The morning sun was warm as you and Elaina drove down a winding country road, the air smelling like fresh grass and earth. She had been talking about this farm trip all week, and the moment you pulled into the big wooden gate with the sign “Sunny Acres Farm – Petting Zoo & Tours”, she practically bounced in her seat.

“Look at it! This is going to be amazing!” Elaina said, grinning as you parked the car.

You chuckled, grabbing your sunglasses. “You’re acting like we’re going to Disneyland again.”

“This is better,” she said with a smirk. “There are goats, Noah. Actual goats.”

You laughed, following her through the entrance where the smell of hay and the sound of clucking chickens filled the air. The first stop was a big red barn where cows were grazing in a fenced pasture. Elaina ran right up to the fence, eyes sparkling. “Oh my gosh, look at them! They’re HUGE!”

One cow wandered closer, chewing slowly, and Elaina reached out to pet its head. “Hi, beautiful,” she cooed like it was a giant puppy. The cow blinked at her and kept chewing, which made her laugh even harder.

Next came the goat pen, and this was where things got chaotic. The moment you both stepped inside, a herd of goats swarmed, bleating loudly like they hadn’t eaten in weeks. Elaina was in heaven, crouching down to feed them little pellets from a cup the farmhand gave her.

“Babe, take a picture of me!” she said, holding her arms out as two goats stood on their hind legs trying to get more food.

You snapped a photo, laughing. “You look like the queen of goats.”

“I am the queen of goats,” she declared proudly as another one nudged her leg.

After that, you wandered through the chicken coop, saw some pigs rolling in the mud, and even got to bottle-feed a baby lamb. Elaina was glowing the entire time, her hair messy from the breeze, a little hay stuck to her sweater, and the biggest smile on her face.

As you walked back to the car with muddy shoes and a phone full of animal pictures, Elaina slipped her arm through yours. “Best day ever,” she said softly.

You grinned, kissing her temple. “Better than goats?”

She giggled. “Almost. But you’re close.”