A Very Fine Day at the Fair

We spent a wonderful day at the fair today.



Danny and I decided to take only the two big girls today, so that they could fully enjoy themselves without us having to run all over looking for two crazy-eyed twins. This meant no strollers, no diaper bag, no rushing home for naptime, no crying, and no meltdowns.



The girls are at the perfect age for the fair. They were totally entertained by every booth. Every exhibit had something to look at and they were in awe of all the colors, sounds, and smells.



We went to church first thing in the morning, so we made it to the fair right around lunchtime. The girls asked for hot dogs, I had a shrimp ceviche tostada, and Danny had a mish-mash of different fair food.



Then the REAL fair food was to be consumed. Oh and we did consume.

I assumed cotton candy would be a winner with the girls, I mean, it's pink! Fluffy! Super sweet!

It wasn't actually a big hit.

E threw hers away after a few bites. She didn't like how sticky it made her fingers. Whatever, I have four kids, a neat freak is welcome any day of the week.

Now Cubby is a whole different kind of crazy. She liked the cotton candy, but since it was so fluffy and soft, like a cloud, that she laid on the grass and used it as a pillow. We had to chuck the grass and dirt covered "pillow" and she had a little more.

I know, a dentist somewhere is crying. But don't worry, she still has her baby teeth.

Now, I am not a cotton candy person. Well, I was, but I am no longer five.

But I do love dessert. There is absolutely no question about that.

I like delicious creamy things preferably drizzled in chocolate and sitting in a cone.

Now last year, the fair had a gelato stand. I not only dreamed about this gelato every day for two weeks after I ate it, I prayed it would be back at the fair this year.

I love this gelato.

I arrived at the fair, and anxiously looked for the telltale sign.

I grew anxious and started sweating.

Where is the gelato sent straight from heaven?

And then I saw it.

And everything was right with the world.

The Colossal Gelato guy is now my girls' best friend.

Oh my.

I did not order this. No really, I didn't!

What happened is that I went up to the booth and began professing my love for the gelato. I actually told the guy that I had prayed for it to come back. I got a little emotional. Anyway, he totally understood. So he said, "I'm going to do something special for our biggest fan." And then he gave me this beautiful masterpiece of gelato goodness. I almost cried. Then I ate it. And I did not share one single bite with my little family. I know, horrible, right!? My only defense is that they didn't ask, they must have seen the look of love in my eyes, and knew it would be a lost cause.

Then we went to a stage to watch Cubby perform with her dance group. A bunch of 3 and 4 year olds got up there and charmed the pants off the entire audience. It was great. I videotaped the whole thing if you'd like to catch a glimpse.

Then we headed over to the carnival. It was incredibly crowded, and the girls were bubbling over with excitement. They wanted to go on everything and anything.

First we rode down the huge slide. Cubby was a little unsure so I burned some rubber on the slide with her on my lap.

Then they went on their own with a couple of our neighbor girls.

Weeeeeeee!!!!

Then the girls saw the canoe ride and they were completely transfixed. They became little Pocahontas's and their only desire was to ride through a rumbling river in a canoe....

.....through a purple plastic teepee.

Hey, it totally works! They loved this!

Then we had a little more yummy fair food. Snow cones. Yum.

You gotta do it, right?!

My little chickie.

Then the girls sidled on up to the pony ride. They had been asking to do this all day, so this was the perfect culminating activity to a perfect day.

E loved this little white pony. I see a pony in our future.

Definitely. A pony is definitely in our future.

And then Danny took this unflattering photo of my rear, and we headed for home.

Our two tired little munchkins went to bed early tonight.

A good day at the fair is all I really needed to fill my heart to overflowing with thankfulness for the blessings in my life. God is so good.

Here's Cubby's dance performance video. If you have another minute, check it out!

Cousin Ellie

My sister Ayron and I are very close. We are such tight buddies that we vowed that when she got pregnant with her first baby, I would get pregnant too, so that the kids could have a cousin close in age.

She announced her pregnancy only a few months after her wedding, so the race was on! Little did I know that I would get pregnant with twins, who would then be born two months premature.

Ayron's beautiful baby girl, Ellie, was born in May, and the twins arrived exactly one month later to the day.

My little G and J.D. now have a cousin who is only one month older, a perfect situation for sisters as tight as me and Ayron.

