Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Brave, Insane, or Just Plain Stupid -- You Decide :)

My next door neighbor gave me 8 free tickets to the Fair late Friday afternoon. It seemed a waste to not use the tickets, and since we hadn't been to the Fair yet this year, I decided we should go. Two problems: (1) No husband and (2) This weekend was closing weekend of the Fair...meaning use or lose the tickets...and also meaning that everyone and their mother and their long lost distant cousins were at the Fair, too.

Soooo...I called up my sister to see if she wanted to go since we'd considered going the previous week but cancelled due to rain. I'm not sure what she was thinking, but she accepted. For those of you who don't know my sister Wanda, she has three kids, two-year-old twin girls and a two-month-old. You do the math...two adults (her hubby wasn't available this weekend either) and six children total. Now for some reason, our friend Matt (whose wife Leslie and girls were out of town for the weekend) took pity on us and he and his two boys met up with us, for a grand total of 8 children, ranging from 2 months to 7 years, and 3 adults. We started out at Whataburger for a marathon feeding of little people (seriously, what were we thinking here because by the time the bigger ones were done eating, the babies needed to eat again, and Thavyn is still in the eat, poop, and eat more stage). Like a herd of turtles, maybe even snails...


Somehow, we actually made it to the Fair, and managed to board & disembark the tram without losing any children or personal effects. We even saw a few animals, of which the goats were clearly the highlight, and saw the Killdares perform. That's about all we could manage before we trudged our weary selves back across the parking lot (skipping the tram this time, thank you very much!) and back home.


My children attempting to lead around their two year old cousins...and not lose them in the crowd.
The good times for the twins...feeding the goats! Although, as Wanda put it, minus one very long car ride, a visit to Uncle Glen & Aunt Cindy's in SC yields an even better opportunity with a lot less hassle!!Hey, these kids look like they're having fun!
Even more fun, snacking & getting ready to listen to the Killdares.

Had to include this one. Note the six year-old in front, very pleased to be riding in the stroller!

My Genna here, contentedly playing with her toes on her left foot (apparently there's something special about the left one). You'd never know she yelled for the entire car ride to the Fair and two-thirds of the ride home!

5 comments:

amy said...

I've done a few brave/stupid things with kids in my life too - but that's what great memories are made of! I'm impressed that you even got your camera out!! :)

Leslie Hargus said...

I can't believe you managed to take pictures! Ok, I have to admit, I'm glad I missed it. ;) The State Fair is not my thing. But my kids had so much fun (apparently oblivious to the pain of the adults) they are already excited to go next year! Now I'm stuck....maybe it can be another 'Guy Trip'. :)

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

You're a brave woman! And you'll be glad you did it when you look back. :) When I started reading the post, all I could think was, "kid leashes" ... glad to see the twins had them! :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for documenting our "brave" expedition! :) Even with the couple of meltdown moments, and the insanity of that stupid tram, I do have fond memories of the experience and would be willing to make a go of it next year... but not on the closing day!

In His Grip said...

I have always thought it but now you have confirmed it- YOU ARE SUPERWOMAN.

I like that Matt was your sidekick. Way to go girl.

Oh, my vote is Brave.