Sprites

Sprite:  noun 1.  an elf or fairy.  synonyms:  fairy, elf, pixie, imp, brownie, puck, peri, leprechaun, sylph, naiad.  By the light of the moon the woodland sprites do dance and play.

That is a pretty close enough definition for the next set of pictures.  It sounds a lot better than rugrats unleashed at hippie fest...and there was no moonlight because this is the land of the midnight sun...but there was dancing and playing...in the forest...and in the rain.

This first photo is one I just love.  People standing in the rain, listening to the tunes, just hanging out getting wet.  This little girl in her vivid raincoat, riding on dad's shoulders, quietly observing everything, her little fingers trying to pinch raindrops.  She didn't make a peep...neither complaining of the rain or delighting in it...just a little forest bug quietly enjoying it all. 

This little girl was delighting in the festival mood and alternated between skipping and stomping along in her sneakers and veils and flowers and frills...topped off with a magic wand.

There was something comical about this little lady.  I have always maintained that kids are pretty much born who they are going to be.  I became convinced of this watching my own nieces and nephews grow -- over the years, the expressions on their faces remain the same.  Perplexed at 3 months has the same raised brow as perplexed at 16 years old.  They grow, choices take them on certain paths than you might have imagined, but when a certain look crosses their face you know exactly what they are feeling...because you have seen that look their whole lives.  This little girl screams determination to me.  I got the sense that at least part of this look was of her choosing, and it's pretty rock and roll for a toddler.  I kind of hope she keeps the look.  It was also cute watching her size up a tree stump just about her height and watch her struggle to get to the top, kicking and wiggling until she was triumphant.

I have a feeling in 10 years she will be the one on stage.

This to me is "Little Boy Lost."  He looks the part of a hippie vagabond, weary and soulful.  He is trailing hippie grandma and grandpa, but I think he was ready for a nap.

Every once in a while the kids could wrestle a hula hoop away from the adults and have a little fun.  This little girl had high aspirations of hula dancing and spinning and jumping all at the same time...fortunately she has a few years to fine tune the skills, but she was sure having fun!

 And what is a generation without....Batman!  Fortunately this little dude was around to keep things in line.  Nobody was going to mess with his popcorn.

There were a lot of tweens about as well. They managed to make Forest Fair a little more punk.

I call these Trippies...Trainee Hippies.

So many spirited sprites in the woods that weekend.  I am sure there are many more tales to tell.