At the Fair

At the fair with Grandma, G and her mom.

 

fish fry carnival

Esme had been asking about and waiting for this for weeks... we went tonight and Mark took lots of pictures.  Here are just a few. 

Esme has grown so much this year, and this picture does show that.  

I'm glad Grandma came along and tried some of the rides - she doesn't like heights or elevators, so this was big for her, too!  Esme tried so hard to be brave and ended up outlasting me.

 I tried just telling her to hang on to the spinner wheel - but moments after this she bashed her cheek against it and I had to wrap my arm around her for the rest of the ride - but she recovered bravely and was on to the next ride, and the next ride... she rode almost every one we would let her try.  I was getting dizzy by the end!

 we didn't know this little girl but her spirit and smile was shining so brightly

This is my favorite picture - thank you, Mark, it just captures the moment so well.   on the sizzler ride with Esme - this was a lot of fun... it was one of the rides I did every year at our carnival in Grand Rapids - so I told her just how to hang on and smash up against me and she really did have a great time.   She was 'pretend screaming' and then stopping in mid screech to say 'hi' calmly to the operator... I would have rolled my eyes if I had not already been dizzy!

A ride called the Surge Burst - it was very scary looking.. but Mark suggested I try it while Esme was in the ball pit slide... and I did.

 There was a lot of hanging on to the seat for dear life

 

This is a comparison of the dress when I first made it - April 2011, and last night.

Luckily, it was a bit big when I made it ;) and it has fit her all of this time.  She was unsure of it last night - saying I had made it when she was 'four years old' so it shouldn't fit anymore and be too small - only to be surprised that it fit well enough to even touch her toes in.

 

She has grown a lot in two years, but the dress probably won't fit much longer.  I need to get sewing again!

West Tennessee State Fair

At the West Tennessee State Fair
pictures taken by Mark


Getting instructions from Mom before the ride






riding a pony


woodworking exhibit


hang glider ride

We had a great time at the fair on Wednesday night. Esme had a few temper fits but she got through them. She rode a pony and saw lots of animals in the petting zoo. She took an interest in the beauty pageant at the exhibit hall that I did not expect - and is now focused on winning a trophy, although she isn't really sure what the contest was - singing and dancing she thinks. She asked me to let her wear a skirt from the exhibits and then she would get up on stage and sing. I thwarted the idea and got her a fireman's plastic hat instead. We rode the rollercoaster twice, the Ferris wheel with Grandma, and she also rode a 'big girl' ride with me which she did very well on. We saw sheep and corn and chickens and there were lots and lots of children running around. Esme played one game of darts and won a small stuffed corn toy. She cried when 'all good things must come to an end.'

county fair 2010

We had Esme out to the county fair this year! She loved it - and they let her ride the rides again this time (last time they didn't (last August), time before that they did (April 2009?). She was so very very happy about the strawberry ride and the carousel and went on the rocky boat with me as well. She did not want to get off any ride when it was done, kept saying 'this is fun, whee ride MORE whee!' etc ... The carousel had 'pretty white horsies go RIDE'

She wanted to go on the big slide but we ran out of tickets.

She got a frog balloon and a stuffed cow toy, saw real cows, goats and sheep. We didn't take any pictures but she had a blast.

Carnival

Wow Whee!

Am I a cowgirl now?

Clinging to Daddy watching all the people

From the moment we walked into the Carnival Esme pointed and said 'whee' and 'wow' at all the lights and rides flying through the air. We walked around looking for a bouncey castle or something like that - but they didn't have one. So we decided to try the Ferris Wheel. Esme was SO scared at first and crying - but about halfway through the ride she started to calm down.


So scared!

She looked at everything around us and to me saying 'pretty' and repeating her 'whee' and 'wow'. She gave us the most quizzical expressions!


I'm not sure if I can believe you!


It might not be all bad - as long as you hold me

Then, while clinging tightly to me she relaxed completely and seemed to partially enjoy the rest of the ride.

She didn't like it at all when I went on a ride and she stayed with Daddy - she cried loudly thinking I was gone. I heard 'DaDa!' and she hugged me tightly when I came back. We took her on the giant slide and that was more fun - but the carousel made her scared again.

We got a slice of pizza which was excellent (surprising) and Esme enjoyed that. She also grabbed a Koosh ball from a vendor stall so we bought it - and we won a plush flower at a dart game.

When we left we were halfway across the parking lot and Esme turned and waved 'bye bye' to the lights of the carnival.