Easter at Hatfield Farm

Nardine got us free passes to the big Easter Egg Hunt at Hatfield Farm so we bundled up for the rain and headed out to collect our fair share of chocolate treasure. After a short 45 minute wait to get through the gates, we boarded a horse drawn carriage and trotted off to the main camp. Dylan really enjoyed the ride and spent most of it making horse trotting sounds with her tongue. We arrived just in time for the kick off of the big egg hunt - or as Nardine likes to call it, The Running of the Bulls! Watching a hundred kids tear off into the woods after little chocolate Easter eggs is quite an experience - I pretty much had to run interference for Dylan to stop all the older greedy buggers from snatching all her eggs (though in the end I thinks she got more than her fair share as the motivation of free chocolate proved to be a strong one!) The highlight of the hunt had to be watching as this one kid, who was about four, charged head first (literally!) into a puddle/lake as his parents watched on in horror. For about two or three seconds time seemed to stand still as the kid was basically swimming in the puddle and his parents were standing there with the "I knew we shouldn't have left the extra outfit in the car" look on their face - priceless!

With a successful hunt under our belts we headed back to camp to grab some lunch. Apparently the fact that he had hidden free chocolate eggs in the woods made the Easter Bunny an OK guy in Dylan's books as she actually allowed him to come within 20 feet of her to shake her hand - may have to sell Santa Claus this way next year. Lunch was hot dogs and pop, where Dylan was finally 100% verified as my child as she happily ate an entire hot dog, proclaiming that it was her most favorite food ever - almost made me cry! We had planned on taking the Shetland Pony ride but true to Grandpa John's warning, one of them tried to kick about six nearby kids so we thought it best that we take a pass and make for home! Overall it was a successful Easter outing, one which I'm sure we'll likely repeat again next year!