First up: the summer festivals of NJ
- Sheep Shearing
- Church Festival
- Strawberry Festival
- Luna Parc Open House
Sheep Sheering
Yes, sheep shearing. Just one of those things we all do here in rural New Jersey.
It would seem that shearing is done at the same time as birthing...I will spare you the in-process birth details, but that little dude in the middle, trying to stand up, was just born, as Noelani and Gabriel watched (I, um, had other things to do...).
Patti, Ernie and Louie joined us at the festival. That made it extra fun!
Louie and Gabriel were more captivated by the story-teller than the sheep.
She let them both try her puppet man. Gabriel was on cloud nine!
There was also some goat feeding and horn grabbing.
But the tractor driving should have required a license!
Our little men both got tattoos. Louie's was a black wolf.
Gabriel's was a moon and stars, with glitter.
Church Festival
Gabriel had been schooled about throwing arts at the Jersey Shore, so he was ready for the challenge at this small-town church festival.
Look at that form -- yup, that's my boy!
He also is now familiar with the dunking tank (his first experience was the Gladstone Community Day, one of our other summer festivals, but I didn't bring the camera that day).
The bubble machine was new, and pure bliss.
And the bouncy house is an old favorite. He (and I) also had a chance to bounce this summer at the Salesforce Developers Release Picnic - no photos from there, either.
And, the best was some sugar induced giggling with Mama.
Strawberry Festival
"Can you see me?!?" G climbed up this mountain of hay bales all on his own. (hey, bales! ha, ha, ha)
Gabriel, playing with trucks. This corn pit did not match the one at the pumpkin festival in Livermore, but we still had fun.
G and Mama
G and Mommy
Then we got down to the business of picking strawberries (curious, you pay the farm so that you can do the labor for them...). Hardest part was not eating what we'd picked until we got it weighed and paid for it.
After our labor, G decided to take it easy and ride the train (who's that big kid in the pink shirt...with the grey hair?!?).
"This isn't as fun as the cow train. There aren't even any jumps!"
Ah, but then it was time for another first: COTTON CANDY! Pure joy.
Another joy for our country boy is horses. He rode again and again, and his favorite camp of the summer has been Farm Camp (where he gets his own pony for the week).
Luna Park Open House
This is Luna Parc - http://www.lunaparc.com/
The grounds were filled with crazy sculptures and such (and Briana and Nick).
There was a seesaw and a swing.
And, the TWIGLOO, which rivals Timmy's Fort Fallen Tree.
Inside the house was just as crazy - this was a shelf of insect art (um, art made with insects).
Whew, well that's it - until next summer...
rock on!