to make things.  They make soaps, lotions, Chapstick and body scrubs.  They also sell the duck and geese eggs, they have a baker drive up from Branson once a week to buy them.  We then went to see the female alpacas.  He told us how we needed to walk slowly around them so they don't get scared.  He told the kids to not stand behind them because they couldn't see them.  He also told us that they are very friendly and will most likely come up to you.  They seemed busy eating and not very interested in us.  He told us all about them and it was all so interesting.    

 We then headed to see the male alpacas, he told us they would be more friendly especially towards me and Lucy.  He said they love females.  He was right, as soon as they saw us they started walking towards us.  One went right up to Lucy and wanted his neck rubbed.  It was fun to interact with them more.  If you lean in real close and say "kisses" they will put their nose us to yours and give you kisses.  The kids really tried hard to get kisses from anyone that would get close to them.  I think we all got kisses from a few of them.  It was a really fun experience to be that close to them.  Their coats were long and he said they were most likely hot.  They were going to be shaved the following week.  

 We had the best time and loved it, we want to go back!  We went into their store to see what kinds of things they had made and what they were selling.  They had lots of alpaca yarn and other handmade things.  I wanted to buy something small since the tour was free.  I saw their soaps and they weren't to expensive.  They had a basket of soap butts, the scrap piece from the end of the soap block before they start cutting the bars of soap.  They were only $1 so I told the kids they could all pick one out.  They were all looking forward to a nice bath with their new soaps.  From there we went to Towne Park to play and have a snack.  It was such a beautiful day and I feel like we deserved it with all the cold weather we are still having.  I enjoyed sitting in the sun on a bench watching the kids play.  They could play for hours at that park.  It was the best day and the kids were so excited to tell JJ all about it.