Fire and Ice Festival

Yesterday, I took the kids to the Fire and Ice Festival in town.  It is a fun event for the kids because they get to see ice sculptures, sled dogs, re-enactments by the loyalist to Great Britain during the civil war, animals rescued by the wildlife ctr., they get to ride on real firetrucks and even saw fire eaters!

I will only post a few for today; the rest will be posted tomorrow. You will not want to miss tomorrow's picts as you will get to see the fireeaters in action! 16089

Rancocas Creek.

 

Icy shavings blast on his face and clothes.

He really got into his work.

Check out the ice shavings on his beard!

Barred Owl

Need to cool your buns? I found the perfect solution! :)

Icy Toilet. They didn't provide the plunger this year. :)

Fire and Ice Festival

Safari Photos

As you already know, my kids and I have a season pass to Six Flags Great Adventure/Hurricane Harbor/Safari.  It is a good thing, too, because it has been a great disappointment this year as far as being able to ride most of the attractions. I'd be even madder if I had paid good money to go to the park one day and not be able to board any of the rides or have to wait in line for wait times of  45 minutes to 1.5 hours in the middle of summer.  

Six Flags Great Adventure:  The few times that we have gone to the theme park, it has been packed and just a total waste of time as we can't board any of the rides that we want.  The kids don't even want to go there anymore. I am hoping that I can take them when the temperatures are cooler.  We always look forward to Fright Fest.

Hurricane Harbor: With the heatwave we have been having here in New Jersey, I take the kids at least once a week to the water park.  Again, I have been extremely disappointed with the extremely long wait times to board the rides and the lack of equipment.  For example,  the kids love going on the Taak et esy Creek but they end up having to walk 2 or 3 times around the track before they can get a tube that someone will graciously give them.

I've noticed that there aren't enough tubes or floating devices to accommodate the amount of people entering the park.  I suppose that this is where their other lucrative business kicks in: tube rental. Due to the lack of tubes at the stations, one is "forced" to rent a tube to be able to ride the attractions for which we paid the entrance for.

So, what does one do when one lacks a tube? One has to go to the wave pool or walk the creek.

Safari: I like the safari a lot. My only observation is that the elephants need to be in a bigger enclosure. Yes, I know, that the safari only has so much space, but it seems that they always cluster around the umbrella by the small pond.
I often wonder why the bears walk around slowly and seem to lack energy.   I know that is not the most ideal habitat for the animals, but to be honest, this is the only way that most of us will ever get to see them live, at least, this is the only way that my kids and I will ever seem them.

Anyway, enough griping! Here are some of the photos I took while there.

Female Cardinal that visits my backyard.

Female Cardinal preening herself. Must look good for Mr. Cardinal, you know?!

 

 

White Tail Gnu.

White Tail Gnu and baby.

White Tail Gnu: Up Close and Personal

Male Ostrich

Black Bear in Algae pond.

Brown Bear

Sacred Ibis

Crested Crane

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Safari Photos

Safari/Hurricane Harbor

Baboons

Aoudad - barbary sheep

Australian Black Swan

Emu

Marabou Stork

East African Crowned Crane



Baby Giraffe

Asian Water Buffalo

African Elephant


Roosevelt Elk

Bisons

Rhea

I have gone to the safari so many times now that I only try to take photos of the animals that I haven't gotten in my many prior trips. I always enjoy driving around the safari to spot the animals.

On this day, which was a cool day, we also went to Hurricane Harbor. I didn't take any photos, we we went on the Taak it eez creek and the kids rode the TORNADO for the first time. I wanted to ride the tornado with them, but they only allow 2 people per tube, now. And those tubes are freaking heavy. The line leading up to the top of the ride is at an incline which makes carrying the tube difficult. It is a heavy tube designed to hold 4 people, so the kids weren't able to carry it by themselves without breaking a rib or two. Seriously, the next day, I was wondering why my right shoulder hurt, then I remembered.
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Safari/Hurricane Harbor

County Fair

Horse show.


Ferris Wheel. Unfortunately for us, the rides were scheduled to open at 4:00pm, however, there was nothing there that would keep us entertained for 2 hours so we didn't get to ride it.

The cow checking out Liam. Just look at his expression...

Pigless resting before the pig races, which we also didn't see because they began at 4:00 p.m.

Dancing fruits and vegetables kiddie show. The only half-entertaining thing we saw in the whole place.

Current and vintage farm equipment show.



1912 International Harvester.

Kay "milking" a cow.


Farm Fair

Back in July I took the kids to the Burlington County Farm Fair. It was a hot and sunny day, but not a god-awful-unbearable hot day like those we have been having due to the heat wave.

After paying $10 for the parking, we headed to the fair. We first encountered the pony rides. The poor things looked like they had seen better days. Needless to say, I didn't fork over $5.00 per-person for a two-minute ride. Kaylie and Liam walked over to the tent that housed the wooden milking cow and the corn toss game. Of course, there were wooden cutouts for the kids to have their photo taken. As always, Liam wasn't interested in posing for photos, but obliged me after some cajoling on my part.

We walked around the farm equipment exhibit for a while, before heading to see the animals. On our way there, we spotted a singing marionettes show for tots. We stopped and watched since this was the only form of entertainment available at the time. Little did we know that this would be the ONLY engaging show!

We went from tent to tent to view the goats, chickens, sheeps, pigeons, cows and rabbits. We saw a big turtle (all by itself) eating lettuce.

On our way to the amusement rides, we stopped by a food concession to buy Italian water ice. Unfortunately for us, the rides were all closed and wouldn't open until 4:00 p.m. We watched the horse show for about 10 minutes, then headed home.

I always looked forward to going to the fair, but was extremely disappointed with the fair this year. I don't think that I will return as neither one of us enjoyed it. 9696

County Fair