The Fair = Delight

I have not been to the fair in probably ten years. In fact, the last time Jonathan & I went it was together, in high school. A funny memory. Only funny because the fair is kind of a random event - and I recall something about elephant ears and riding the ferris wheel. Which is always ridiculously expensive and not all that exciting. But then again we were in high school and what could be better than riding a ferris wheel with your love? That's what everyone does in the movies, right?

Well this fair trip was quite different. The focus: animals and tractors. We decided that the fair is pretty much the perfect place for a 16 month old because there are real versions of everything Clara reads about it books. Truck. Tractor. Sheep. Pig. Goat. Cow. And the animals actually speak. Now Clara knows that when we say "moooo" every time we see a cow it's because a cow actually makes that sound (it did make me think about the power we have as parents: what if, from the beginning, we taught Clara that a cow says "sssss". It would be ridiculous, but we could shape that little brain whichever way we choose. Scary.) So yes, Clara was pretty much in heaven.

If you don't believe me, these pictures pretty much attest to it.

And yes, the fair is sometimes a little sketchy. Maybe it a bit dirty. Not probably on my top ten list of favorite places on the planet. Yet, we all had a great time. It's just another example of how the presence of a little one has revised our definition of what constitutes a great day, or a great moment for that matter. Who ever knew that watching a little one bounce on a tractor seat could be so much fun? Not me.