Fosterfields Living Historical Farm ... and Morristown

During a beautiful Saturday in late April we paid a long-overdue visit to Morristown, NJ, to see Breanna and Brian. But despite the city's charming historical district and bevy of hip restaurants, we knew the kids would need more action. So we included a trip to Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, which is a turn of the century farm where visitors can experience, according to the website, 'not just a re-enactment but a true working farm where baby animals are born in the spring, honey comes from beehives and activities like wagon rides, quilting and open-hearth cooking can be experienced firsthand.'

Pictures of downtown Morristown can most likely be found via a google search. So here are non-google-able photos of some cute kids at Fosterfields.

Trying to feed chickens, but really just feeding a bossy, chubby turkey

Physically hard work does not suit this child

Realizing that she should be thankful for electricity

Helping grownups with their crafts

Realizing how awesome doing laundry used to be

This is when she made me realize that she could be more helpful at home

Playing a game called throw the old corn with the dirty feather into the rusty bucket. It's a classic.

*Henry crack corn and dad's losing hair*

Trying to high-five the fat turkey

Showing H how awesome laundry was

Not giving H a chance at the laundry because it's SO AWESOME

H finally gets his chance... and ....

Meh

But the physics behind tension on the other hand ... 

... are fascinating 

Putting all our eggs in one basket

Woody the cow being thankful she's not real

Feeling the traction on the ex-tractor 

May Cookie of the Month: ANZAC Biscuits

The May cookie of the month was the ANZAC Biscuit, popular in New Zealand and Australia, particularly around ANZAC Day in late April.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. During WWI, the women on the homefront sent to their Anzacs soldiers simple cookies that were made to endure a long journey across the sea. No eggs were used as most poultry farmers had joined the war effort. Plus, the lack of eggs meant the cookies would keep longer.

Today, the Anzac biscuit remains a very popular treat in Australia and New Zealand. They are made using rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut, sugar, butter, baking soda, boiling water, and an ingredient known as golden syrup, which is a pale treacle. We used Lyle’s Golden Syrup, which in 2006 was declared by the Guinness World Records to be Britain's oldest brand. 

Treacle, by the way, is made from the syrup that remains after sugar is refined. It's not the tastiest sweetener in the world, but the kids didn't seem to mind.

Hall of Science

Last Sunday was a beautiful day to be outside. But since it was the last weekend day we had to use a coupon we purchased for the NYC Hall of Science, we spent the day inside exploring the mysteries of elementary school level science. Other than the dissection of the cow's eye (yes, seriously) this is about as much science as our kids could tolerate.

The Princess and the Prism

She's blinding him with science

Kate was attacked by a mirror during her daily jumping jack routine

H is not enthused (he said it was just his mere image)

E is a little more enthused (this is *reflective* of her personality)

None of these perspective shots came our particularly well ... so you get to see them all!

Why I was never good at the limbo

There's actually no mirror here

Kate's fast ball is faster when she's wearing her purse

Maybe mom shouldn't be showing H how to throw ...

It's a good thing she's in a cage

According to H, this was the most fun area of the whole place

Twins!