In my last post...I promised to write about our county fair experience.
The beginning of August...county fair time. We went last year with the kids. Evan was too little to ride any of the rides, and Ryan hesitantly rode on a couple of kiddie rides with either Gage or me by his side. His biggest enjoyment was looking at the animals and watching the dirt bikes in a big-air competition.
This year was entirely different...and deepened my realization that my somewhat timid toddler was growing into an independent little man. When we first walked through the gates and into the hustle and bustle of the fairgrounds, Ryan spotted large trampolines with towers attached to them, and attached to the towers were various bungee cords with a harness at the end. Ryan said he REALLY wanted to do this...Gage and I exchanged a doubtful glance. Last year, we had to encourage Ryan to ride the tamest of rides. Surely he just didn't understand that doing this meant you would jump and be somewhat catapulted into the air. We decided to have him watch some other fair-goers participate in the jumping to see how high he would be going. We both expected him to back out. After watching...he was even more sure he wanted to do this. I was still a bit doubtful. Before arriving at the fair, Ryan had been super excited about the pony ride. Both the pony ride at this were an extra charge, so we gave Ryan the choice...the ponies, or this. SO we handed over a five-spot to the guy running the booth, and watched as our eldest took to the trampoline, was strapped in, and started bouncing...higher...higher...and higher still. I was in awe as he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of "flying", and shocked that he had become so much more daring and confident over the past year.
Did it stop there?? NO!!
The next thing he spotted was the largest, and highest ferris wheel on the grounds. He INSISTED that was the next adventure. Gage followed him up the ramp leading to the ride while Evan and I watched from below (Evan is still too little to ride many of the larger fair rides).
We met up with some friends of ours (Brent and Michelle...and their kids Gracie and Spencer who are the same age as Ryan and Evan) then trekked to the other side of the grounds to tackle the kiddie rides. Ryan and Gracie bound ahead and rode many rides together while Gage and I watched from the sidelines. Again...this is the same kid?? He is SO different than he was last year!!!
I went on several rides with Evan (still small enough that he needed an adult to accompany on even many of the kiddie rides). Needless to say, Evan was in HEAVEN!
As our day was coming to an end...I had just enough tickets to accompany Ryan on a full-size "adult" ride. I let Ryan pick the ride, and he picked the big roller coaster. Again...I was doubtful that was what he would truly enjoy, and had him really watch as it went around with other riders...and verified that is what he wanted to do. He didn't waver. Gracie decided she wanted to ride as well, and they allowed me to accompany both kids. At first, I had Grace and Ryan sit together in front of me in the same car. When the guy came by, he said that Gracie needed to sit next to me. I swallowed my fear for my dear Ryan who would now be riding ahead of me...by himself. I reassured him that I was right behind him, and left my hand resting on the seat such that my fingers touched his shoulder and said I'd be right there. Ok, I admit, it may have been more to reassure me than him. The ride started...and we headed up the first climb...the BIG ONE. My hand still rested on the seat. We crested the top, descended, and as we hit the bottom to head back up, my body squished down in my seat. When I came up...I could not see or feel Ryan in the seat in front of me, and my heart lept into my throat. I grabbed the seat back in front of me and pulled against the lap bar to peer over...finding Ryan virtually laying on the floor of the car with his arms above his head barely hooked over the lap bar. I looked up and saw another hill coming. I yelled in a stern voice "GET IN THE SEAT AND HANG ON TO THE BAR!" He did and I sternly told him he needed to HOLD ON AND STAY IN HIS SEAT!!! Needless to say, I didn't enjoy much of the ride after that as my concern for his safety overwhelmed any pleasure. My eyes and hands never left him after that...just so that I knew without a doubt that he was safely in his seat. As the cars came to a stop at the end of the ride...Ryan lept carelessly out and skipped down the ramp...eyes wide with excitement as he announced he wanted to do it AGAIN!! Sorry kid...all out of tickets! Maybe next year...maybe...that is if my hands stop trembling and my heart returns to its proper place in my chest!
All in all...it was a great experience...and such an eye opener to see so clearly just how much Ryan has changed.
We also learned, since we are now experienced fair-goers, that next year we will be buying two unlimited ride bracelets (one for each kid) and a book of tickets (for those rides that require our accompaniment). We started off with a book of tickets...and with Ryan wanting to ride everything and some things more than once...and with Evan wanting to ride everything his brother rides and then some...the book quickly dwindled and we ended up purchasing a ride bracelet for Ryan. Given Evan's interest in the rides, it was very clear that in another year he would not be satisfied with just a few rides, and economically speaking it will be cheaper to just buy the ride bracelets for them both.
I've added an album with just a few pictures and a short video from our day in the Hymas Photos.
Stay tuned for a bit more "catching up".
