afternoon at the farm

maddie and i went up to northam a few weeks ago with my gorgeous niece laura for the northam branch conference of our church. upon speaking to my mate alex a few weeks ago and finding out she was going, i decided to make an appearance... we had a good laugh about being one of the "founding families" of northam branch - being that we were there when greenmount ward first kicked us out haha. we have so many fond memories of the place as children and love to visit - together when we can!

after church we popped in to visit my bestie jennifer in clackline and maddie had the time of her life. being the ocd mum that i am - i of course, had a change of clothes for little miss, but she was so excited when we arrived that i simply let her throw on her boots and run.

mum was a bit slow with the camera, but we visited the sheep, the chickens and the emu (yes - they really have an emu...) before discovering the ramp out the front of jen's house. she then proceeded to run up and slide down it for the good part of an hour. oh well - as long as she was entertaining herself.

she has such a personality these days, running back and forward between the house and the shed where uncle mat was working and yelling mum! mum! come! she also found a mandarin under a tree in the backyard which she brought me to peel for her. who knows how long it had been sitting here, but she ate it!

the afternoon made me remember how nice it was back in the day to be able to run amuck on the farm. being able to go wherever we wanted, play with whatever and never be in any danger. it really is wonderful for children and so much fun.

i have to admit though, i did get a little paranoid when i couldn't see her so i shut the glass door which is too heavy for her to open on her own only to catch her a few minutes later, exiting the house via the doggy door. what a champion. can't tell her what to do - that's for sure.

nature and madeline are proving to be very good friends, and i honestly don't care in the slightest if i have to soak her clothes for a week to get the dirt out from her sliding. it was worth every minute to see her having so much fun. we will definitely have to book more trips to aunty jen's house for miss madeline.

look mama!

come mama! look! look!

i'd follow you to the ends of the earth little one.

♥