An Old Fashioned 4th

Honeybunny,Melody and I took a ride today to Meadow Farm in Glen Allen, Virginia today for their 4th of July celebration. I had hoped Perrin and I could have taken the hot air balloon ride there but the weather was so hot and the lines were just too long for a 4 year old to wait it out. But we had fun anyways as Henrico county has had so many great events this year and well organized. There was music, bluegrass and a mix of beach, blues, and pop music to listen today while enjoying the other festivities offered. Perrin and Melody enjoyed the Racing Pigs . Perrin also entered a water race and his team won. He got a red ball for his prize. We watched the old timey blacksmiths forge a horseshoe, seen some costumed interpreters wash clothes the old way ( thankful we have washing machines now) and some shelling beans. There was a color guard of the Fife and Drum corp present while another interpreter read the whole Declaration of Independence to much clapping and Hip Hip Hooraying from the audience. We had some really sweet watermelon from the feast, had some snow cones to cool us off and really good hot dogs from Joeys and one funnel cake. There were lots of activities but with the heat we finally gave it up and went to the car for some nice air conditioning. It was a great way to spend the 4th !

Its been a long time !

Wow I cant believe I have not written since before Easter. So much has happened that I guess I will start with the great Easter fiasco we attended. Swaders had a nice event planned for the kids on the Saturday before Easter. It was sad that they did not take into account just how many "might" show up for such a large free event. My daughter Melody, honeybunny Perrin, Granette, and my two granddaughters Hallie and Alyssa and I arrived thankfully from the opposite direction that morning and were one of the "lucky" ones to get in. I say lucky because it was just crazy there. We finally were able to park after waiting in line for 30 minutes, but the real wait was the line that stretched for a mile to just get in.If we had come from the other direction we would never have made it to the parking lot. After admitting 2000, they turned people away who had been waiting for hours. Then they decided to admit 800 more too late for some who had gone on. Once we got to the gate, we were a little more than mad at people cutting in line or passing their tickets to others who wormed their way to the front so they could get in. Which by the way almost caused a riot when it was our turn to go in as the ladies around us started complaining so loud the police had to come.
Anyways, we signed up for some things, got our tickets for the free food, let the kids check out the inflatable rides, while Granette got some popcorn. All the lines were very long. I really wanted to get the kids faces drawn that day but everything was just helter skelter and patience for some was not a virtue.
Then it was time for the helicopter to drop those 10,000 eggs from the air which was fun to watch but people pushed their kids onto the field for the egg hunt and got greedy so it ruined it for many. Adults were out there with trash bags for heavens sake scooping up plastic eggs like it had money inside or gold. Some little ones almost got crushed in the push and shove and "Mom" almost tore a ladies face off for being nasty with her while she stayed with honeybunny while he got a few eggs.
The day had a lesson well learned though. that is Not to do that again ! The only good things that came from the day was Hallie won a razor skateboard., Perrin met an old school pal Jordan, and they all got some candy in the baskets.