My Little Farm Girl

Even though Marc and I aren't farmers ourselves, I LOVE that we live close enough for our kids to enjoy my Dad's farm.  Ever since Marleigh has been little she has gotten so much joy in riding in the trucks, combines, and tractors.

It is adorable to watch her "farming"  with her toy John Deere farm equipment.  Most of the time, she has her purse on her arm while farming or has her "pretties"  on.  At Gigi's she wears her "fancy shoes" (a bunch of toy dress up shoes)  and farms in her heels.  It is awesome that she already knows what many of the implements are!  :)

Marleigh keeps her own stash of Tractor House magazines and looks at them all the time.  Marc has taught her so much.  She'll tell you which is a four wheel drive, and that all the red ones are dirty! Ha!  Now, whenever she sees a red tractor, she says, "They should paint it green!" 

Marleigh has gotten into narrating as we drive in the country.  She will give you a play by play of the crops, animals, and equipment as we drive by.  Some of my favorites to hear her say are "alfalfa"  and "wheat stubble".  The other day, way off in the distance was a swather.  Just glancing, I thought it was a combine.  Not sure if she saw it, I said, "Marleigh, there's a combine way out there."  Marleigh was quick to correct me.  "It is a swather, Mommy." 

Out on my family farm, all the guys's personal pickups have beds with their fuel tanks, tool boxes, etc.  The pickup the farm owns has a flatbed on it.  That pickup is referred to as the "farm pickup".  I tried to point out a pickup to Marleigh as we were driving (it had a flatbed on it).  Yet again, I was corrected.  "Mommy, it is a FARM pickup." 

Marleigh really likes cows.  I'm not sure why, but she loves them and always wants to pet them.  She goes nuts when she sees cows "swimming" in ponds.  As hot as it has been all summer, we've seen quite a few.  Her little voice goes up about 3 octaves and she screams, "Mommy, the cows are swimming!!!" 

However, she didn't find the humor in my joke.
Me:  Marleigh, look, summer cows!
Marleigh:  What are summer cows?
Me: Some are white, some are brown, some are black.
Marleigh:  Do what?!?

Here is our conversation from yesterday driving home.
Marleigh:  MILO!!! I want to get in a combine and cut it!
Me:  Honey, it isn't our milo to cut.
Marleigh:  Do you think Papa has some milo?
Me:  Yes.
Marleigh:  Do you think Papa will let me help him cut the milo?
Me:  Well, I don't know.  What do you think?
Marleigh:  I bet he will.  He's a nice guy.

I'm so glad she'll have all these farm memories growing up.  :)