There are a number of things I always wanted my kids to experience growing up, and being raised around animals is certainly one of them.
Some of my earliest memories of my childhood involve our backyard chickens and rabbits, and the cats and dogs we always had as pets. While cats and dogs are a blast for kids, you just can’t beat barnyard animals. There’s something about going “back to basics” that kids find inherently thrilling – hence the popularity of petting zoos and farm outings.
Milking our dairy goat requires that I make at LEAST two trips to the goat pen daily for our twice-daily milkings. Far from being tedious, it’s become the highlight of my morning.. and unexpectedly, the highlight of Tessa’s as well! I didn’t even begin to imagine the amount of free time that would be spent just playing outside with the goats!
While I knew that she would enjoy have goats around once she got older, I did not anticipate the thrill she would get each time I grabbed my clogs and milking pail to head out to the back yard each morning. She’ll even grab her own shoes and reach up on tippy toes to the doorknob to try and let herself out if I’m taking too long to get ready to go outside!
Whether she’s brushing the goats with the brushes that are comically large in her tiny hands, chasing them around the pen, climbing in and on the goat barn, splashing around in the water trough fountain or trying to help me milk, Tessa has unlimited amounts of energy in exploring, experiencing and thrilling in her little backyard barn area. And it makes me happier than I ever could have imagined!
Because really, while having backyard goats is a fun hobby and one that I am afraid I may not ever tire of, the whole reason behind investing in this project is to benefit my children – nutritionally and educationally. The entertainment factor was just an awesome perk in the urban homesteading package!
I miss that lil punkin so much! Next time I come over we’ll have to let her show me around out there.
Oh she would love that! She loves playing show and tell when people come over, and she has really come to “own” the backyard as her own!!
Oh my gosh, it’s uncanny how much Tessa looks like Alex when she was that age! Your pictures are bringing back all kinds of wonderful memories. Thank you! She’s just precious, and so are your goats. What a fabulous way to bring up your kids.
It’s crazy, I’ve seen a few babies that look just like tessa.. So maybe our little ones have that “classic” look? Hehe! I am so happy that Tessa is enjoying our new back yard. I’m one happy new home owner / mommy! <3
I can’t get over how cute your daughter is. These pictures are so precious and beautiful. Which I had my two boys to bring a long. They would love those goats 😀
I keep inviting all of my friends with children to come play!! We plan on homeschooling our kids once they get older, and I would LOVE to host other children in the community.. We have only RECENTLY gotten into a position where we can even have pets (without smuggling them into an apartment that is, haha)…
Now this is just too cute! What a great experience! My husband and I wanted to get a little goat when we moved into our house cause we have a lot of land but we ended up getting more dogs instead
http://girlandthepolkadot.com
You can still get a goat! Hehe! They are SO MUCH FUN!! ^_^
This. Is awesome! And I don’t just mean the photos, though they’re great, too. I’m talking about the joy I can see on Tessa’s face as she plays in and around the goats and their pen.
Is Love to be able to share something like that with Baby Boy daily, but alas not yet. I do love when I see am animal, any animal out our windows and we go running through the house to watch it meander through the yard! 🙂
Do you guys have any indoor pets? Life is such a joy with pets!!
Wish all my blogging friends were closer, we’d have to start a weekly play day or something, hehe! ^_^
Oh my goodness she is too cute! We do 4H and the goats are some of our most favorite animals at fair time!
Goats really are fantastic pets, it made me laugh how many people tried to discourage us from getting them when we announced we were going to! So many misconceptions about their personalities and upkeep!
Tessa is so cute playing around in the goat pen!! I love that she wants to be in there with you and feels so comfortable!!!
Yeah, I love watching her go.. once she’s in the pen, she acts like she owns the place! It makes me happy that she is so secure in her little stomping ground! ^_^
Goats and the most adorable little girl. I just love it! So much cute!
