The Carnival Came to Town

The CARNIVAL came to town! In our town we celebrate PEANUTS. 50% of the peanuts grown in the United States are grown within 100 miles of our house! What a fabulous thing to celebrate! Growing up Mom & DaddyBoy always took us back to their hometown for the annual "Ag Days" celebration {aka Agriculture Days} it was always at the end of the summer around harvest time {they celebrate soy beans & corn up there}.

Paige wore her boots {although they didn't last long... thankfully I don't leave home without her fail proof Crocs}: It was one of those blue sky days that makes you feel so good. Unfortunately the corndogs don't make you feel so good... but they do taste good:
And... what's a trip to the fair without an Elephant Ear:

And Cotton Candy:

And llamas {or maybe it's an alpaca?}:

I accidentally forgot JM's sunhat so we had to stop on the way so I could run in a local discount store. It was slim pickin's for children's sunhats in November. If I was only looking for a Christmas stocking or ornament. But I managed to find a pile of Nascar toddler hats and a pair of toddler sunglasses. I didn't know who #9 was but I hoped he was GOOD, FAST, & FRIENDLY. Justin was thrilled when I returned to the car with a Kasey Kahne hat. In fact, he said people {Caroline, was it you?} have said that he looks like Kasey Kahne. I don't necessarily see the resemblance, oh well! We cracked up at him all day. He was so helpless, clueless and cute in his hat and sunglasses... it's ok to snicker! We sure did on many occasions!
We thankfully didn't have to spend ANY time at this site:

Because we travelled like this: {yes, {click to enlarge} Paiger is sitting in the stroller with JM. And no, he wasn't too thrilled about sharing his ride! Maybe I should look into those 3 seat strollers?}
By the time we returned home the Raiger had snaked the Nascar cap and I had to steal a picture of her and daddy after a wonderful & exhausting day!

Before I had children I would always joke with Justin that the local Peanut Fair was "overrated"... just a glorified travelling carnival. But now that I have children it's so much more. It's an absolute delight! Being a mother has revealed a lot of my selfishness and pride. I'm learning to delight in seeing my children delighted. That's why we took them to the fair, let them eat some junk and skip their naps. That's why I bought Morgan that super cheesy Strawberry Shortcake bathing suit at KMart last summer and actually let her wear it in public. You would have thought I took her to the moon over that bathing suit. That's why I let her wear the outfit that she picked out on Sunday morning to church. She had it lying across her bed when I walked in her room and exclaimed, "Isn't it beautiful, Mommy!?" When really the whole ensemble was quite atrocious. But she didn't know and she didn't care. She thought it was beautiful, and each piece was... just not together. I couldn't dare tell her, "No, you won't be wearing that to church. You're going to wear a beautiful smocked dress and a pretty bow like all the other little girls living in the South."

I'm learning, I tell you, I'm learning. Learning to live and learning to delight in all little things that bring joy to little children!! While asking myself over and over, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Don't pat me on the back, I {pridefully} explained to most people at church she chose her own outfit. As if that wasn't obvious.