What Were We Thinking?

Cory spent Saturday at the Aggie game (Gig 'Em Aggies...WHOOP!!) and Jon was on shift at the fire station, so my mom, the kids and I decided to drive over to Mansfield to spend the day with Emily and the girls.

The annual Mansfield Pecan Festival was being held that day, so we decided that after the kids got up from their naps, we would head over and check it out.

We tried to get my younger sister to drive over and go with us, but she was busy, so the 3 of us loaded up all 4 kids (in one car) and were on our way.

That's right- 3 adults and 4 kids under the age of 2 1/2. You do the math...that's 1 1/3 kids to be in charge of per adult. In the heat. At a crowded festival. WHAT WERE WE THINKING?!?!?!?!?

We should have known when we got there and realized that there was no way we could easily get 3 strollers and 4 kids on the shuttle bus that things were going to get crazy! We ended up having to walk quite a way just to even get to the festival. We put Aubrey in her sling and the other 3 in the strollers and somehow managed to get there without a fuss. We were all sweating bullets in the heat, but were still determined to have fun.

The first thing we did was go and see the fire truck. There were clowns making balloon animals for the kids...Addison got a dog and Parker got a sword. Neither one of them made it home without popping their balloons, but they were fun while they lasted!

It was soon after this that the real fun started!! Parker decided that he no longer wanted to ride in the stroller and started throwing a huge fit. We distracted him by heading over to the bounce houses and paid way too much money for him and Addison to both jump for less than 5 minutes each. It was so hot and neither of them wanted to stay in the bounce house. Neither of them wanted to put their shoes back on either, especially Parker.

We told them that if they put their shoes on, we would go see the animals in the petting zoo. Amazingly, it worked. But the petting zoo was horribly crowded and cost way too much money, so we settled for a picture in front of the zebra instead. Doesn't Addison look like she is having so much fun?!?

By this time, we were all hot, hungry, and thirsty, so we walked over to the food stands. We got kettle corn and lemonade that was way overpriced, and decided that we had had enough fun for one day.

Emily was able to talk to one of the police officers and found a closer place where she could drive up and pick us up so we didn't have to walk the mile back to the car with 4 hungry and tired kids.

My mom and I waited on a grassy knoll with the kids while Emily went and got the car. We ate the kettle corn and danced to the music that was playing.

The two little girls were surprisingly perfect the entire outing. Neither one of them made a peep and just strolled along enjoying the craziness of the festival.

Looking back, we did make some funny memories on Saturday, but I did learn one thing...we are definitely NOT ready for the state fair. We were going to take the kids this year, but are now going to rethink that idea and wait at least one more year before we tackle that event!