It's All About the Funnel Cake

Last Thursday evening we went to the annual carnival in our town. (You may remember last year's visit where we left after 10 minutes due to the skank-factor.) This time we got smart and went on the first night, and though there was some questionable fashion (i.e., lack thereof) going on we were happy with the more family-friendly crowd we saw.

This year was also our first time buying tickets ahead of time. I don't know why we haven't known about this before, but it is way cheaper to go this route. The tickets were $1 each and were each good for one ride, as opposed to buying tickets at the carnival and having to pay up to 4 tickets for one ride (highway robbery).

Yikes!

Whitney was originally concerned that we only had 20 tickets, but she failed to realize that Randy and I would not be going on any of the rides (we can't stomach them anymore).

Landon ended up with gum on the back of his shirt after his very first ride...ew!

I was rather impressed with the kids for braving all sorts of crazy rides.

I love it that the kids are good friends and are happy to spend time together.

The carnival is always more festive when the lights come on at night.

We stood in line for 30 minutes to ride the Ferris Wheel, which cost us 1 ticket each as opposed to the 16 tickets it would have cost had we bought our tickets there that night!

I have gone on many Ferris Wheels before but as we were ascending on this one I felt some panic and seriously questioned my judgment. I really couldn't stand the rocking of the chair that went on each time the wheel stopped to unload and load another car, and I begged Landon not to rock our seat. It was seriously scary for me and will be my last Ferris Wheel ride (I feel like an old fogy).

Really, what was I thinking?

Pretty much the carnival is all about the funnel cakes! I kind of can't believe that we pay $5 each for these, but since it's only once a year we're willing to do it...it just says summer.

**Have you gone to a carnival this summer?

How do you feel about going on rides?

Have you had a funnel cake this year?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Michelle was kind enough to make my new blog banner for me since I'm still Photoshopless!

What Was I Thinking!??

We went to Seven Peaks yesterday (on a Wednesday!) because on Monday Amie was getting her husband ready to leave for a trip. I was mighty productive at home on Monday, but it was kind of weird not to spend the day at Seven Peaks.


Amie surprised me with another birthday present. She had mailed something to me so that it arrived on my birthday, but told me it was just good mail and not my present. I was delighted with the eyelash curler, m&ms, nail polish and dryer balls she sent me, so I couldn't imagine what else she'd be giving me.



It turns out she had special ordered these Rocket Dog flip flops for me, because she has a pair and just loves them. I have never had pricey flip flops before, I always wear the $2.50 version from Old Navy. My feet won't know what's going on when I wear these and they're cushioned in comfort.

This is a blurry photo, but Amie also gave me 37 mini Twix bars because she knows those are my favorite and because I turned 37. How nice is that?

Now for the drama of the day...


I decided to go on this harmless looking purple slide on a double tube with Landon. I have done it before (a couple years ago) and was feeling like it might be fun...bad idea. I was in the back of the tube, Landon was in the front of the tube. We took off without a problem and were quickly sliding side to side along the walls of the big slide. But then, we took one curve really fast and ended up flipping over and falling off the tube! Landon dove to catch the tube before it slid away, but he wasn't quick enough. So there we were near the top part of the slide without a tube! Landon took off running (yes, on the water slide) after the tube. I sat down and tried to slide, but there wasn't enough water to really push me (it's a slide for tubes) so then I stood up and tried to walk down the slide.


It was slippery so I kept falling, then the next thing I know I hear riders from another tube screaming as they're approaching me. It's a good thing I was standing up already because I was able to cling to the side of the slide as they zoomed past me. (They actually ended up running over Landon at the bottom of the slide at the pool area.) So I continued to do my slippery walk down the rest of the slide, until finally the end was in sight. The lifeguard saw me walking and gave me the signal to sit down, so I instantly fell down and crashed hard onto my right side with my arm bent. I cannot believe I didn't break my arm with this fall! I then slid the rest of the way down into the pool of water and out onto the sidewalk to meet Landon.


I was seriously freaked out by this experience and still cannot believe it happened. I breathlessly recounted the story to Amie and James when we got back to camp, they're just bummed they missed seeing it themselves. Landon is calling it the highlight of the summer along with last week's Seven Peaks visit that involved receiving many, many packs of gum. Go figure. No more slides for me!


The rest of the day was much more relaxing. We stayed until closing time (8:00) and had to laugh at how much the sun had moved during the day. Our umbrellas ended up looking like this and were creating shade 6 feet away from us. At one point James said, "Why are you sitting so far away from the umbrellas?!"


I have to include this photo because it looks like my foot is touching Jessica's face, good times. Poor James ended up slicing his foot open on a screw on a light on the side of the wave pool, so Amie had to take him to the First Aid station. He took it like a champ, but we're feeling like maybe the wave pool is cursed for him this year.

We actually stopped at McDonald's on the way home and got dinner for all of us, so $32 later we were all happy and quiet the rest of the car ride back. What a crazy day, maybe we need to stick with Mondays.

**Have you had any water slide mishaps?
Have you ever done something and
been sure you should have broken a bone
or really hurt yourself, but somehow didn't?
What has been the highlight of your summer?**