Camden Riversharks Game.

"Where are the sharks daddy I don't see any?" 

"Mom, I don't see any sharks. Where are they?"

"Where's the green guy that dances all the time?"

"That's not a real shark mom, it's a person with a shark mask."

Yesterday we took on the small stadium in Camden to watch a Riversharks game, and those were the questions that Noah kept asking for the first hour of the game. He was really expecting to see sharks in water! It didn't take him very long to realize that the "riversharks" are the name of the baseball team. With a little disappointment he finally accepted the fact that there were no sharks, and sat down to enjoy the game. Nonetheless I do think he'll become a "sharknado" fan.

This is such a perfect setting for little kids. It was a perfect evening with perfect weather. My dear friend Maryann got us the tickets, and since we only had four we decided to have her babysit Chelsea since she has already been to a Riversharks game. 

It was a beautiful night, and we all had fun cheering, and singing doing the chicken dance. We had a loud group of kids sitting near us that were clapping and cheering extremely loud, but I always tell myself...they're only kids once. Besides...Jon & I can cheer, and yell pretty loud too!  

I saw a carousel from a distance, and when we went for a potty break Noah wanted to ride on it. It was only a dollar to ride the carousel, and so we all got on...except Jon. He was too busy getting into the game. Noah had so much fun riding on it, and the fact that this particular carousel spanned fast made Noah laugh so hard that he had to go to the potty again!

You can't go to a game without eating some funnel cake, and it was delicious. A little too delicious because Noah kept chowing down on it. All that powdered sugar hit his little immune system like wildfire because before you know it he was getting up, running around behind our seats hugging us from behind yelling run, run, run, and go, go, go! We kept telling him to sit down, and stay still, but to no avail. He did that for about five minutes, and then I had to bribe him with a dum dum. Great...more sugar right?? Well it worked and then he sat down again.  It's a good thing we went on the carousel first, because man that thing spanned fast! 

Campbell's Stadium is indeed a nostalgic, and quaint stadium for the city of Camden. Everyone seemed cheerful, and it's very family oriented. I witnessed some pretty cool adults in the stands whenever they'd catch a foul ball. They'd give it to a little kid nearby. Very humbling to witness.

I'm so grateful we have these opportunities to give to our children. Growing up I didn't have any kind of baseball fun in my life. I attended high school football games with friends, but I never did anything like this with my family. Living in the east gives us many opportunities to attend various baseball games. I have changed that for my kids by exposing them in attending every single game they get invited to. And even though some of us have yet to find a favorite baseball team (no, it's not the Phillies) I think  having fun at a game no matter who's playing is all that matters. But just between you and me...I'm actually a Yankees fan! 

It was a great evening, a good game, with good food, and great kids...even if I had one that was a little too hyper. Darn that sugar! 

**If you like this post then you can read about Noah attending his first Phillies game here. That's why he asked for the green guy that dances! Um...wrong game son! 

Happy weekend!

Howell Living History Farm.

Although the days have been super warm they sure have been beautiful with the bluest of skies. Yesterday we ventured out to what seemed like a different world. Driving into Trenton with the GPS routing us to the outskirts of the city where there were copse of trees, and a lot of shrubbery certainly made me feel as if we weren't in Jersey anymore. When I read about this farm, and the long varied history of it I knew that we had to venture out to it. 

Except this was familiar territory for me. 

Growing up in Texas, and living across the highway 77 bypass with my mom towards the end of my high school career got me accustomed to what life would be like on a farm. Every morning I'd wake up to the sounds of mooing cows & I never needed an alarm. Although we lived there for only a year it was a pretty good experience, and life with so much quietness outside( except for the loud locusts) living inside a small pristine home was alright by me. It definitely was a wistful moment in my life. 

I think that's why I've always had that inner farm/rural country gal in me with y'all in my vocabulary. I've lived in rural areas, and cities where they have freeways strewn out like spaghetti. I'm grateful for the times I've gone out of my comfort zone to explore living in said cities, and to remember my roots. 

The Howell farm reminded me of Sturbridge Village except that this is an actual working farm. I was so impressed with its history, and all that it offers to the community. Not only is it free, but it offers so much variety of activities in which one can learn about the late 19th and early 20th century.

The kids were extremely happy to be here, and it was sooooo nice to see all of them filled with merriment. There truly is something about this period of time that suffuses us with appreciation wondering how life would be like in the 1800's. 

Lexie's face alighted when she saw the barn with the horses inside. They were filled with Belgian's and Morgan's. Margaret who was working the farm dressed like a pioneer allowed her to enter the barn to meet Jessie. Besides playing the violin Lexie's dream was to ride horses. She had the opportunity to go the stables a couple of years ago, but hasn't gone back since. She really wants to go back and ride again, and that's something we will have to seriously discuss because riding lessons are not cheap! 

There were so many sheep, and one in particular got a little too close for comfort with Lexie which sort of freaked her out a bit, but in the end we all patted her, and her crew with love. 

