Wednesday, March 30, 2011

fairs make me happy.

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right after breakfast with some friends, a friend mentioned they were going to the fair. usually, i would drag my heels and him and haw about it being a tad too warm with too much dust, dirt, and dander flying around the fairgrounds that would eventually find their way into my uber allergic nostrils.

that day, however, i felt the intense desire to almost immediately pack my crap and both of my kids and make the thirty minute trek to the fun charged environment that would surely cost us a small fortune especially on a spur of the moment trip to the fair. I start to mentally tally up the costs and decide if we are free to spend the evening at the fair.

*begin rationalizing.

1. it would make their day.

2. surely, peyton and beckham would award me with a mom-of-the-day-trophy in the fields of financial forecasting, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-ness, and warrior of allergies.

3. it's spring break. no school tomorrow!!!

4. i'll clean now and feel free to go later.

enter kelle. she sees what i'm doing, i see her own wheels turning and we almost said it together after staring at each for a few blank moments...

wanna go to the fair. sometime after 4?

love this girl.

SOLD!

we went for the kids, but i have never had a better trip to the fair. it could have been the philly cheese steak sandwich that we inhaled as soon as we walked in. maybe it was my first bite ever of an elephant ear...

kelle: are you ready to taste the best thing you have ever tasted in the history of all food? here, eat this. i bought it for us.

expectantly, kelle's face searches mine for the confirmation of her own thoughts and love of her beloved elephant ears because as long as i've known kells, she speaks about elephant ears the way i speak about my first kiss. i love it because i get it. i have a love/love relationship with most food and seeing someone else losing themselves in a childhood treat...well, it just makes me happy.

and YES! it was sooooooooooo good. it is a true fairground treasure.

we arrived right before sunset and started and ended our fun in the kiddie area of the park.

between keeping our eyes locked on our kids and maintaining a fair way to keep the kids from wanting to run to three different rides at once, we stayed busy.

usually, when i go to the fair, i see the crowds of people and food; the game attendants who almost harass you into throwing down $5 every ten steps or the really evil ones who take those damn glow in the dark swords and twirly princess batons, or worse the super duper cool bubble blowers and go after your kids, who in turn turn to you with a whiny/begging voice...pleeeeeeeeze, mommy. NO.

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today, i saw the beautiful golden light and clouds of cotton candy. gardens and ducks and four really happy kids. i think i romanticised the whole damn trip, which i know...is weird. but it was a good day.

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then, peyton begged to go in this big plastic ball of germs and roll around like a hamster. after a few bucks and three minutes...i heard a screaming, sad, and scared little peyton scream. mommy, i want out of here...please get me out.

after almost falling into the pool of black water while trying to see what was wrong, i ran over to the attendant as he 'popped' her bubble and returned her back to me.

from then on, peyton was a little more cautious of the rides she would choose.
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should i or shouldn't i?

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more eating...
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more rides.

and more eating.
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best lemon italian ice i have ever had. ever.

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one last ride...
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and we were out of there.

just for the record, i sounded like a fog horn by the end of the night. i was no allergy warrior. my allergies beat the crap out of me and left me for dead.

a few showers later, i was back to normal. kids had a great time though.

***
natures flavored water and summer's best food, watermelon made a breakfast with the girls a little messier but a lot sweeter.

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weekly breakfast dates shared between mine and kelle's houses has become one of my favorite times of the week. friends and little ones gather for much needed coffee and house filling aromas that perk us up before the day becomes crazy with grocery store runs, pickups, errands, and dinner.

we run after kids, soften the heartbreak of a little one scathed by a toy stolen by another. we tell stories, laugh about who the hell knows, and catch each other up on the latest happenings in our world.

breakfast with the girls usually entails me throwing crap in drawers and closets. letting clean clothes sit in the dryer for one more day, and finally piecing together a meal that is easy and quick.

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sometimes, ironman joins us!

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if we are really lucky, we get princess and mermaid visits as well.

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and because i don't have a tiny tiny one of my own...i borrow little nella bean, hand her some food and shoot away.

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***
okay, before i go color my own hair, i have to show you peyton's new look. it seems that our little girl is starting to make her own decisions regarding her appearance.

when i was younger, i would have asked my mom to tell me what to do with my hair and that would be if i happened to even care what my hair looked like at 6. with six kids in the family, i was lucky to be clean half the time...kidding.

she woke up a few days ago and said that a girl that wasn't in her class had bangs that she wanted.

peyton: i asked her how she got those bangs and she told me, "brush- hairspray, brush-hairspray brush-hairspray!" can i go get my bangs cut? here, i'll show you.

she showed me and then told daddy what she was planning and proceeded to ask me every five minutes to take her get her hair cut.

$4.99 later (some new place was having a grand opening sale!) and this is what we have...
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a new little girl.

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and i've been catching her in the mirror a hundred times a day. i don't know where this came from. yesterday, i walked into the kitchen and she had lip gloss on. like the whole tube.

help me now.

she blushes and asks daddy everyday if he likes her hair. she brings me combs and hairspray so the bangs will stay just so. it's the cutest thing.
***
i promised recipes, but i'll do a post of recipes next so they are easier to find. i have a few to share. and if anyone has a request for a recipe, let me know. if i have it, i'll post it. you can send it to heidi976@earthlink.net

happy spring.
xo

38 comments:

Mrs. McCracken said...

