Gender Reveal Party

For the first time in my life, which is an experience I quite enjoy, I attended a gender reveal party.  Jokes aside and after releasing any preconceived notions... it was rather pleasant and a great moment shared with family and friends.  This party was also very well done!  For those of you who don't know, and trust me, I didn't either until a few weeks ago, a gender reveal party is an opportunity for the parents or parent to reveal the gender of her/his/their child.  

Now, there are several ways to do this:

1)  Popping a ballon with confetti inside.  This was the one I attended.

2)  Cutting into a cake to reveal either blue or pink.  This was also at the one I attended.

3)  Opening a gift box to reveal either a feminine or masculine item.

4)  Use your imagination, some surprise, and some object to indicate the child's gender and 1 person who knows the gender and is willing to keep a secret.  

Upon first arriving we were asked to grab either a blue tie or pink tutu pin.  These were our predictions as to whether we thought it would be a boy or girl.  The great grandmother even went as far as to dye her hair pink in the hopes of having a girl!  There was a list of Old Wives Tales to help influence decisions.  There were a lot of hopes and guessing as to whether or not it would be a boy or girl.  After hanging out with family and friends the moment of truth finally came.  One of my cousin's friends had been in touch with the doctor and went and had a balloon filled with confetti.  To find out whether it was a boy or girl, watch the video below (be sure to pay attention to the father's reaction...)...  

(A few photos of the baby and pins to guess the gender)

(My cousin helped out a bit by circling her 'symptoms')

(My choice)

(Super Pop Pop's choice)

(The dogs were dressed for the occasion)

(What is it going to be???  Have to be ready for both...)

(The moment of truth getting closer - the contents of the black balloon hold the answer...)

(It's a...)

Rebecca's First Trip to PA

The beginning of June Rebecca made her way to Pennsylvania for a week long furlough to see if it was a place where she could spend a few months.  The week went by rather fast, as is always case and after visiting family and going on a short camping trip, there wasn't much time for much else.  However, we did do the typical touristy things:  Chocolate World, The Ride (as I like to call it), a quick tour of Hummelstown, th State Capitol building in Harrisburg, etc.  The trip must have gone well enough because she decided to come back a few weeks later.  

Alas, here are a few photos from Chocolate World and our short camping stint on the Appalachian Trail:

Rebecca at the entrance to Chocolate World

(Somebody is super pumped for some free chocolate!)

(World's Largest Hershey's Bar)

(5 pounds of milk chocolatey goodness)

(As we prepared to take the ride at Chocolate World)

(Who wants to buy the photos when you get just take a photo of the photo?)

(Twizzlers photo opportunity)

(For some reason, Rebecca had this ideal of Waffle House.  I think she took a road trip years ago and remembers Waffle House as being the best thing.  So, we went...)

(Since it was my first time there, ever, I got a free hat.  Let's just say while the food wasn't bad, the best part of the meal was the free hat...)

(Our journey on the trail)

(Rebecca found Prince Charming...)

(An orange salamander of sorts)

(I'd been trying to explain to her about 'Trail Magic' and luckily we ran across some - pop corn and peanut butter eggs)

(Ferns, ferns, and more ferns)

(A view from one of the lookouts)

(A mega centipede of sorts)

(Four leaf clover, one of Rebecca's many talents is spotting these lucky charms)

(We took my nephew to Adventure Sports one day and played arcade games)

(A bridge shot as we walked across from City Island to downtown Harrisburg)

(The dome at the Capitol)

(One of the houses, can't remember which one...)

(Rebecca was enthralled with all the art work and details)

(Some more intricate details)

(Saw a groundhog which was big news!!!)

(Rebecca taking a look out at City Island)

Rolf Radium Springs - The Home of 1000 Faces

On our way back from camping on Crown land we made a quick stop in Radium, not for the hot springs, but rather the wood carver - Rolf Heer.  I am not quite sure how Rebecca met this man, or when, but we had to make a stop on the way back.  The place - The Home of 1000 Faces.  What can you see at the home of 1000 faces?  Well, for starters, lots of faces.  Second, lots of woodcarvings.  And third, but not finally, goats.  

Not sure if this place was Rolf's home or workshop or possibly both.  The man definitely appears to be a craftsman.  He greeted us at the door and after we paid our entrance fee (I believe it was $4 a person) we chatted with Rolf for a bit.  His brother was visiting from Switzerland.  He then gave us some stale nacho chips and invited us to go and feed the goats.  Yes, goats!  The workshop is easily 3 or 4 levels with pathways specifically designed for the goats.  We toured the inside of his shop a bit before making our way outside to feed the goats.  

We finished, after snapping quite a few photos, on the ground floor.  Rolf had just started to work on a piece and explained that he had thousands of bottles left from his Halloween party.  So, not only was it the home of 1000 faces but also the home of thousands of bottles.  The bottom floor had some fun 'traps' where you could push buttons or twist doorknobs and water would squirt out from some unknown place.  If you get the chance and find yourself in Radium with a few hours to kill, stop on by and check out the art!

(Lamp post as we entered)

(A few of the thousand of faces)

(Admission sign)

(A few more of the faces inside the shop)

(Not really sure what this photo was supposed to be of...)

(A wooden creature of sorts, pretty cool)

(A few more sculptures)

(Time to feed the goats some stale nacho chips)

(Rebecca feeding the goats)

(Me feeding the goats)

(From what Rebecca told me all of the things inside this room were found while Rolf was in the woods cutting down trees.  This may have been a tenth of the items plus there was another room.)

(A few of the thousand bottles)

(Strolling through the ground floor/workshop area.  Those black plastic bags were also filled with bottles.  So, if you are in Radium over Halloween, stop by his place - must be a great party.)

(Not sure what happened when I twisted this doorknob, possibly nothing)

(Luckily, I was standing in the right place here)

(Lonely Bear)

(Rebecca had a seat)

(A few more of the faces with bodies)

(Lots to see, that was for sure.  We were on our way back to Calgary so probably only spent an hour there.)

(Not quite sure what either of these sculptures were supposed to be)

(A workbench, perhaps)

(See the face?)

(A few more of the faces on the outside)

(A glimpse of the upper level.  Not exactly the best shot but hopefully gives you some idea.)