We braved the extreme Texas heat and headed back in time to a medeival-ish time period full of mazes, monsters, uneven accents, tunics, and fair food and had an amazingly fun family day at the Renaissance Faire: Scarborough Faire!
We rode elephants, saw a crazy juggler, spotted a Star Trek away team, found Waldo, dined on turkey legs, frozen orange drink, and funnel cake!
We purchased wares from a metalworker and an oyster splitter; we found, and ate, and shared the last pretzel; we made our way in and out of the maze with ease; had the best pickle on the planet; and felt like (very hot, but very content) royalty!
Over the summer we went to the CIRCUS - Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey- it was your first time, Julia. And your second!
It was a long time ago as I am writing this- over a half a year ago- so I don't remember very many specifics. But I do remember that we had a stupendous time, ate some delicious- not nutritious- food, had a few tears and a lot of good lessons learned, bought and returned a lot of souvenirs, and had a memorable, amazing, time as a family.
We were all VERY impressed by the tiger tamer, so much so that- still to this day- at the end of bath time, I become a thick-accented Russian tiger tamer and crack my whip! And ask Julia tiger and Aidan tiger some questions with very invisible treats as rewards.
The Tiger training is how we all learned our address (Country Club Poo poo drive), our city (Texas), our state (Dallas), the first president of the United States (George Washer Poo poo), the current President of the United states (Bara Mama), and how we're going to learn our middle names (working on it)!
Julia, for the longest time, you would imitate me... "tijer, tijer...what is your city?"
At any rate, the circus is such a great reminder for me that life is too silly to not have fun at the right times, and that no matter how tight of a rope you feel like you're walking on, there's still room to just leap over 4 human beings. That's a metaphor. For what? I don't know. But I do know that you guys- Julia and Aidan- are the greatest on earth.
This house is a three-ring circus from time to time...but the good news is that we're enjoying the craziness every day.
You laughed, you were scared, you held your breath, you screamed in awe, you took off your shoes, you ordered junk food! That's right...the circus was in town, and your Mommy and I went on a very special with you to your first adventure ever with the greatest show on Earth!
We told you that morning, and you were so excited that you told everyone! You told Yaya when she came over to watch your sister. You told us in the car. You told the parking lot guard:
"I'm going circus!"
And what a circus it was! At first, you were just so floored by the concession stands that we thought we would never get you in the arena for the pre-circus fun.
And then once we got you in the pre-circus fun show (replete with amazing blue bounce house), we thought we were never going to be able to get you into our seats for the actual show!
In fact, nothing seemed to sway you from bouncing.
Not the clowns...
Or the lights...
Or elephant or cyclists...
You were just so happy bouncing in the bounciest, circusiest bounce house that ever existed.
But once they started deflating the bounce house around the last kid in there (aka, you), we were able to make our way to our seats.
...with some bribery.
So with your first cotton candy in hand...and popcorn...we settled into our seats, the lights dimmed and we were treated to a show of clowns and elephants, lions and tigers, acrobats, trick riders, motorcycle tight ropes, trick dogs, ladies hanging by their hair, an energetic ring master and (the promise of ) DRAGONS!
You yelled "BE CAREFUL!" to the trick riders.
You laughed and meowed to the big cats.
You sat in my lap, in your mom's lap, in your own chair. You whispered to me and Mom. You shouted to our neighbor "Look! Elephants! SEE???"
At one point, in the dark of the show, your reached out with both arms and pulled your Mom's and my heads in really close to yours and just held us tightly. For a long time. I don't know what you were thinking, but I know what I was thinking. I just let that moment sink in, and I want to remember it forever. I didn't reach for my camera or even watch the show. At that moment, I felt like I was on top of the world. That one act of snuggly, mushy, close-holding love, that huge show of compassion from your little arms- to be pulled in close and held tight to your noggin with your mother- was the greatest show on earth for me. Long after your souvenir shirt stops fitting your and your blue icey elephant cup stops being dishwasher safe, that is the gift I will take home from the circus. The day you hugged my head, and your mothers, and made a head-hug sandwich. The greatest show on earth. True.
What a happy day that was. Our tummies all hurt from all the crud we ate, but our hearts were even fuller...no, not with clogged arteries from all the crud we ate, but with love...and cotton candy, popcorn and blue icey. Big love under the big top.
I love the circus.
And you loved it too. Every day for the next couple of weeks you would talk about the circus and say "Where are we going? We're going Circus!"
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