9.17.2010

Circus Acts

If my parents ever took me to the circus, I don't remember it. And after taking my kids, I am pretty sure that was a wise decision on their part. However; my kids had fun and I saw a lot of things I will probably never see again (in and out of the circus ring)- and isn't that what really matters?

As you already know I'm very careful with my money (read: cheap) so we were banished to the bleachers in the far corner with the other frugal people who didn't pay extra to upgrade their seats. Not really being able to see anything didn't stop my kids from loving every second. We saw lions, and tigers and bears, oh my. Actually, no, we only saw tigers. Cause everyone knows bears are not exactly exotic in these parts, and a lion is basically a tiger with a mane and no stripes.
Then we saw the Amazing-Something-Something-Sisters and their dad, who obviously has been training them since birth to be acrobats. How else does one decide this as a career? Cause your dad makes you try it before you are old enough to realize that might be a bit scary, that's how.

Next came a bunch of animals running around in circles and sitting on stuff- camels, zebras, llamas and a miniature pony. Cause that's not weird and random at all.
(In between each act, the clowns perform. BigM said her favorite part was the clowns and we have re-enacted the part where the newly-wed clowns split open the taxi-cab no less than 204 times since we got home. But I didn't take pictures of the clowns, cause everyone knows that clowns are dressed up child molesters.)

There were some ladies dressed a bit like exotic carnival dancers (princesses, according to BigM and LM.) They did take off their skirts and climb up ropes and did some of this, which was kind of neat. If you're into that kind of thing.
During a short 15 minute intermission, I dropped $5 on my kids' first bag of cotton candy ever and $3 on a bottle of water... and that's how a Circus makes its money, cause all the kids get in free.
Apparently they liked it.A lot.We settled back into our (oh-so-comfortable) seats and watched a bunch of Corgis jump around and ride on a pony (and since my dad is afraid of Corgis, I didn't take any pictures of them. You're welcome, G-Pops.) Next came this lady, who is apparently the only person on earth who can balance on one finger, according to the Ring Master. Guess what, I didn't get the picture of her doing that. But this is the same lady balancing on her head while juggling. (I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't seen her do it with my own eyes.)And last but not least (for us anyway), the real and only reason people go to the circus (other than to sell their children)... the Elephants. Super cute, especially the little one, who is directly behind that big pole in this picture. My kids loved watching them. Or better put, I loved watching them watch them.BigM had soccer practice, so we had to leave right in the middle of the guys doing stunts on go-karts, motorcycles and four-wheelers, which was not disappointing to either of my kids, both who are wary of loud noises. BigM made me promise we could come again next year: when DM didn't have to work, we could sit in the comfy seats with backs, we could get everyone their own cotton candy bag and glittery glowing butterfly light stick. I agreed, but definitely had my fingers crossed behind my back. Hopefully by then, she will have forgotten all that stuff, but I doubt it.

She does have a memory like one of these guys.