Butter Days

Yes, Butter Days.  That's the name of the parade and carnival we attended in a nearby community to kick off the summer.  Parades and Carnivals are right up my ally - I can't get enough of them.  The kids love them, the honey....well not so much.  As families work through their delicate balancing act of doing for others, the kids and I had an awesome time and we were so happy that Mario came along for the ride.  

We went to the parade first.  Danny and Cecilia were right on the curb while Karina sat with Mario under the shade of a store front awning and snacked.  See Karina is brilliant, she let her brother and sister do all the smiling and waving and dashing for candy while she raided the candy bag in the shade!  "Butter days" brought TONS of tootsie rolls and dum dum suckers - but the kids also got some other non-traditional items like baby carrots, milk, string cheese and my all time favorite from Wal-Mart.......popcicles.  This was a very hot and sunny day and the popcicles were a VERY welcome treat.



The Shriner's mini-cars were a bit loud for Karina. 
I loved that they reminded me of Houby Day Parades and the Shriner's magic carpets.

I loved this float!  There were so many creative floats but this was breath taking!

After the parade we hit the carnival.  The carnivals in my new home are so much more affordable!  Parking is free, entrance to the carnival and mid-way is free.  Ride and food are still pricey though.  Usually the "kids stage" is in the free section too.  If you want to drink beer, you have to buy the "button" to get into the beer tent - where kids are not allowed - so a parent would have to drink alone, I guess.  The button also buys you privilage into the main stage area.  We tend to not buy the buttons.

As soon as we got out of the car the kids (right on cueue) ask to be fed.  We oblige and buy corn on the cob (for Mommy), corn dogs, chicken strips, fries and brats for lunch.  No beer because we aren't going to buy that button to gain entry into a tent to pay for an over priced beer - even if sweat is dripping from our eyebrows! Bottled water from the diaper bag will suit everyone just fine.

First we watched a show.  He was a jack of all trades carnival act.  He was a comedian and juggler and performed "death defying acts" - which were midly disturbing.  (I love the politican's sticker on my kids......really not so much.)



When the performer stood up, the woman he picked from the audience asked to see his bare back - yep, there were many red indents from the nails-----ewwwww!  Go to College kids!

 Next we hit the rides. Karina was so very brave, too brave! Danny and Cecilia each took Karina on a carnival ride. These are her first rides. Karina was chomping at the bit to get on these rides! First, Cecilia took Karina on the choo-choo train! The girls got to drive and blow the whistle.

Cecilia and Danny each picked two rides.  One was a bust on the fun house.  The other was a bit better.  Cecilia chose the giant slide and Danny picked the biggest one we would let him ride alone.

Karina, not to be upstaged had a full blown tantrum on the carnival ground.  She was insisting she go on the "cockodill" ride.  It was a mini rollar coaster lead by a dragon.  We let Danny take her.

It was faster, louder and bumpier than Karina expected.  While she didn't cry, he held on for dear life!  As soon as the ride stopped, she wiggled her way out of the safety equipment and stood up and even let the ride operator pick her up - she was getting off, hell or high water!!

We wrapped up the day by petting a few baby bunnies, goats and kittens and watching a little bit of a softball tournament, while the kids played in a grassy area.  We found some shade under a tree and had a couple of beers (almost always on hand in the cooler).  As we buckled the kids for the ride home, the "I"m hungry" cries started immediately so we stopped at a "drive-in" and ate dinner on picnic tables while watching the waitresses deliver food on rollar skates. 

There is something about the sound of the clicking seat belts that triggers hunger pangs in my kids.  Maybe it was the buckles from their high chairs....I wonder if I belt them at the dinner table, if they'd eat better.......