I am am making your French Toast and Maple Bacon tonight... it is all I have been craving since you posted it! Being pregnant and trying to find something right now that doesn't stir about the all-day morning sickenss is priceless for me right now. The husband too! I am sure he is sick of eating cereal...
Thank you for sharing and looking forward to more recipes. Some days I wish I lived in Flordia...

Anonymous said...

ok...the bangssss??? They ROCK!

Kelly
kellywhite@rogers.com

Jen Biasi said...

Oh my gosh, you and Kelle must have had a field day snapping pics at the fair! Holy kickass photo op and great light. Your pix are great!! And Peyton's haircut is gorgeous. xo Jen
P.S. It sucks your breakfasts are on days I work. Boo. Maybe I'll still stop by sometime sans kids and bring sh*t for bloody marys. And I'll be "that" guest. heehee
xoxox

Shaye said...

Hi!!! I just have to tell you that I love your pictures...like all of them! I am just wondering, how do you get such clear shots at night? I have some pictures from a fair we went to and everything looks blurry, including my kids :( I would love to get such clear shots!!! ~Shaye

And the bangs, they're gorgeous! :)

Malu said...

Seems like you had a wonderful time at the park , thanks for sharing it ! lol

Molly Melnick said...

I don't always comment..but I love your blog and I love the friendship you and Kelle have. I just had to say 2 thumbs up on the bangs..super cute!!
Lisa

Stacy Monaghan said...

I love that you have a fair in March! We have to wait a little longer for fall fairs around here. In our area, elephant ears are beaver tails (too cliche??), and they are the yummiest!!! And I love the bangs - she looks gorgeous! And, slightly older? Yikes for you - haha!

Love the updates.

sdm said...

hi!! OK... so I had some serious catching up to do! amazing as always and so good to "see" you again :)
LOVE the bangs on Peyton -- she's adorable! and the ear bling rocks! we got our older 2 girls ears pierced for their birthdays recently and their excitement had me smiling for days!! not to mention that it gave me one more idea for birthday/holiday presents for them!!
beautiful pics as always!!
xoxo
-s

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous post once again! Love all of it. Cassie x

Tisha said...

oh. my. word. the bangs are adorable! and the whole up keep ritual is just too cute!!!

Kris said...

Spontaneous trips like that cannot be beat! What a great time you all had. I give Peyton credit for even wanting to TRY that hamster ball thing. Yikes! Love all the photos...as always. You have a very unique style that I just adore. The light is magical!
Elephant ears...I had to look it up. We call them Doughboys. So good.
Your girl looks so cute with bangs. So different! She's a doll.
xo
Kris

Angie said...

SO CUTE! Peyton's bangs are awesome! And I think I'm gonna start a little breakfast club of my own with the momma's in my hood. Thanks for the inspiration :) Great post! Hope you're having a great Thursday.

XOXO,
Angie from Ohio

Becky at lifeoutoffocus said...

Her bangs really change her whole look don't they? She looks beautiful with them. I too love the fair or anything like that with animals and smells and sounds that make such picture perfect memories! Glad you let us see yours :)

Kelly Hutcheson said...

So many thoughts, so little time. Ok, I can so relate on the fair visit; we went and had one of the best times ever; Lily Pie is still talking about it today! You should get an award for coolest picture of Kelle on the flying ride! And of the one of Kelle and Grady - it took my breath away and literally made me AOL. (aw out loud)
I don't have any words to fully articulate how I feel when I see P in bangs. What in the world? She literally looks like she could be 10...I dont know how you stand it...she's a beauty. XOXO

Anna Ruth said...

I love the bangs! She looks so grown up. Her looking in the mirror is too cute.

patsy said...

amazing pics ...as always :) and LOVE the bangs, too cute !

April said...

And ...
your posts make me happy!

Happy April ... Happy Weekend ...
xoxo

April said...

Oh the girls in the pool ... can I come over for a dip? How fun!

Maria said...

Heidi~I cannot stand how beautiful Peyton looks with those bangs! The fair looked like a ton of fun. I would go to the Edison Fair in NJ every year just for the atmosphere~the heat, the food, the games, the kids delighted faces. Even the sticky ride home was worth the trip! Beautiful pictures.

Amie said...

WOW, she's growing up! Look out, Mama! If we ever get out from under the snow here in Michigan, I'm putting the fair at the top of my list. It's been too long since my last funnel cake! Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Love this post! Love the photos of the fair - just gorgeous!! Its great how you and Kelle deceide to do things on a whim and it always pays off. Keep post. Cassie x

Kelle said...

Thought I commented on this but it was in person. HA. The pics are gorgeous, the bangs totally bangin' and the fair? It wouldn't have been the same with anyone else. Next year, you're taking Claritin, Sister.

Rosa said...

So damn cute, I love the bangs! She's just beautiful. :) And the fair looked like so much fun, can't wait for our fair to hit our parts.

Anonymous said...

Oh my......since I was last in Florida Peyton Mae has gone from little princess to teenage pop star! How fast they grow. Really the bangs are fantastic. Beckham is getting taller everyday. It makes my heart happy to see all the fun you have with your friends and theirs. Thank you for all the beautiful pictures. See you next week.

Love Sito - P.S. Has Lainey found a new man? You all went to the fair and they are not in one picture together????

heather said...

She rocks those bangs. Girl knew what she was talking about when she requested a new do! So cute on her!

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