Fridays After Five...

Fridays after Five, Prices take a dive! At the aquarium that is. We took advantage of the last week of the season where you can get in for a third of the regular price and we had a blast!














My favorite creatures of all :-)

County Fair!

We've become annual fair-goers. And we're particular: we don't like the state fair, only the county one so this Saturday was the day! As usual, lots of fun complete with friends, piglet races, stinky cows, and deep-fried oreos. Great day.

Not that you can tell, but that's me holding Ella, and Esther holding Hanna on our way down!

Ella and Hanna were "Yee-hawing" all the way around the carousel

Tall enough to go on the Train ride by themselves!!

Chris and Andy, thankfully, did not lose their lunch on this one. I almost did just watching it.

Halle milking a goat!

Me and my fascination with non-domestic animals, I had to jump in and try too :-)

I'm sure there's some reason for this but I just took a picture because it was odd.

My favorite fair folks :-)

Great New Petting Zoo!!

Ella had her first field trip for preschool last week! I feel like such a school-mom going on a field trip! When did this happen? Anyway, the exciting part was that it was about 3 minutes from my house but I had no idea this place was there and it was awesome! We're definitely going back.


This turkey was pretty but slightly scary to be so close to

I got to hold a 10 day old piglet!!

Ella and her friend Savannah on a hayride

A Brahma Steer-I had never heard of this beast before! It weighs 3800 lbs and was ENORMOUS when it stood up. It was kind of like a huge bull with a camel's hump. Crazy!

Ella and I both milked the cows-one of which was 8 months pregnant with a 130 lb calf! (the staff was very helpful, hence my knowledge of all of these fun facts!)

Ella tried to pet this calf but it was obsessed with licking the little boy on the right and chased him around!

Petting a donkey and yes, there was a zebra! How cool is that! The Zebra really looked painted, like it wasn't even real. Great job on those God-they're SO cool looking.

Ella insisted that "goats like hay, and this goat needs his lunch"

My happy little cow-girl :-)

Ho Co Fair 2008!

The fair was a lot of fun! We got to hang out with the Boons, Christys, and lots and lots of farm animals. I can't believe it was a year since we went last time! It's flown by. Ella was scared of the huge cows and pigs but somehow by the time we got to the petting barns, she became a new child! She was SO excited to touch everything that she almost fell into the baby goat pen trying to reach them. We ate deep fried oreos (yumm) and corn dogs (Chris loves them) and drank lemonade. We were anxious to see if they had the pig races like last year where little piglets race around a track to get oreos. This time, Ella got chosen to cheer for one of the piglets and won a necklace which she's proudly worn for the last 3 days. Our favorite fair moment was when the emcee at the pig/duck races said "These ducks are really young so they might need some help to get around the track. Who do you think should help them? Who comforts you and helps you and guides you?" All the kids started yelling "Mommy! Daddy! Our Parents!" and with no prompting, Ella yells "JESUS!!" Awwwww! I love that girl!


Peering at the sheep


Wheelbarrow riding with Dad

This is her "Oh my!" face before touching the baby chick

Trying to feed the sheep with her buddy Joel

This wheat felt amazing! Theresa and I sat there with our feet in it for a good 10 minutes. We eventually got the husbands to get shed their socks and shoes and get in also. Who knew there'd be anything akin to a spa treatment at the fair!

Ella really liked this bunny. She reminds me most times we see rabbits that they like carrots but she does not.

Last year's fair pic with daddy. Her hair was so short and she was just so little!!

This year's fair pic with Daddy. They're both so adorable!