I want my children to have memories of trips out to the lake. My grandparents used to take me to the lake for weekends during the summer and I loved it. I want my girls to have similar memories.
Thanks for sharing.
xoxo
This is so cute! GOATS and your little girl. So adorable, I can’t stand it!
I have fond memories of my grandparents taking me to the lake on the weekends. I want my children to have summer excursions to the lake as well.
Thanks for sharing your memories and photos.
xoxo
Awww, thank you! I think they are rather cute myself! hehe!
I actually never had much experience with lake excursions as a child.. sounds like it would be a blast though! Thanks for sharing Jennifer! <3
Beautiful pictures and your daughter is adorable! So cute Precious moments!
Thank you! <3
Beautiful photos! I love the idea of being raised around animals. Growing up, it definitely made a huge impact on me being able to visit my grandparents’ farm on weekends and interact with all their little livestock, birds, and dogs — you learn so much from nature without even realizing it. Tessa is so lucky to have this experience!
P.S. That goat is a real cutie 🙂
Hehehe, yeah, he is a cutie.. he’s the only goat that let’s Tessa terrorize him the most, which is why he’s the only goat in the pictures. 😉
aww, the pictures are so precious! I think it is important to grow up with animals, you learn to love and respect them.
Yeah, too many kids are mean to animals, and it makes me wonder.. is it lack of exposure, or lack of guidance in parenting, or WHAT? I don’t ever want my kids to mistreat animals…
These are such cute pictures!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
Thanks Melanie! <3
Tessa is so adorable, she looks so happy around the goats 🙂 I love the style of photography you’ve captured Gingi !!! 🙂
Lots of love, Serene xox
http://www.imserenel.wordpress.com
Thank you! I love taking pictures of my little one! I try not to flood her with pictures all the time but she’s just sooooo cute! lol!
Tessa is so lovely. Babies are so happy and free when they can live in contact with nature. Such klovely shots.
xxx
mari
http://www.ilovegreeninspiration.com
Yeah, playing in the goat pen is literally her FAVORITE thing to do every day.. even better than the park! The only thing that perks her up more is being around other children.. when we had other children IN the pen with her, it made her week! lol!
That is so fun. I have thought of having a milk goat quite a bit but have never taken the plunge.
It’s worth it! I love getting fresh milk every day, and the actual act of milking is so nice.. it’s my little calm spots throughout the day!
She is a little doll baby. Precious. 🙂 It’s great that she feels so comfortable. I’m not even sure if my nine year old would be that comfortable but they really have never had the opportunity to be so up close and personal with goats. We do have a neighbor that has a large goat enclosure but we don’t know him well enough. My grandfather had goats when I was younger. They do make nice pets.
I think it helps that these are miniature goats, and they really are super tame and sweet.. sometimes Odee (the white boy in all the pictures) can get a little hyper, and I worry about him knocking Tessa over sometimes, but for the most part he gives her a wide berth when he goes bouncing around.. I’m always close at hand when she’s out there (I NEVER leave her in the pen unattended, what with the deep trough and everything) so I don’t really worry and just let her play! hehe!
Your photos are absolutely lovely. And Tessa is just gorgeous. This is such a lovely philosophy. I didn’t really interact with animals at all growing up, which meant it took me a long time to become comfortable around them. Your approach is definitely much better 🙂
Aww, thank you! Yeah, I hope it will benefit her in the long run! So far, she LOVES animals! Almost too much, haha.. she shows NO caution is approaching strange or new animals.. yikes!
These will be such rich memories for Tessa… like “college essay” rich. I love that one photo where it looks like the goat is getting ready to give her a kiss. I definitely agree that animals enrich our lives and nurture a part of us that nothing else can.
