My Life is a Circus, Well Carnival....No Really, It Is

This shot is by my daughter Caitlin----sooooo cool!

I'm not kidding, the first Sunday in May my life is a carnival. We live in a lovely older neighborhood, and we have an enormous field across the street from us. Well, every year we celebrate Ferndale Day. Not sure what we're celebrating, but, hey, any excuse for pony rides, a petting zoo, a rockin' band, a beer garden, and carnival rides right across the street from our house, I'm so there!!! The kids are soooo excited. We skipped church today, because after the parade at noon, oh yeah, I forgot to mention, we have a parade to kick things off (!!!!!) our street is packed with pedestrians and almost impassable via l'auto. So we just hunker down, and enjoy the fun! This year, for the first time, we have a full blown carnival at the end of the street, not just a couple of the token rides that usually show up. But a scaled down version of the real deal. Even has cotton candy and funnel cakes, yummy carnie treats.
Dan was able to get out in his wheelchair for the parade with the girls, I, unfortunately, missed it because I was getting a very cranky Samuel to sleep. So, no pictures of the parade, and when I did take the girls and Sam over to the carnival, I forgot my camera, so you'll just have to take my word for it that they loved their pony rides, and had a blast at the petting zoo, and that there was an extremely kind gentleman that had a kettle corn booth ( I mean, the real deal, complete with the enormous copper kettle, yummmmm), who, when I bought a medium bag for the kids to share, gave each of the kids their own bag of kettle corn along with the medium bag that I took home to Daniel. They were all smitten, and thanked him again and again. Walking this road of semi poverty has been a humbling experience, but I'm sooo glad to see that it has also served to further make appreciative children, extremely grateful for every little little gift or show of kindness. They have their moments, don't get me wrong, we all do, especially me, but, all in all that's one thing I'm grateful for.
Anyhow, back to Ferndale Day, we went home for a rest, and went back over, this time with my camera. I know, finally! I mean, I'm hardly ever without it anymore, so unlike me! So, there's a steep hill at the back of the field and they had a blast climbing and rolling down this hill, and we went home with extremely filthy, tired, but very happy children. Here are a few shots I did get to take....
 


Gotta love those baby toes......can't get enough of em'



Clara was hot and tired....poor baby....






Sam was just lovin' life...ok, and the kettle corn....



So did Kyri...






Toffee and Honey were terribly good sports, but I think they were ready to go home...



The hay maze this year was not what it usually was, but the girlies seemed to have a blast racing through it anyhow...



Clara dancin' on top of the world.....she seems to like the view from there......



Elly chose to just lounge at the top.....



Clara climbing her way up for the umpteenth time.....she had sooo much fun!



I have no idea why I took this shot, maybe the graphic, and I mean artsy graphic quality, get your mind out of the inside of the......oh never mind....when you can't see light, it's time to stop diggin', I'll shut up now........



We had such a fun time, not much money. May your day be blessed as we are....

Only Because of Jesus,

anne

PS Oops! I just realized that I started this post on Friday, in anticipation of Sunday, and didn't finish it until 5/5/10, sorry about the date confusion!