Shekinah Festival

Once again we had a beautiful, fall day for the Shekinah Festival. This Amish festival near Plain City includes a smoked chicken lunch, homemade ice cream, crafts, animals and fun. It is a fundraiser for the Shekinah Christian School and provides this rural community (and those in the nearby urban community) a chance to spend a quiet afternoon enjoying family & friends.

Degen couldn't get enough of the barrel train last year, but was content with just one ride this year. (I'm sure he would have loved another ride, but as we didn't arrive at the festival until early afternoon we had lots to do.)

Both kids enjoyed making sand art this year, though I think Degen got as much sand on the table as he did in his jar! Kyrie made a bracelet and a jar.

Instead of getting their faces painted, the kids had their hands painted (so that they could enjoy their body art). Kyrie chose a silly, yellow pup and Degen chose a soccer ball.

The small petting zoo was a big draw for our kids and we spent a lot of time with the bunnies & kittens. There were only two kittens, so Kyrie waited patiently for her turn to hold one. Degen liked the bunnies best (bless those poor bunnies' hearts) and would scoop them right up all by himself and then hold them close to his chest. It was so sweet!

There were also several farm animals in the petting zoo. Kyrie definitely preferred the fuzzy bunnies & kittens, but Degen was quite interested in the bigger animals, especially this sweet calf. Whenever the cow would moo, Degen would moo right back at it!

The horseback rides are also a big thrill for the kids even though it is just a lazy figure eight. Degen rode all by himself this year and did a great job holding onto the saddlehorn. Kyrie was an old-hand on the horses, and when she was done she eagerly reminded me that she wants to start horseback riding lessons this year!

After a quick stop to pick up a few of the yummiest long johns ever at Der Dutchman, we headed back home. Degen was asleep before we reached the interstate, still clutching his balloon yo-yo in his candy-sticky fingers!