Nate had a super crazy work schedule so Abby and I ended up having a girls only trip to the local county fair. At first I was a little nervous as to how the day would go, because I remember needing Nate to take care of her at times last year, but I figured I'd rather stumble around the fair on a Wednesday night rather than (another) night by ourselves in the house while Nate burned the midnight oil at work.
The night started out on a bit of a sour note as it took us almost an hour to drive to the fair (normally a 20 minute trip that was prolonged by a fender-bender accident right before the fair turn-off), wait in line to buy tickets to the fair (and I've NEVER in my 30 odd years of fair attendance ever had to stand in a line that was as long as the one we were in), and then finally get through the main gate. But as soon as we were in the Fair's smells, sounds, and sights any frustration we had was exchanged for smiles and fun. Abby got to dictate the events of our evening so we started off with the rides.
Last year Abby went on three rides and liked one, tolerated another, and flat out hated the third. I bought a packet of tickets and figured that when the money ran out we'd be finished with the rides and if I needed to give away tickets I wouldn't worry about it. Our first ride was the Strawberry Twirl. Did she like it? You decide...
Yeah, I think she liked it. My face at the end of the video was because "I" was getting sick. Ugh. I found that if I focused on my camera (making sure I was taking a video of Abby, of course) I didn't feel too bad, but if I tried looking up or out my stomach just rolled. I was hoping for a non-circular ride next but Abby decided she wanted a go on the carousel.
She felt like such a big girl because she got to hold onto the horse all by herself.
She thought going up and down and around and around was the coolest. At this point I'd decided that I wouldn't be going with her on anymore rides. My stomach is so not what it used to be. :-)
After the carousel we tried out an adventurous Gator ride. Abby was super, super excited to go on the little roller coaster. She patiently waited in line, hopped right up into a cart (and then was happy to move to another cart when the attendant, not so nicely if I may add - not a happy mom there, told her to move to another cart), helped her cart-mate pull down the safety bar, put her hands up when the attendant told her to, and then sat grinning waiting for the ride to start. Then the ride started. With that first lurch she grabbed onto the safety bar with a death-grip and turned to me and said "I'm all done, Mom". The next few minutes proceeded with me smiling my biggest smiling trying to convince Abby she was having a good time and Abby, every time she came round the tracks towards me, saying "All done!".
Happily raising hands while waiting for the ride to start.
Total excitement as she hears the ride start up.
Death-like grip as she realizes what a roller coaster actually is.
Continuing her death-like grip throughout the entire ride.
And finally jumping out of the cart almost before it came to a full and complete stop.
Upon finishing the Gator ride she turned to me and said that it was a scary-fun ride. I asked her if she wanted to ride again and she so sweetly said "No, thank you". I wasn't surprised. :-)
After her roller coaster adventure I was a little afraid she'd be all done with the rides but she quickly found another ride that she thought looked like fun...the Scrambler. At this point I was quite simply having a blast watching her ride the rides. It's just fantastic watching her have fun because she's so expressive about it. She doesn't just smile she full out laughs. She doesn't just giggle she shouts her joy. It's such a blessing to watch!
My absolute FAVORITE picture from the Fair. Her smile is so big and she's having such fun.
Yelling her "Woah" again and again.
Next we went to the Balloon ride. I was happy that the ride was full enough that she had some girls to ride with as I think it made the ride even more fun for her. She started chatting up to the girls right away and pretty soon they were all giggling with delight. I was able to stand close enough that Abby and I were able to give each other high-fives whenever she came around which we both got a chuckle out of.
Grinning ear-to-ear with her new friends while waiting for the ride to start.
Abby thought it was great that this ride not only went around and around but also up and down. Here she's watching to see how high up she goes.
Our final ride was the Super Slide. Abby wasn't tall enough to go on the ride by herself so she decided she'd rather do this ride with me, rather than two rides by herself. I'm glad she wasn't tall enough to go up by herself because more than once I had to remind her that she couldn't climb on the railing while we were super high up in the air. Now, last year when Abby and I went down this ride she completely freaked and yelled the entire way down and then continued to yell at me for how scary the ride was. This was in the back of my mind as Abby and I pushed off for our ride down the slide, but her reaction was totally different this year! She giggled with delight at how fast we went. Yay!
At this point it was close to 8pm and Abby still hadn't had dinner so, with our tickets all gone, I decided it was time for food. Here's where it got a little difficult. Abby wanted one thing for dinner and I another but I didn't have enough hands for both her and food. So I took a leap and got her food first, put her at a table, and then went to a nearby booth for my food. I kept an eye on her the whole time, but I think the server girl thought I was weird as I ran up to her booth, gave my food order while looking away from her the entire time, and then ran back to Abby. I was maybe thirty feet away the whole time but it felt like I was leaving my lamb among wolves. Not sure I'll be doing that again anytime soon. :-)
Abby and her annual corn dog on a stick.
With our tummies full it was time to visit the animal barns. While in the various barns we saw bunnies, guinea pigs, chickens, geese, sheep, cows, and pigs. Abby ran back and forth and forth and back as she excitedly pointed out her favorite animals from all the rest.
Petting the bunnies.
Warily eyeing the pigs. Good job, girl. You know my feelings on the pigs.
Sadly, our night had to come to an end. But we ended on a high note as Abby got her face painted. She had a blast getting her face painted at the Art in the Park the previous month and as soon as she saw the face painting booth she excitedly got into line for a second go-round.
Following directions for putting her chin up and closing her eyes so she could get painted.
Looking at her finished face.
Showing me what her face looks like in the mirror. We'll have to work on how mirrors actually work. :-)
The finished face paint!
This fair year was great! A wonderful Mother-Daughter time where there are no plans, no rush, and no saying no. I can't wait to do it again next year!
