Friday, June 20, 2008

The Greatest Show on Earth

As if we hadn't spoiled our kids enough last week with my sister being here (which I promise to blog about after this), yesterday we decided to take the kids to the circus. And not just any circus, but the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Have you been to a circus recently? Well, let me tell you, they are a bit pricey nowadays. Thankfully Alex was free, because we might not have gone otherwise.

And then, as if the ticket prices weren't bad enough, Anton decided we needed to get some cotton candy.

See that bag there and the funky hat? They came together. You know how much they cost? $12!!!!! I think that's worse than any ballpark hotdog I've ever gotten. Don't get me wrong, it was really good cotton candy, but $12? Really?

Anyways, on to the fun circus stuff. The kids were entirely entranced by the whole thing. You would never have guessed it was after their bedtime with the way they were sitting so still and watching so intently.

Look at him. So totally enraptured. And you'll have to forgive me for the quality of photos. I didn't feel like lugging the SLR in there so I was using the point and shoot, in the dark.

Everyone had their favorite part of the show. Ella loved the ponies:

Alex loved the elephants.

I wish I had been able to get a picture of it, but 2 of the elephants has stars shaved onto their butts. Very cool. Elephant tattoos.

Ella liked the elephants too, just not as much as the ponies.

Anton's favorite was the tigers.

They were pretty cool. I loved the white ones. The trainer was giving them all kisses when they finished performing. It was cute.

My favorite was the Chinese Acrobats.

I secretly wish I could be one of them. I would kill to be able to wear a spandex outfit like that and look good in it. We learned all about them when we went to Disneyworld last year. They go to special schools to become acrobats and it's very serious and hard training.

We also got to see trapeze artists (though I think the PC term nowadays is aerial athletes) and tightrope walkers,

clowns, and even people getting shot out of a canon.

I got a picture of the canon a split second before the people came out. Oh well.

And we all took turns wearing the silly hat.

Look! A picture of me!! We also spent more money on popcorn and drinks and a circus coloring book. You know those fancy spinny lights you can get at the circus? $20. Yep. $20. What has this world come to?

But besides my children's fledgling college fund going out the window, we had an awesome time.

4 comments:

Monique said...

College, shmollege! :) That looks expensive, I mean, fun!~ It looks like in the last picture you weren't the only suckers that bought the $12 cotton candy. :) I love the circus. Funny, out west we go to Rodeos, out east we go to the Circus. yeehah!

Andrea said...

Oh, it looks like they had so much fun!! I am glad to see that you splurged on some food and a fun hat!! I am with Ella, I like the ponies too!! My boys kept asking if those animals were real!! LOL!! That looks like it was a really cool circus!!

Des said...

So fun! We did this same circus. I should say I because I didn't have kids of my own yet. I went with the kids I was a nanny for. It was fun. You kids look like they enjoyed every penny. I always think if you have already spent so much on tickets whats another $??! And basically splurge. Fun reading your post. Antons race...can I say crazyness!! Did I read 50 miles coming up right? Also, he ran that 13 mi with no music or anything? I would be so bored without music. Plus it distracts me when my mind is telling me I can't breath! Congrats to him big time. What about you girl? You can start training and run with him sometime:)I know you have the lungs because you are so gifted with your singing voice.

Harmony said...

To sound like a total FREAK, I am so afraid of the circus! The entire time I'm there I'm covinced there's going to be some kind of elephant stampede. I totally need therapy.

Looks like you guys had a great time--your butterfly shirt is so cute!