Valentine's Day - The Greatest Show on Earth

Instead of your typical Valentine's celebration including a quiet dinner for two, roses and chocolate, we decided to do something a little different.


We went here:
Not that you can totally tell since my mad photo skills cut off half the picture, but it was the CIRCUS, baby. Valentine's Day = Circus. Makes perfect sense, right?

Actually, it did make perfect sense to us because we were able to get discounted tickets through Claire's Daisy Troop, so it enabled us to avoid having to sell our firstborn in order to attend. Who knew it was so freaking expensive! The kids were totally bummed that we refused to buy them a $9 snow cone, but I felt that was a bit excessive.



Before the main show began we were able to walk behind the scenes and meet a few of the animals.

Sweet little miniature horses.

Elephants - up close and personal. Please ignore the freaky spots. (I'm really thinking a new camera is in order. My birthday is soon, hmmmmm.....)

They also had a floor show that included various side-show type acts, fake tattoos for kids, and a dress-up booth.

Is she ready for the Big Top?

Right before the show began.

I was pretty amazed by all the acts during the show. It had been many, many years since I had been to the circus, so for about the first three-fourths of the show, I totally forgot to take pictures. I really did sit there with my mouth hanging open for quite a bit of it. I'm sure it was a charming site.

But, I did get a few shots of some of my favorites:

How cute is this elephant??

These acrobatic troops were pretty amazing.

And this motorcycle hire-wire act was right in front of our seats. You should have seen Ben's face. Probably would have been good for me to get a picture of it, right?

By the end of the day, the kids were totally pooped, and really the day was nearly perfect.

I say nearly because we soon realized what happens when you allow a three-year old to eat a cheeseburger, cookies, soft pretzel, and half a bag of cotton candy and then put him in a sun-warmed car.

That's right, people. VOMIT!

Vomit everywhere. All over his clothes, in all the nooks and crannies of his car seat and on the upholstery of the car.

And what could we do about it? NOT. ONE. THING.

We cleaned him up as best we could (read: removed the largest chunks), and he had to sit in the mess for the remainder of the ride home - a perilous and very stinky 30 more minutes.

Ick. Ick. Ick.

And yes, the car, despite 2 full out cleanings, still has a faint vomit aroma.

Lovely.

But, all ended well. How could it not when you come home with these?

(please politely ignore the freakishly large oil slick on my face)

And, don't worry. I also had these at home too.