Being a toddler at this age has got to be the funnest hands down! Noah had the time of his life running around, and then walking around carefully making sure everything about the farm & the animals didn't go amiss. He and Chelsea got along so well, and while sharing a bottled water would occasionally stop, and look around at the beautiful scenery of the this vast, rural area. 

This place definitely is a replica of how farm life should be with water pumps, and all the gadgets that a farm would have back in the 1800's. 

   Including pigs!

I really enjoyed the fact this is a working farm and that the kids all had fun lending a hand in one way or another. There is so much to do here on various days. Saturdays tend to be the busiest days where they have a plowing match, corn shocking, and a day where you can do some canning. This farm has so much to offer, and I look forward to coming to the canning activity. We especially loved their quaint little gift shop where everything is handmade, and  local honey is sold. 

The kids each picked a gift to take with them. Everything is affordable in this small space of a gift shop. I bought Chelsea a fan & she loves it! 

 No...Noah did not purchase this hat, but he did find a wooden block gadget in which you can make into different designs. He also got a cow tail candy, & Lexie just got a tootsie roll pop. My kids are so easy when it comes to picking a gift.

Everything about this farm was amazing. From the Ice House to the corn crib, and Ox Barn. From the orchard to the chicken house, and kitchen garden. Simply amazing. Really made me appreciate yet again how people lived back then. Wearing three layers of clothing cleaning horse manure, stacking hay, keeping up with the garden, collecting eggs every morning, tending the sheep barn, and managing beehives! Holy cow I'm tired just writing all that down! Really glad my kids got a glimpse of how life was like having major chores back then, and learning a thing or two about this part of history. 

There was so much more to photograph, but with the sun beating down so hard all I wanted to do was walk around with my bottled water, and carefully tour this 200 year old farm. 

It was yet another beautiful day with my family, and once again this small adventure was another free treat! 

Happy Wednesday y'all! 

The Great Falls In Paterson.

Summer really needs to slow down, but at this point I think it's inevitable. August is flying by super quick, and yet there is still so much we want (or would like) to do. We have been taking advantage of our summer by venturing out to unknown territories closer to home, and was even hoping that my oldest daughter would fly out and spend time with us. Truth is she's been very busy with work, and figuring out ways in which she can afford a full load at college this semester. Since she hasn't been a resident in Utah for an entire year attending the University of Utah this fall would be extremely costly so she's going to forego attending school this semester, and get an admissions deferment in hopes that she'll attend in the spring. We love, and miss her and hope that with her taking a whole semester off she can take a breather, rest, and truly figure out her future. We also pray for a visit from her in the fall!  

I can't be selfish though. We have had a pretty amazing summer regardless of not taking extravagant trips to elsewhere such as Hawaii, a cruise to the bahamas, or Europe. Sure those places are amazing and maybe someday we'll do that, but my favorite part of living in this part of the country is the fact that we don't have to drive hours and hours to a beach! I also love New York City, and the fact that it's so close to home is a dream for me. I love that city, and anyone who lives in Jersey who doesn't go to NYC often is crazy! There is just so much to do, and see there. Then again...I'm not from here so driving into New York is something I never grow weary from. It's always like a mini vacation for me, and we love it! 

There are a few other places I'd like to check out from this pin I found on pinterest, and so far we've already explored two of them. The Great Falls in Paterson caught our attention, and since we are lovers of nature we decided to drive further north to check them out! The pictures of the waterfalls looked so beautiful online, and since it was free I told Jon that this was a "must see" place. I said to him if this is as close to nature that I'm going to get near the city then lets go! Well, when we arrived I have to say I was a little disappointed. I mean the falls are pretty and everything, but I expected more...way more! Like huge falls! It is a nice place where one can come after work to sit after a long day of work to relax and stare at the falls from a distance, but other than that there was no way where we could get super close to them where maybe we could have sat on a rock to get a better view to hear the sound of the falls. They have built a bridge (which you can see in the photo below), but it's currently under construction as they're trying to accommodate people so that they can get a closer view of the falls from above. When it's complete maybe we'll go back and visit again. 

(BTW...don't let these pics fool you. I had to zoom in on them from my iPhone, and edit them!)

But it was nice sitting down from a distance to watch them for a while. The kids had fun running around, and throwing rocks into the water which I didn't like! Noah found this huge rock, and after telling him to put it down, he quickly threw it over the fence. 

Naughty rascal! 

^^^ mandatory picture of a similar rock he threw in the water. ^^^

The kids had fun regardless of the fact that it wasn't what we expected, but one thing they loved was the bell that was displayed on the grounds. They had fun ringing it a couple of times, and it took all of Noah's might and strength to ring it on his own with the help of big sister. You can see them ringing the bell here.

This was a nice "free treat" for the kids, and I love the fact that they are so easy going. They always express their gratitude whenever we venture out to the unknown. Even though they drive me a tad bit crazy they are great kids, and I will miss venturing out to more unknown places with them during the day. Noah's lucky because he gets to stay home with me for one more year so we'll see what's planned for the two of us! 

With one week left before school starts I hope that we can make the best of it! Regardless of what we do as a family the important part of it is spending it together, and that we are satisfied in the end no matter what we do!