I almost wish I’d taken video of her.. she likes to run around, chasing after the goats going, “Baaaaa!!!” lol.. it’s so cute! And yeah, I thoroughly plan to pull these pictures out when she is older! 😉
Aww so cute!! Tessa is growing up too fast! Maybe by the end of the year she’ll look like a grown up kid (does that even make sense lol). I love the photos, and baby goats are so, SO cute!! I love baby animals so much it’s kinda ridic. You two lovely parents are on point with raising your daughter by giving her this kind of childhood. No no to technology until she’s like 12. 😛
Haha, oh man, we were so determined to keep her away from technology until it was inevitable.. but apparently “inevitable” was like.. a year old. Haha! And yeah, every couple months we look at her and go, “Where did our infant go?! This is a KID!!!” Time flies waaaay too fast!!!
These pictures are just so cute! Tessa is having so much creative and educational fun, awesome!
Thanks!! She is my little princess!! <3
These photos are SO cute. I feel the same as you, I want my kinds to be brought up around animals and goats are adorable.
It really is a blessing to be able to provide that for your children, in any way!!
Awww so sweet! Love all those pictures, so cute!
Sarah x
http://www.palmtreesandheels.blogspot.com
Thanks! <3 <3
Adorable photo’s of Tessa! I think kids and animals are a match made in heaven. I honestly think that exposing kids to animals when young helps with allergies. I know, crazy, but that’s what I think. Wish I had a goat! But not here in suburbia =(
It’s not crazy, it’s actually an established fact! Tons of studies show kids exposed to animals at a young age experience far less allergies and asthma! ^_^
And you should check your city ordinances! Sometimes they allow goats if they are miniature! 😉
Your daughter is such a sweet love!!! I’m happy for you and her that she can grow up this way, happy in the nature, learning to care for someone! Just lovely lovely pictures!!!
Rosa
Styleyourselfinstyle.blogspot.com
Thank you Rosa! Your comments always make me smile!! <3
My kids used to love to go to the local farm when they were small – they would have been ecstatic to have goats in their own backyard! They had to settle for a rescue mutt and a few goldfish. 🙂
Hey! Any animals or creatures to love and nourish is super healthy for kids!! ^_^
Your daughter is so cute, Gingi! precious moments, indeed! There is nothing like being close to nature and natural lifestyle! Loved all pictures!
Thank you! It makes my heart so happy to see her playing and having fun in our yard! <3
I love her little onesie!
DAISYPERSON | BEAUTY BLOG
Lol, thanks! I would have put her in something far cuter if I’d known I would be taking pictures of her! lol!
I love this beautiful post <3 I cherish the joy I see in Tessas eyes and her smile. Growing up with animals is a treasure. You learn so much and the bonds you make are strong. It is lovely to see this since it is one of my own dreams for my soon to arrive baby 🙂 To be close to nature and feel the calm a walk in the forest can give or the comfort of petting an animal. You are awesome!
Awwwww, thank you! I can’t wait to see what pictures you post of your little one with animals and nature in the near future!! <3
Just thinking about it makes me smile <3
<3 ^_^
Tessa is absolutely adorable and she looks like she is having so much fun! Thanks for sharing!
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.wordpress.com
Yeah, she has a blast out there!! She’s our little nature nut!
Are these the cutest photos ever?! What a sweet pea you have!
Awww, thank you! 😉
Tessa is absolutely adorable and seriously love how excited she is with the goats. Seriously couldn’t stop smiling seeing how very happy she was here 🙂
Yeah, her little face all lit up just makes my day!!
Oh my gosh, such cuteness! Goats are soo cute, and kids are soo cute, together they’re just mega-cute. I could just go ‘awwww’, really, I could. And I did. 🙂
I know, I told my husband I am just going to explode when we have BABY goats!!!
I always had horses as a kid so it’s fun to see my daughter grow up and love horses! Although I can’t imagine we’ll never keep them here. Too much time and work!
Goats? I’ve always wanted goats.
I love the photos of pure joy on her face.
Oh man, you should TOTALLY get goats.. totally worth the investment, they are GREAT pets! <3 - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com