Never Fair Enough!

Dear Peep and Peach, 
I've really blown keeping up with our summer excitement.  I missed documenting our entire trip to Chicago!  Not even one picture.  What!  I'll get to that, but for now I want to cover the wonderful Bartholomew and Monroe County Fairs and the State Fair.  The Thompsons are all about the summer fair.  We started our fair adventures at the Bartholomew County Fair in Columbus.  We had to see JD ride his horses for 4H.  You can tell he adores you and showing you his horses and what he does.  When he saw you were a little apprehensive next to that big powerful horse he made the horse's mouth move and talk to you.  This relieved your tension and you giggled a bit.  After watching JD perform we took Nash and Grandma P and Bahboo and found some chicken and sweet corn dinners.

AMAZINGLY delicious!  Then we found our way through the snow cones and the ice cream cones (pineapple whip!) and the funnel cakes and it was clearly time for us to head home.  Great time had by all, even Bahboo and Grandma P, who claim they don't care for the fair, enjoyed themselves.  

A few weeks later in the afternoon we hit the Monroe County Fair with the twinks to check out the chickens and goats.  The grounds were pretty empty so when we got to climb the tractors and invade the small performance stage you guys took full advantage.  Etinne became the cab driver taking you off to your personal workshops, New York City and St. Louis.  Beep Beep, it was adorable!  He even picked up some seasoned cabby talk, with a wry lip and gruff voice.

A few nights later we decided to have dinner at the fair.  We had been promising you rides all week and were super excited to see what you'd choose to ride, until we saw the price.  Wristbands were 18 bucks each!  I had read on the website that you couldn't buy tickets on wristband nights. OOps.  So we distracted you from the rides by eating first.  Lemon Shake Up!  Sweet Corn!  Hamburger!  You were WAY into the sweet corn, as always... eating so quickly that the kernels were flying, you even took off your glasses to protect them from wayward juice pops.   

Hazel was also very interested in the corn but having no top teeth made it impossible for her to eat.  To solve both problems we had Henry eat the corn over your stroller tray and you gratefully ate the golden sweetness that fell your way.  You both seemed to love the arrangement.  

We LOVE to go through the barns and collect lots of pencils, free popsicles, and various other weird stuff.  Sometimes there are goofy activities you get to do but I was particularly surprised at the Monroe County Fair you jumped right into the eye exam station with gusto.  

Then the unavoidable happened, we had to break the news about the rides.  

We walked closer to the ticket booth.  And begins the real story of the fair season...  We looked at the booth signs together and said, "$18 dollars!  Wow, we aren't going to be able to afford getting two wristbands."  So we expect that we are going to have nuclear level disappointment because it is a horrible thing to do to a sweet boy like yourself to promise rides and pull them out from under you in a split second.  Daddy and I were feeling pretty bummed and pretty crummy.  I tried to help talk you down but allowed you to frenzy and explode for a minute.  Finally, you pulled it together.  Arms to your side, clinched in fists, we offered the alternative, WE COULD PLAY SOME GAMES!  You released your tension and sucked in deeply and said okay.  !  I was impressed!  after 3-5 minutes the whole debacle happened, was solved and moved on with.  Seriously!  So, we went to play your first game, Balloons and Darts.  We had a negative prediction for this game but you were pumped.  Happy to see you excited again, you threw your $1 dart and watched it sail steadily through the air to drop about two feet from the board into the grass.  You stood there for a minute, head slung back, arms to your body with your wrists flicking out to the side as if to say, "Is that all?"  Your face was a sad little grimace of complete and utter disillusionment.  

We pulled you away to move on to the skee ball.  This was going to do it for ya!  It started out good because you saw that the game was wheelchair accessible, something you've been paying particular attention to lately.  We threw a couple of rounds to no avail and decided to go to the other side of the midway to play your last game.... but what happened next was a miracle.  The gods were wanting you to ride scary sick making rides as much as you did... we passed another ticket booth that allowed you to buy individual tickets! What?!  I know!  The night couldn't get any better!  

We looked around and decided on rides and that was it!  We bought some tickets and you were leaping giant gallops across the tangled, cabled grasses toward the helicopters, face all a glow with the colored lights.  I could see what a big guy you were being up to that point because you could have been filled with helium the way you floated around with some tickets in your hand.  You gave Daddy a big hug and said thanks.

Your chatter backed up this new elation, "Oh my gosh! This is awesome!"  We were so happy, too!  You are a sucker for the fun houses and little roller coasters.  

 

 

We even ended up bumping into JoJo's sister and her little girl.  A perfect evening.  When the tickets ran out, you just said thanks so much and were the happiest little boy in the world.  We topped it off with some cotton candy and you were eager to see Hazel try some.  It kept sticking to her lips but she loved it, as did the concession stand ladies who stood and oooohed and aaaahed over her while she ate it.  

 

 

Daddy and I were so proud of you.  It was a meanie thing we had to do, but we ended up being able to do a couple of games, some rides and cotton candy for less than what it would have cost for two wristbands.  Thanks for being so understanding but I am really happy we were able to keep our promise without breaking the budget. We love seeing you joyful.

Love, Mama