OAC Community Day 2014

Every year, our church hosts a Friends and Family Day, complete with great food, pony rides, a bounce house, sno cones, cotton candy, face painting and an little animal petting zoo. It's a great opportunity to invite new people to join us for church and enjoy a fun time together afterward. The kids look forward to it every year. They love running free with their little friends. The weather always seems to be beautiful!

This year, Ella was old enough to enjoy the festivities too. Both girls had their faces painted, tried cotton candy for the first time and rode ponies. Ella was pretty fascinated by the caged chickens and her little peeps. She wanted to sit down with the sheep and play for hours. Everything in me wanted to chase her with antibacterial every time she loved on the little sheep, but tried to restrain my neurotic tendencies until she was done! I'm not the biggest fan of petting/feeding (smelly) farm animals, but I totally don't want to rob my kids of the "experience". I was the one freaking out at Catskill Game Farm as a kid because the petting zoo was running lose all around me and the cheeseburger stand we ate at was right next to the giraffes and their fly friends. My girls don't seem to be bothered by any of it and think they are sweet. I think a redeeming trip to Catskill Game Farm may be in our near future.

loving their pretty face paint

Ella's first ride

The FACE! :) I love her. Joe would say...proof that she is her mother's daughter

"I rode a pony today!"

Abby looked like such a big girl when she climbed up this year.

love her

Ella and her buddy Mason checking out the little chicks.

That sheep! Ahhhh...