I'm Not Going To Lie
I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
Prior to meeting Erik, I had no interest in trucks, tractors, trailers, livestock let alone farming. GASP!
I know, I have probably bowled you over. Grandpa is rolling over in his grave! Well, push your jaw back up and let me explain.
This is kind of funny, because of the two of us, and despite the fact he spent many years in 4H raising and showing rabbits, I am the one with a more agricultural background. Sure, I went to the County Fair as a kid, but only because it was just seven miles away AND, primarily because it was the only thing to do.
Prior to meeting Erik, I had no interest in trucks, tractors, trailers, livestock let alone farming. GASP!
I know, I have probably bowled you over. Grandpa is rolling over in his grave! Well, push your jaw back up and let me explain.
This is kind of funny, because of the two of us, and despite the fact he spent many years in 4H raising and showing rabbits, I am the one with a more agricultural background. Sure, I went to the County Fair as a kid, but only because it was just seven miles away AND, primarily because it was the only thing to do.
I could have never imagined that my life would to some extent revolve around farm shows, county fairs and tractor pulls. That's not even to mention what is going to happen once our kids are old enough to show goats in goat shows.
Walker learning how much "boy power" it takes to actually produce enough electricity to power a lightbulb.
Walker in front of a sow with 10 baby piglets.
Maggie tries her hand at "milking a cow"
Walker tells the exhibitor "this is hard!"
You also get to sit in some great machinery!
We are about to embark on our annual trip to the PA State Farm Show. I have to admit, I've come to look forward to it as a little mini vacation. No cooking or cleaning for a few days, a HUGE facility to explore. Free Turkey Hill ice cream samples! Fried Mozzarella cubes, milkshakes,
an afternoon trip to Hershey World! What more can a girl ask for?
More importantly, this trip has become a tradition. We have developed the same system for booking a hotel room and the last 3 years, have stayed at the same hotel. We have developed a system for eating on a budget, keeping the kids entertained, etc. Already the kids are able to say, "Remember when we did . . .?" It's exciting to me that they will have these memories of their early childhood.
So maybe we won't make it to Disney World anytime soon. It's kind of refreshing that our kids find the world of agriculture just as exciting. What other "amusement" could educate them on the people who grow the products that feed, clothe and shelter us? Pretty amazing.
The photos were taken a few years ago, but you'll see the kids having a great time!
The photos were taken a few years ago, but you'll see the kids having a great time!
Walker learning how much "boy power" it takes to actually produce enough electricity to power a lightbulb.
Walker in front of a sow with 10 baby piglets.
Maggie tries her hand at "milking a cow"
Walker tells the exhibitor "this is hard!"
You also get to sit in some great machinery!
It may be simple, but this little trip makes us all happy.
Just ask Walker
Here are some links to various PA newspapers with articles about the show. And if you have a chance, take the time to go. Admission is free, and Hotwire can find you a hotel room for under $75 a night!
Altoona Mirror
Lancaster Online
Centre Daily Times
PA State Farm Show Website
Altoona Mirror
Lancaster Online
Centre Daily Times
PA State Farm Show Website
Idlewild Trip 2
This past week, Erik surprised us and took us on a trip to Idlewild. We got there just as the park opened, and we headed straight for the kiddie rides. First stop - a trolley type car that all three could ride. We were off to a good start.
Next, Walker asked to ride the bumper cars. Do you see all of the other kids riding too? His precise reason for wanting to ride them at this point, despite protests from me and Erik? He didn't want to BUMP INTO ANYONE!
I'm not sure of the philosophy of that one, but if that's what made him happy we let him do it!
Poor Willie was not old enough to ride many rides by himself or even with Walker as a companion. The Bumper cars was one of those rides. Doesn't he look so pathetic and adorable as he stands on his tip-toes to watch "brubby." Don't you just want to scoop him up and make the ride attendants let him ride too? This boy keeps me on my toes.
Walker & Will get to ride on the airplanes,
the vintage cars and
the flying dragons.
Here is what Maggie did while the boys went on all of these rides. She heard us say something about swimming and she is waiting to go swimming. Fun will not commence until we are swimming. She will not eat, she will not drink, but more importantly, she will not have any kid of fun, thank you very much, unless we go swimming. We practically dragged her onto the Mr. Roger's trolley into the land of make-believe, and the train. She only went with us because Momma & Daddy were riding those rides too and she didn't want to be left behind.
Walker and Will drove the grand prix.
Willie gets a kiss on the train ride around the park.
To end the adventure, Maggie & Walker did ride the carousel.
Poor Willie was not old enough to ride many rides by himself or even with Walker as a companion. The Bumper cars was one of those rides. Doesn't he look so pathetic and adorable as he stands on his tip-toes to watch "brubby." Don't you just want to scoop him up and make the ride attendants let him ride too? This boy keeps me on my toes.Walker & Will get to ride on the airplanes,the vintage cars andthe flying dragons.Here is what Maggie did while the boys went on all of these rides. She heard us say something about swimming and she is waiting to go swimming. Fun will not commence until we are swimming. She will not eat, she will not drink, but more importantly, she will not have any kid of fun, thank you very much, unless we go swimming. We practically dragged her onto the Mr. Roger's trolley into the land of make-believe, and the train. She only went with us because Momma & Daddy were riding those rides too and she didn't want to be left behind.Walker and Will drove the grand prix.Willie gets a kiss on the train ride around the park.To end the adventure, Maggie & Walker did ride the carousel. 
Maggie finally conceded and did one final ride - but only because we went to the "soak zone" and played in the pool. Did I mention that the pool was freezing cold - the kind of cold that takes your breath away and you wade through the water gasping and yelling at the same time, "ugh, ah, ugh, ah, ugh, ah!" because the water is so cold it is slowly freezing your blood and you lose all ability to function until A) you submerge your entire body and start swi
mming or B) get out of the water, wrap yourself in a huge beach towel, and sit shivering until the ice crystals break and blood circulation returns to normal.
How my itty-bitty children that have like less than 10% body fat managed to play in that frigid water all afternoon is beyond me. I do know we had to force them from the water park because their lips and fingers were turning blue and they were starting to look like extra's from the "Night of the Living Dead" movie. A final ride, some cotton candy and the day was complete. We were so busy we never even made it to Storybook Forrest. Maybe next year.