Meet me at the fair

One of our top ten regrets about leaving Syracuse several months before we'd planned is that we were unable to bask in the wonder and spectacle that is the Great New York State Fair. Jeremy and I have always been fair folk (which is different from "carnies," if you're taking notes), but we have never seen anything like unto the Great New York State Fair. We aren't much for carnival rides, but we love strolling through the animal barns, scurrying away from escaping pigs, and watching livestock and horse competitions.


So believe me when I say that we were prepared to be disappointed in our visit to last weekend's North Idaho Fair and Rodeo. And I would be wrong if I said that a few things failed to measure up. For one, there was no dairy pavilion selling 25 cent cups of white and chocolate milk. And there was no butter sculpture. And there was no place to get a cheap and delicious baked potato with all the fixins. (Yes. In Idaho.)


Those few (albeit significant) disappointments excepted, we thought it was quite a fun fair. Clara was way more into the animals this year, and she spent the whole afternoon saying, "Pigs! Horses! Donkeys! Ponies! Chickens! Cows! Rabbits!" hoping we would eventually work our way BACK through all of the barn buildings. Plus, at one point Jeremy and I were talking with a vendor, and when we turned around Clara was sitting in her stroller playing with a stuffed frog toy that (we assume) some admirer had given to her in response to her magnetic cuteness and charm. When we asked her where she got it, she said, "Man give it you." Maybe this is true, but sometimes she makes up stuff, like when we go to get her out of bed in the morning and she says things like, "Man knock window" or "Pony knock window" or "Dolphin knock window." Really anyone (or no one) could be knocking on her window or giving her plush frogs. It's almost impossible to say.


So there it is. We have chosen to embrace the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo as a marginally acceptable substitute for the Great New York State Fair. Join us in taking a deep sigh of relief.

And we're back...

Well, loyal readers, it's been awhile, but I'm happy to be back with my first original post in nearly a month. We are happily settling in to our new home in the Inland Empire, and I honestly have a difficult time imagining a more wonderful place to live. We just returned from the second leg of a city park extravaganza to celebrate the opening of a new bike path between three of the city parks. Much food and fun to be had in beautiful weather. As we pulled into our garage for a pit stop before heading out for free Dutch oven dinner later this evening at the last of the three-park tour, I said, "I can't imagine living anywhere better than this!" And yes, I realize that it's difficult not to be happy in summertime weather that typically hovers around 80 degrees, and I realize that we have a long winter ahead of us, but none of this troubles me. All we've done in our marriage is slog through long winters, and I can't imagine even north Idaho gets more snow than scenic S-Y, NY!

And I will also freely admit that life seems much more rosy since my whole family is back together. I know our seven week separation was for a good cause (I've just got to carry this baby to term this time!), but I truly felt each of those 42 days away from Jeremy. Brutal. We are much happier to be settled and following each other around like lost puppies. And Clara loves having Dada back as well. If he leaves the house at all, she wanders around saying, "Dada! Dada!" until I reassure her of a swift return.

Here are a few pictures to whet your waiting whistle for the adventures and intrigue that lie ahead...

Fun Aunt Megan

I decided to poach this post from my sister's blog because I love the pictures she took of my sweet baby, and I also cannot believe how much fun she packed into just two hours with Clara. What a great birthday gift. Thanks, Megan!

And now, in Megan's own words:

So for my sister's birthday, I volunteered to watch the Lovely Clara while my mom and Rachel went to Sundance for lunch. I'll be honest, I was a little nervous that Clara would not be convinced that Aunt Megan is tons of fun and would take good care of her. As it was, there were only a few anxious utterances of "Momma!" and a whole lot of fun to be had.

First we took a walk around campus, since Clara loves her stroller, and she was particularly pleased with the fountain in the courtyard of the JFSB. When she got tired of that, we went to the Bean Life Science Museum. She loved the animals: she meowed at the cats (cougars, leopards, etc.) cawed at the birds, and quacked at the ducks. I think she thought something was odd about all these animals, since they all stayed perfectly still. She got over it though when she saw the lions. She spent the rest of the time jumping with the pouncing lion and waving and laughing. Uncle Chris even rode his bike from work to his lunch break to take part in the fun.

Our last stop on the Trip O' Fun was to the Academy Library where she kept busy running around and climbing on the Clara-sized chairs. She did condescend to pose for my camera, for which I'm grateful.

Good times, friends. Good times.