Oregon Country Fair 2011 - 5th Year

This year marked our 5th year going to the fair -- the first 2 years we went for the day only, the next 3 we camped. We were all excited! Jake remembered it from the last 2 years. This was Ryan's first year and he camped like a pro.

Drove down on Thursday with the futon on top of the car (it was worth it -- very comfortable and much easier to deal with a nursing baby than on an air mattress!) Arrived at Zumwalt.
Set up our brand new tent. We were so excited! It sleeps 8 and gives us plenty of room for our beds and our bags and we could stand up in it. Camping in style!
Ryan was happy to see his friend Porter.
Mini-tent peekaboo.
We camped with 11 other families and set up a community kitchen like we do every year. Then most of the families participate in meal-sharing. This meant I only had to cook 1 meal out of 5 while camping. Really nice!!
Jake shows off his tattoos -- one of the moms brought a whole bunch of them and the kids loved putting them on.
Hello, happy to be here!
Essence of the Fair.
Good morning! (Friday morning)

Cleaning up from making breakfast for everyone.

Friday -- to the Fair!!
We first saw the Banana Slug band. Was fun.
Tofu Palace for our first meal of this year's Fair.
Wasn't too long before the boys needed to crash due to the excitement of camping and the Fair.
After this we did make it to the show Nando, which is insanely popular and thus packed, but it was worth it.

Fair people.
Jake trying out a hula hoop at the Fair playground.
Cool cubed world.
Saturday morning at camp. We had perfect weather.
Max and Jake had a great time with Legos inside the tent.
While Ryan and Porter shared a snack.
Then to the lake on Saturday afternoon.

Hi.

There was a singalong that Ryan and Jake enjoyed listening to.
Then the kids put on a skit.
The skit was about a candy shop. They had three Dads come and be the candy shop (arms raised in the air). Then the kids went up to the owner of the shop (girl in the pink hat) and asked her if she had a particular candy (chocolate, bubble gum, gummy bears, etc.) and each time she answered no. Finally all the kids went up and asked what kind of candy she did have. Her response, just some 'suckers.' Har har.

S'mores!

Ellie and I took Jake, Max, Ryan, and Porter to see the belly dancers. Max and Jake were really cute and sat up front together.
Sunday morning - packing up the camp.
And then back to the Fair to enjoy another day there! I liked this Native American costume.
Salmon burgers and fries!
Ryan's first time trying a french fry.
We had fun watching this magician.

We went to Chela Mela Meadow and hung out under the big tree. The Monkey Palace right next to the tree has kid-oriented shows, and we had fun listening/watching. Then they announced they were doing a kid's talent show. Jake immediately wanted to be in it! When I asked him what talent he was going to show, he thought for a moment and then said "somersault!" Okay then! So he went up and stood in line with other kids and waited his turn. Some of the other kids sang or danced. When it was Jake's turn he did one somersault. Then when people started clapping he came to us and rolled his eyes. I think next time he'll pick another talent, although it is so cool that he did this!
Right after the talent show.
Playing while resting and people-watching.
After grabbing some coconut bliss ice cream (vanilla for Jake, chocolate for me), we made our way to the Main Stage to see the band March Fourth. We got front-row seats in order to see the interpreter and then had a great time!!

The music was awesome and they had these wonderful stilt walkers.

Who also did some fabulous pole dancing moves.
While Mike and I watched, Ryan alternated between nursing and playing with various objects from our backpack.
And Jake slept!!!
Back through the Fair. Where's Waldo?

We picked up some pizza for Mike and Jake, then meal from Tofu Palace for me, and some cookies for the ride home. Then we made our way back to the car (about an 8 minute walk).
Starting the drive home. Happy -- we had so much fun!

Oregon Country Fair 2010!

Our fourth year going to the fair, and second year camping. We were all so excited.

Mike driving the hippie van. We rented a 1985 VW Westfalla camper van. It was awesome. Even when it overheated while waiting in the line of cars at the campground. Many times.
Jake got in a good nap on the way there. Plus it was hot and there was no A/C! It was a windy ride down the freeway.
Arrived at Zumwalt on Thursday! We claimed this entire area for the 8 families that joined us.
Grandma Ammi and baby in the lone chair while we worked to set up. First thing we worked on was the canopy so we could have some shade in the 90 degree heat!!
Friday! Time to go to the FAIR!

The theme this year seemed to be pink.
There's Ben and Saamanta in the background.
Excited boys on the big yellow school bus!

At the fair... I went and got my belly painted, something I was really looking forward to doing.
Yum, coconut bliss ice cream bar.

The obligatory nap at Chela Mela Meadow under the big tree.
At a Ninja show.


You can see Jake standing up and watching. It was all play/pretend fight scenes, and it was really awesome! Of course Jake and Max just loved it.
One of the many meals at the fair. So much good food there.
Jake watching the pink-haired ladies who blew bubbles and handed out bubble gum.
View of my belly.

Picture of our camp set-up.
With our Westy van. It was soooo comfortable. There were two beds in it and space for our stuff.
Playing on Saturday -- we stayed at the camp all day. We also went swimming in the lake each day which was so much fun and so good to have in the heat. I wish I had gotten pictures of how beautiful it was but I was so hot that I would just make my way to the water and get in without being able to think of anything else!
Sweet baby Porter.
Silly, happy boys with Ellie.
Porter and daddy Ron.
This one was silly from the heat and the beer.
A view of sleeping in the top of the camper van.
And the bed at the bottom. Jake slept up top with daddy the first night but then on the bottom with me the other 2 nights.
Sunday we packed up the campsite and headed back to the Fair.
And watched a belly dancing show (a good balance from the ninja show, no?)
Then tired, hot, dirty, HAPPY, we headed back home.
Other words to describe the weekend: bubbles, glitter, red wagon, beer, watermelon, pink hair, naked doctor, Apples to Apples, topless swimming in the lake, hot, mosquitos, counter-culture, lemonade, glow sticks, port-a-potties, body painting...