"Egg"-cellent "Egg"-venture in Vermont

This is a story about a boy…a chicken…and an egg. A few weeks ago we were in Vermont for the weekend. Our kind neighbors, Kathy and David, invited my son Ethan over for an adventure…to collect Henny Penny’s egg. This is at the top of the list of “fun” in a preschooler’s life. The morning of the "egg"-venture we woke up and explained the schedule to Ethan, “…sometime after noon, we’ll go and visit Henny Penny…she has laid an egg…” Well, the next 5 hours were all about Henny Penny and the egg. “When are we going? What will we do? How many chickens? What happened to the other chickens? Why do they have a chicken? Why do chickens lay eggs? How many eggs? Why only one egg? Is it time yet? I’d like to….” --- you get the picture! (Note to self: do not notify a 4 year old 5 hours in advance of activity. 15 minute advance notice is sufficient!) There was much anticipation...ahhh…the joy of the simple things! Finally, the big moment arrived. We put on our coats to head out on our “egg”-venture and as we were walking out the door, I realized we had forgotten to bring something to carry the egg. We explored the options. A small paper bag – no, not quite right. A colander – no, not quite right. A pocket - no, not quite right. Ethan’s choice was his toolbox sans tools. We put 2 kitchen towels in the toolbox and headed out the door.

ON THE WAY TO THE HEN HOUSE:





















So excited, Ethan practically skipped the whole way to Kathy and David's house! Although it was just a short jaunt down the street, it seemed too long to Ethan.

ARRIVING AT THE HEN HOUSE:





















Kathy explained how Henny Penny had laid just one egg and then she opened the Hen House. The fabulous Henny Penny came strutting out!

MEET HENNY PENNY:














Ethan peeked into the Hen House and tentatively stepped in. He looked around and found the egg. "I found the egg Mommy!!!!" “Are there any more?” He carefully lifted the egg from the straw and with the biggest grin he put it into his toolbox and brought it out of the hen house.

"I GOT THE EGG!!!":





















Ethan gently cradled the egg in his hands to show it to everyone. He couldn’t have been happier!

HOLDING HENNY PENNY'S PRIZE:





















Ethan had a few questions: “Is there a baby chick in here? How do you know? Can I eat this egg? What if I eat the egg and there’s a baby chick in there?” He carefully put the egg back into his toolbox.

READY FOR TRANSPORT:














Ethan followed Henny Penny around for a bit (she is the cutest little chicken and doesn’t even mind being petted!).

ETHAN'S NEW BEST FRIEND:

















Ethan couldn’t wait to go home and cook this egg. He thanked Kathy and David and off we went. Ethan saved the egg for dinner as he thought it would be great fun to eat breakfast for dinner. It was, in fact, “Egg”-cellent!

COOKING THE EGG:





















EATING THE EGG:


















Every time we pass by Kathy and David's house, Ethan asks “Mommy, do you think Henny Penny has laid another egg yet?” “When can we go back?” I just love to see the joy he has at the simplest things!

Needless to say, Ethan and I talk a lot about chickens these days. And when something is really good, we call it “EGG”-cellent!! Thank you Kathy and David for Ethan’s “EGG”-cellent “EGG”-venture!

xoxo,
Kim

P.S. The next day Ethan and I found a delightful book at the local bookstore called “Tillie Lays an Egg”. It is an engagingly simple story about a hen who lays her eggs in unexpected places. Children love finding the egg on each page. I couldn’t resist adding the sweet “Tillie Lays an Egg” to RosieHippo.com. I think it will be a new favorite!