crazy carnival kids

Take $20 out of your wallet for a wristband (or two) that enables a kid to ride the gamut of crazy carnival rides, ignore the ticket signs, and...

... get in line. Aly and Brandan go goofy mid-July each year when the carnival comes to town, only a couple of blocks from our house. For the past eight years, we have walked through the crowds and bought the tickets, chowed down on popcorn and swigs of fresh lemonade, stood in the long lines and spun ourselves silly over and over.

This year was a new adventure. We hit the carnival early in the afternoon when the bracelets are offered for unlimited rides and watched the kids graduate to the big kid height levels and a new form of amusement...

...this is the "Pharoh's Fury" and Brandan stepped in line for this fair favorite for the first time.

Just look at that face! He not only went back for a second ride, but three and four times he faced the enormous swinging action. Aly wouldn't have it!

On to the Superman ride (I had to bribe them to try it) which they wouldn't admit to the fact that I was right, it felt like you were a bird!

A stop for a drop of freshly squeezed lemonade...

...and a game ($2 for ten balls) of GO FISH.

One out of ten balls was a chance they wanted to take...and ploop; Aly hit one right, dead center in the green bowl...

...and we have a new family member. Meet Emalee, our new goldfish - for which we had no food, and had to pit stop to get some.

Whatta blur:

Another carnival accomplished. Whew.