"Fair Whore"

Yes, that is what I have been called. Everyone close to us knows that we love to go to the fair, any fair. To many, the fair is a money pit, rides of questionable safety, carnies you wouldn't want looking at your children. To us, it's so much more than that.
The fair is...
seeing your little boys eyes light up when he sees the glow of the midway.
seeing them light up again at the sight of the swirled ice cream cone that goes "up to the sky!"
getting nauseous as they ride the merry-go-round, AGAIN.
being proud of 1st place ribbons hung on a friend's photographs, and Papa's coffecake!!
watching as Daddy tells his little girl all about the draft horses, and her saying that their"just beautiful"
my crazy, rough little 2 year old gently caressing the blue ribbon sheep who seemed to feel his love for "amimals" as he laid his wooly head on his hand.
being glad he doesn't know the fate of that poor sheep
all of us laughing as Daddy helps a lady wrangle her 5 escaped goats
the amazement I have as my daughter flips backward on the "jumpy thing"
Robinson's Racing Pigs (Some Swim!)
a sweet man in his 80's who began to clog to a bluegrass jug band, for a moment feeling like the young man he once was.
coming across friends we haven't seen for years, and meeting their beautiful children.
winning 5 goldfish (well, 3 because of fits the kids were throwing, and the guilt of the carnies)
the WIDE eyes of the kids at the top of the ferris wheel!
our little friend proudly showing her grandpa's sheep.
FRIED CHEESE!
FRIED CANDY BARS!
FRIED OREOS!
giant pumpkins
photos of the history of the town I have always loved
the memory of my late uncle, who lived for the demo derby, and ran it for many years.
holding hands with my husband down the midway, like we did 15 years ago.
making memories.

So, I guess I am proud to be a "fair whore." And I will spend the last few days, this special week, taking in all those little things that make us love the fair.

Rain, Rain, Go Away.....

How terrible were Tuesdays storms??? I know that we could have suffered so much worse, but it was a nightmare!!! We have the storm drain in our ditch, so everyone in either direction, drains into our ditch. It then gets clogged, and proceeds to flood up to the house. So, poor Daddy had to be waist high in water, and try and keep it clear, ALL Night. Since Princess was in our bed anyway,(she watches the weather in the morning to see if she is going to sleep with us or not) she was too upset by Daddy being out there , and then the power going out, to sleep. Therefore, she and I were also up ALL night! (Singing Rain, Rain, Go away...)
Since the power went out, the water just poured into the basement until it came back on a couple hours later, and the pumps started working again. Luckily the water went out as fast as it came in, and I don't think there was too much damage.
Princess told Daddy he was a good worker, and was glad he didn't get hit by lightening! Then she ate Goldfish, and watched JoJo's Circus at 4:30 in the morning!!
She finally fell asleep at 5:00 until 11:30. The biggest problem was that my little man slept through the whole ordeal, and when he woke up bouncy as usual, we had no sleep!!
It all worked out in the end. Daddy kept him occupied(while laying on the couch), and I got a few things done at school(11 days and counting!!)
Anyway, I am thankful we were not hit like Griffith and other areas and I really feel for them. Besides, in the end, it was kind of nice to have an all nighter with my little girl!

Terrible Twos!!!

Let me start off by saying that I love him dearly, and wouldn't trade him for the world! But my little crazy boy is about to send me over the edge. Princess never really had the terrible twos. She's always been stubborn, don't get me wrong, but never was that scene in the middle of a crowded mall, etc... Then came my little man. He has been nonstop since in the womb!!! He wakes up jumping off the bed, and goes to sleep after jumping into the bed from the windowsill. As I write, he is putting the couch cushions on the floor, to of course, jump on. The last week has been spent trying to keep his tantrums from embarrassing me too much.
Nana was on vacation last week, so we went shopping in Orland Park. We decided to eat at Cracker Barrell first. I figured it would be fine. It was only 11:00, no wait, plenty of distraction. Well, he had other ideas. He didn't want to sit so we looked through the store, rocked on the chairs, finally went back in to play with the golf tee game. All was well, until he decided to throw the game across the dining room, so golf tees would fly at all the poor diners. While I was trying to gather them back up, he took his shirt off. While trying to put his shirt on he started screaming"NO SHIRT!!!". Then, began to throw silverware! Food finally came, he ate for a few minutes, then wanted to sit in time out, outside. So, he ran off.
When we finally got food in us, Nana went to pay as we looked around. He then decided he wanted to stay and ran back into the dining room screaming,"ME STAY HERE!!!" Lovely!
Princess just kept repeating"I'm being good."
This day was followed by just a few more tantrums at the Farmer's Market, grocery store, Nana's house, and of course the fair, where he decided to have a seat in the middle of the midway, and not get up.
The Twos have also brought out the aggressive side. I fear it is the mix of German, Polish, and Mexican ancestry. In any case he feels the need to hit anyone or anything that walk by, and he cannot control his throwing. We were all treated to a shower of ice tea at dinner, when out of nowhere, he decided to throw his spoon, which hit Ella's cup out of her mouth, and all over us! The poor boy lives in "Time Out". I haven't even touched on potty training attempts!

If anyone has any ideas on how I can better survive this year without Prozac, please let me know!!!!

First Post

I had "Girl's Night" last night. Dinner AND a movie. After seeing Mama Mia (Sooo fun), I began to regret never keeping a diary. Take that back, I got one for my 8th birthday, wrote all about my slumber party, and the girl that hid under the bed, and never opened it again.
I did try it again when I found out I was pregnant with Princess. I was going to record all my anxieties, hopes, pains, etc.. Lasted to about week 11. I have never been one to focus on one thing too long. (The reason my favorite books are short, and I only crochet baby blankets)
Well, third time's a charm. I'm hoping this will be kind of my diary, while also being a good place to vent. (Hubby will be thankful!) I am also hoping my teacher/mom friends will not feel they are the only ones wondering if they are still sane.