Cousin Ellie is sweet, gentle, and extremely fashionable. She has a loud, raucous laugh, and curious fingers, that can pry anything open. She loves her mom and dad, and prefers walking to being carried. Sometimes she lets her Auntie April carry her around, but it doesn't last long.

Mom and I took the five kids, (otherwise known as her "perfect grandchildren") to the park yesterday. I mainly kept my eye on Cousin Ellie.

And this is what she did in return. What a ham!

Did I mention her fashion sense? It's uncanny! For a kid under two to know how to combine these fashions into a coordinated look!? Amazing. I want those jeans!





I caught a really cute moment between the cousins. Cousin Ellie was walking around with Grandma's keys, then J.D. snagged them (of course). However, she is such a sweetheart that she didn't cry, but she did smunch up her face so that we all knew of her displeasure.

Then J.D. did a very noble thing. He gave the keys back.

As a side note, check out J.D.'s outfit. For Danny's boy, there's never too much camo.

She liked that. A lot.

And I was very proud of my little boy.

Now that is one proud grandma.

And those are some happy kiddos.

J.D. is wondering, "Where's Grandpa?" Or in his language, "Ba-Pa?"

There's nothing better than Grandma's lap. Right G? .....G? She's ignoring me now. That happens when she's around Grandma. Everything else is deemed worthless and unimportant. All that matters is that Grandma is here.

Cousin Ellie agrees.

Ok, now he's a little peeved. He likes the girls, but he definitely prefers Daddy and Grandpa over us chicks.

Finally!!! Grandpa showed up, and quickly filled up any and all arm space with grandkids.

Grandma with her mini-me. Good times.

A Day Trip

Danny, E, Cubby, and I went to Palm Desert yesterday to shop for kitchen stuff. Danny had been begging me to go look at countertop colors, tile floors, and backsplash options. I dragged my feet and came along, if only to keep the big lug company.

Just kidding, Danny is totally not into this kitchen design stuff. But yesterday, I needed a second opinion, and since Danny has been virtually uninvolved (except to write the big checks) with this process, I asked him to come along.

We had a really fun time. Did you know that Palm Desert is pretty close to equal to Disneyland on the "fun" scale? It's true. The girls loved it.

First we met with the cabinet designer to talk countertop options. This took a while, and we decided on some pretty choices.

Then we went to lunch.

Warning: Lots of pictures to follow.

I love that our two girls are big enough now to sit quietly in a booth while we wait for our food. They don't fuss or whine or complain. They sit like normal people and chat and color their placemats. I do not ever take this for granted. Babies, you're next!

E wrote an entire story about dolphins, a cat, and an elephant.





Yum. Pizza.

Yum. Beef szechuan noodles. A little salty, but good. Yes, this was still a work day for Danny, and rain was in the forecast, so phone calls happen.

Then we went right down the escalator and onto the grassy area in the middle of the mall. The girls had more fun out there!

Cubby found a couple of new friends.

E found a belly button.

They really sang "Ring Around the Rosies" and danced with the statues. It was great.




E washed her hands in the fountain. All fountains we ever encounter are used for a good hand washing.



See?

Isn't this beautiful? What a picturesque pathway. Danny said we should make this in our yard, but make it a mountain bike path.

Then we went to pick out floor tile and backsplash.

E definitely had an opinion. "Polka dots are so cute, mom!"

Choices, choices.



Clearly, this is not Danny's thing. Hanging around a showroom is his worst nightmare. So, it was at this point, when my excitement is growing, and I don't read his body language, facial expression, or hangdog appearance, and I ask a ridiculous question. I want to know what styles he likes, apart from my influence. So I ask, "What are you drawn to?" And he said, "You mean, besides the front door?" Ouch.

Then we got smoothies on the way out of town.

Mine was 100% AWESOME. It was called Chai Crazy or something like that. It was the most delicious thing I have had on this planet in a long time. AND it's calorie free! Not really, I just told myself that and I enjoyed it even more.

Danny was a little jealous. His Soy Power Smoothie couldn't compete.

Then we arrived home to a major surprise.

The wall between the kitchen and the living room magically disappeared in our absence! See that plastic curtain way in the background? That was a wall. I am ecstatic.

Then we went outside, since that's the only safe place in our house now for the kids to play.

Cubby pretended to be Queen Starfish.

Cousin E came over and took a thrilling ride on the jeep.

And then she was crowned Queen Starfish.

What a wonderful day!