In Atlanta, October Mondays generally mean one thing: the children are going to be randomly out of school at least once or twice, so you better pick your poison for those days ahead of time.

Thank goodness, we have sharp, organized pals who roped us in to what turned out to be a wonderful day with Farmer Sue at her Art Barn.

We packed up something close to a picnic lunch and headed off to Canton to meet Farmer Sue and her furry and feathery flock of fun.

We pulled in to Farmer Sue’s to find this old truck sitting in the yard. My Popster would have been amazed. It reminded me of the old beaten-up blue truck he used to drive me to school in when I was little. Good times.

Tuck found it fascinating, also.

Things got even better once we made it inside the farm gates.

“I was not in that movie Shrek, but I could’ve been. I’m that funny. And that loud.”

There was lots feeding and brushing and grooming of various beasts and they all–children and creatures alike–enjoyed every minute of it.

Remember Tucker’s fabulous collection of stuffed rabbits?

just a select few of his rabbits make the place of honor on his bed, you know…

Then you’ll understand that Tucker, our Bunny Lover, was absolutely in Heaven during this picture…

Jack gives his best rapper/thug glare below.

After a hayride (during which I sneezed and rubbed my eyes the majority of the time), we went into Farmer Sue’s actual barn for some art time. She taught our group how to easily draw a chicken and a pig, and the little artists went at it.

Some little artists followed directions better than others; one child (seen below, ahem) received one-on-one art attention after pitching a fit because his pig’s feet didn’t look right.

With a little food in his belly, Jack is back to smiling. Either it was the food or the fact that Farmer Sue was taking the kids on another hay ride, this time without any other grown-ups.

After our farm visit, we shot up the road about a mile to a pumpkin patch, and my sons proceeded to rearrange all of the pumpkins in the entire barn. Give them a wagon and a room full of pumpkins and they can spend hours rolling them around from one side to the other. It’s unbelievable how much they enjoy doing this. I might need to plant a pumpkin patch just to provide them with some entertainment (and exercise) next fall.

Proof I was actually there…

These two are looking like twins lately…

Back home to the middle of October. Our yard has been amply spookified and 2/3 of the Halloween costumes have been ordered. Jack is our hold-out this year; thus far, he’s claimed he wants to be two creatures I cannot find: a cow-serpent (huh?) and a satyr. I have Percy Jackson (well, actually Rick Riordan and his marvelous Olympians series) to thank for this. We are still trying to figure out what Jack is actually going to be. Ever since he was a 2-year old determined to dress up as a snowman, he has not disappointed in his costume choices.

Less than 2 weeks left! 

Thanks, Farmer Sue, for a terrific time at your Art Barn!