A look back, Last Year’s Farm Party with Petting Zoo — corral fun for all

Farm party entrance… with Pallet Family Sign

When Ray decided she wanted her farm party, I wanted her to have all that and more. It’s all about the entrance. My hubby came on board with the enormous painted windmills… they were so fantastic…

Hours of painting, bending, and staking — these home-made windmills were the perfect decoration for the farm party

Petting zoo farm animals courtesy of Murrieta’s Sweet Water Farms

Then the animals started coming. Special thanks to Murrieta, California’s Sweet water Farms for these exotic critters. 

Ray’s farm and petting zoo open for business!

Hand painted signs welcoming all are easy, cheap, and set the tone for the event…And for the main event…

Sweet Water Farms of Murrieta’s Porker… a potbellied pig that stole my Ray’s heart

Porker was the star of the day… She’s all about the pigs…

Kids loved the petting zoo

The girls spent the first hour doing nothing but petting and feeding these wonderful creatures…

Little sis observing the chicks

Even mama (and grandma) had some time to enjoy the creatures…

Me and mom…

Back inside… the food tables overflowed…

bountiful veggies on lettuce covered trays for the farm party

Pigs in the mud among the favorite of the crowd pleasing treats…

Fondant Pigs in the Mud — over chocolate pudding…

Read: HOW TO MAKE MARSHMALLOW FONDANT…

Grandma’s Chicken Scratch — pretzels, reeses cereal, and pink candy corn

We set the chicken scratch mix in my grandmother’s old bundt pan…And more… these with waffle cups. So easy to eat with no trash! ❤

Fruit served in waffle bowls — this has become expected at all parties…

Strawberries and pound cake — served in Grandma’s glass bowls…

Personally, I loved the marshmallow peeps on lollipop sticks…

Marshmallow peeps — yet another perk of a spring birthday – these poked into a Michael’s mini hay bale

For fun, and games, we gave everyone tickets to purchase items from the “General Store…” out back. For fun, each child fills their shopping bag with goodies from the many choices available to them. Mini bubbles, candied carrots, marshmallow sticks, and jars of licorice and jelly beans…

Backyard general store with dollar tree baskets loaded with “shopping” delights to fill thank you bags!

Of course, what’s a general store with out a few farm fresh treats. Like these precious little chicks…

Chicks in the grass! these little cuties nested in Easter grass and dollar tree boxes…

Bottles of soda were bright and decorative at the “Store” but were also part of our “Bottle Ring Toss” game! one that was SO amazingly popular, we’re carrying it on to Ray’s Park Party…

Soda Bottle Ring Toss – yet another favorite for my Ray’s parties… ring a bottle, it’s yours!

Soda Bottle Ring Toss!

Lining up for the ring toss, with this many kids, there was some wait time.

Painted up! babysitter doubles as face painter…

While they waited, a neighbor girl (and our fave babysitter) painted faces for a BARGAIN!

And before the animals left, we got the group shot. Always a must…

Farm Party guests

This Pinterest must… painted family rules on pallet board…still lives in our garden, by the new bunny hutch…