The Summer Ends?

 We're forming traditions. The GDS Fair is one of them. Equal parts rusted rides and busted livestock. Plus there's a carney that genuinely believes I'm the guy from The Hangover and for a fleeting moment I get the VIP treatment. 

Pregnant lady on the ferris wheel!

How many rides can you squeeze into frame

Not a master at the rope climb yet

She insisted on the pink dragon

 Met Susie and Eileen so they could guide us thru the chicken house

Round two, well into the night

Mountain Folk Make Birthday Fun

Seems like I'm always playing catchup as of late. This was quite the week. Start where we left off.. the girl turns three...

We took her and Isabella to the park in the woods, amusement on acid, where the staff is all friendly because they're all family, Knoebels. I'm still not convinced you should pronounce the K.

I guess we came to the right place

 

This carousel hit 45 mph before the final passengers could buckle up

The cutest helicopter pilots

This gives Laura the heebeegeebees...

...see.

But they were having some fun

Then we gave them more sugar

I'll stick with my extinguisher

Where's the rest of this train?

Daddy's favorite ride

She's got a thing for ferris wheels

And then she got inked

Before we pulled out of the parking lot

Back at home we had cake ready

 One step closer to having the credentials to back up those daily checkups

Grandpa can never clock out

So that was her birthday. Her actual birthday. But it was only the beginning of what apparently became a week-long celebration. Don't get used to it girl. You only turn three once.

Way Up High, Classical Ply, Not Staying Dry

day two in Chicago...

Mostly Wet, And Some Monkeys

We realized last night that we haven't even watched any of the video from our vacation last week. There's gotta be about 60 files. I grabbed a few highlights and thru together a little preview... it goes by fast.

We haven't even unpacked our suitcases yet, either.

Size Of An Elephant's Ear Versus Height Of A Ferris Wheel

First stop yesterday; Navy Pier. Slightly touristy, but it had some rides for Yuula, and since that's her new obsession... we go.

 Laura got an elephant ear as well, a childhood favorite. While the taste and texture impressed, the size was not quite up to elephant scale for her liking. I reminded her that at a young age the ear of the elephant may have seemed larger by comparison. She disagreed. 

After walking all the way to the end of Navy Pier you get .............(drumroll)... an anchor. Quick snapshot and retreat. 

Next stop was the ferris wheel, which Yuula was stoked about. I on the other hand... 

 ... she did not contract my fear of high things.

And she and Aunt Dani managed to ride multiple horses on one single merry go round.

Navy Pier!

A Decent A Fair

After a the girls napped all day, everyone felt much better and a decision was made to go to the fair in Newfoundland.

approaching the gates we could tell this fair was no joke

one of the three rides Yuula met the height requirements for was the bouncy house

at first she was less bouncy and more house

we gave the horseys a go

she held her own this time and even mildly exclaimed "wee" once or twice, tho I don't think the horseys noticed

no?

a fair staple, a delectable classic

more horsey! she exclaimed, but her face doesn't tell that story

the space train went well at first

she lost it somewhere between Saturn and Jupiter (haha get it?)

there has never been a bad photo of a ferris wheel

more bouncy house, this time she's a pro

the sun dropped and the temperature plummeted

watching the world's worst magician

look! hog wrangling children

then we found Eileen

Susie will definitely hate this photo

WCF? you decide...

twilight at the fair

oh look, we're back at the bouncy house

Laura and I went on the Cliff Hanger, kind of cool, round and round on the angle but you get to go head first while you lay on your belly, like a hang glider, very relaxing.

In the time it took us to cliff hang Yuula had fallen asleep in Susie's arms. We decided rather than eat a $9 slice of pizza we'd go to their favorite restaurant, the Hotel, and grab a bite to eat. Yuula colored all of the placemats, including some of the table, and Eileen and Laura ate the biggest burgers I've ever seen. Susie and I were the lightweights. When the music jumped 10 decibels and the barflies started replacing dining folks it was clear the night was coming to an end. Good to see Eileen and Susie finally this summer. We still got a little bit of warm weather left so... we'll see what happens. Yuula was asleep before I could put the car in drive.