Sunday, September 20, 2009

It's Just Like The Empty Cardboard Box

Two giveaways going on for a $50 VISA gift card and Kleenex here and a green gift bag here.

***

This afternoon we headed over to one of our local elementary schools that was running their annual carnival. It's a huge one, and I've always heard good things about it. We'd never gone before due to nap schedules, but I figured it was worth a shot.

We had a choice of buying a ride everything wristband or individual tickets that are also good for games and food. I opted for a few sheets of the individual tickets, not knowing what kind of rides there would be or what the wee ones would want to do.

The Top Ten Things I discovered at the carnival:

10) Little Miss does not like spinny rides. At all. It's possible that I ruined them for her by spinning too hard and too fast on the teacups at Disney. Mister Man and I like to spin fast though....

9) The wee ones can con my husband into riding huge scary rides that he hates just because he doesn't want to look like a wimp in front of them (and I had nothing to do with it).

8) You must always keep an eye on your child in the bouncy jungle gym because there might be an evil slightly older chld who decides to use your child as a karate board he's trying to break. Seriously. My husband made a scene, and it was deserved.

7) Mister Man will scream like a girl, but he likes rides.

6) Encouraging Little Miss to get a kitty face paint is not a good idea. She will then spend the rest of the day (and let's hope not tomorrow) meowing everything and trying to walk on her hands and knees.

5) Heading to the carnival just before the Bears game begins is a great way to ensure it won't be overcrowded when you go.

4) Always check the weather report before you head to a carnival. Although I was hot coming out of church, I was freezing in the t-shirt I changed into. Because it turned into fall and was overcast and windy. Fortunately, the rain didn't start until long after we were home.

3) In our town, my family can't go anywhere without knowing people. It's kinda cool. My husband ran into many former (and current) students. I ran into friends from Mister Man's preschool, his summer school, my babysitting co-op, my softball team, and my husband's school. It comes in handy when you're trying to figure out how the carnival works though.

2) Next year, we're buying the wristbands. The ticket sheets aren't cheap. And I as not going to buy any more tickets -- this carnival got expensive quickly. The wristbands allow you to ride any ride as often as you want for five hours. I spent the same amount on tickets that lasted us just over two hours. Now I know.

And the number one thing I learned?

It isn't worth it to buy the tickets. As we walked in, Little Miss wanted to do the swings. I told her ok and started to head for the swing ride where you go in the big circle around and around. She ran to the park and climbed on a swing. She was perfectly content playing in the free park, and I had to promise we'd come back to the park after we finished at the carnival.

You remember all the fun you had with the plain empty cardboard box some fancy toy you got came in (the fridge box was my personal favorite for several months as a child)? Those are the things you remember. And those are the things I need to remember as a parent, too.

Then again, Little Miss does make an awfully cute little kitty, and we can't get our face painted at the local park....



13 comments:

Anonymous September 20, 2009 at 10:52 PM  

How cute is she?! I have been known to do the same thing . . . I get so excited to give the kids a new experience, only to have them have more fun with the less-exciting alternative. Kids.

Roxane September 20, 2009 at 11:05 PM  

Oh my Gosh! She's too cute! Carnivals are always fun bit I am NOT a fan of spinny rides, i'll just hand by the swings with lil miss :)

Laura September 21, 2009 at 12:35 AM  

Love a carnival but the spinny rides make me barf!

WeaselMomma September 21, 2009 at 6:02 AM  

That sounds like a fun day.

Heather September 21, 2009 at 10:52 AM  

About #8, good for your husband! I'm tired of bigger kids picking on the little ones, and the parents of the older kid just standing there. What is wrong with them?!

Sounds like you all had a great time!

Unknown September 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM  

Little Miss is absolutely adorable. Glad everyone had such a good time and that the rain didn't spoil your fun.

Melisa Wells September 21, 2009 at 6:22 PM  

Sounds like fun!

I also see people who I know each time I go to our little downtown. I love that.

Funny, I sorta ruined my sister for spinny rides on the very same Disney teacups!

Michelle September 21, 2009 at 10:03 PM  

Nichole - It is hard sometimes to remember to look out for what excites them instead of what excites us. And a park is always a winner!

Roxane - Aww, thanks! She would have been happy to have someone hang out with her since SHE was not really interested in any rides but the train, cars and bouncy gym house thing. And the first two were ummm no height restrictions if that gives you any idea.

Laura - Really? Those were always my favorite. Apparently I'm more unusual than I thought. In a good way, of course.

WeaselMomma - It totally was. They had a blast. And Little Miss tried to wear the mouse mask she "won" at the fishing game to school today. Good times, good times.

Heather - Granted, you had to peek in through the small opening to see it, so I get why the parents didn't supervise more. 90% of the bouncy gym thing you couldn't see inside. But how sad that the kid thought it was ok!!

Megryansmom - No kidding! Last year, the carnival was completely rained out, and they made almost no money. This was much better.

Melisa - Your downtown isn't THAT little! And ummmm it's possible I did the same thing for MY sister, too. Fortunately, Mister Man loves them. If only I could get someone to start liking roller coasters for me.

Anonymous September 21, 2009 at 10:25 PM  

Awwwwwwwwwwwww, what a great pic. I loved this post - I felt like I was right there with ya'll at the carnival. How fun!

Cookie September 22, 2009 at 10:45 AM  

CUte pic! She could be ready for Halloween!

Pat September 22, 2009 at 5:15 PM  

LOL--"Mister Man screams like a girl."

My husband always loved the scary rides; I was the wimp.

Little Miss is just adorable as a kitty. Sounds like she'll love drama as she really got into playing the kitty part.

Claudya Martinez September 22, 2009 at 10:05 PM  

That is one cute kitten!

Michelle September 29, 2009 at 8:07 PM  

Midday Escapades - Thanks. I think that one -- or one similar -- will end up in our yearly calendar. The carnival was fun.

Cookie - No kidding... although she told me she wanted to be a kitty using that headband then immediately changed her mind and decided she wanted to be Tinkerbell.

Pat - Ohhh but he does. He gets it from his daddy ;)

Unknown Mami - Thanks. It makes her nickname so fitting now, too!

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