Tamlin's First County Fairs

This past week we had our first ventures to the local summer fairs. Last Tuesday, we went to the Berlin County Fair and last Sunday, we went to the Ionia Free Fair. I personally really enjoy going out to the local gatherings...tasting fried food, seeing farm animals, people watching, riding sketchy rides...it is ALL GOOD! Back growing up, I totally remember the county fair as a prime spot to go when on a date. I recall snuggling close on the Ferris wheel and sharing popcorn or cotton candy. Oh, and then winning silly prizes at the games for our significant other too :-) Good times...

While in Minnesota, we lived across from the state fair grounds so we went over there every year. This fair was HUGE! TONS of animals, people, and deep fried food on sticks. I have tried fried alligator (ugh), fried corn on the cob (ok), and fried snickers bars (rich). I loved going to see all the farm animals, especially that year's largest pig which was always freakin' huge. The arts, crafts, and vegetables were also a big hit with me. My favorite was checking out that year's "crop art" constructed out of beans and seeds. I'm sure that this year there will be some Obama portraits in seeds :-) And the people watching at the fair was fantastic! All sorts of folk in all sorts of outfits cruising around the park area.

Our first fair here was the Berlin County fair. Brian, Tam, and I headed out in the early afternoon after nap time. Since this was a county fair, it was not large at all and was not crowded, which meant that it was a great place to take the little one and not worry too much. We, of course, did all the traditional fair tasks:

• Climbing on farm equipment we didn't recognize or know how it worked

• Petting and feeding animals

• Admiring how huge cows and pigs are in real life

• Touching the bunnies

• Sanitizing Tam's hand after touching things before they got into his mouth

• Eating crap-tacular fried food

• Laughing at the misspelled words on the rides

• Sleeping in the car on the ride home (oh, wait, I was driving)

Tam seemed to love touching and watching any animal about his size or smaller (babies and bunnies). He started to freak out a bit while Brian was feeding the llamas and sheep and they started to crowd him. He didn't know quite what to think about the cows.

We also went to the Ionia free fair, which was much larger. Multiple barns of animals to look at, and a gazillion sketchy rides. (However, no miss-spellings that we noticed). We also got to go this fair with my mom and step-dad. Tam seemed to like this one just as well especially just hanging out in the stroller watching the people go by. What a great way to spend a summer day.

Growing up so fast!

Our little dude is already 8months old!

I look at Tam sitting there on the living room floor and just think... wow... 8months ago I was just begining to hold him in my arms.  Last December we were excited to just hold him and rock him to sleep.  Now we are excited when his face lights up in a smile when one of us enters the room.  

Now he is sitting up very well on his own, even when Brian "tries" to push him over.  He is even leaning forward and kind of falling onto his stomach.  Though, when he misses catching his balance and face-plants into the carpet, he tends to get pretty upset with himself.  We love to watch him learn new words each week.  We are pretty sure he understands bottle, mama, dada, and kitty.  And as the uber-proud mama, I think he is starting to wave bye-bye... okay, at least his fist is opening and closing when we say "bye-bye."  Then again, he might be signing milk since it is a similar movement and he still loves his bottle :-)  We've started giving him a sippy-cup of

 water too, but he pretty much just uses it to bang against the high-chair.  Eh, it will come.  

No crawling yet...but Magellon might be the motivator for this movement.  Tam still really, really, likes kitty.  However, the love is unrequited since our cat would rather not be near the little guy.  Just wait until his mobile, Magellon!

I don't want him grow up but I'm also just so proud of each of his new accomplishments. 

Tweets of Science (LOL)

Think we can train Magellon?

Nostalgia

My last post on Lake Shore Park got me choked up for other great outings back in my home town.  We also got to stop at Eddie's Grill, a hot dog joint near the Lake.  We've been stopping out here for hot dogs, lemonade, and ice cream since I was small.  I remember staying up late while hanging out here with the family...then I would fall asleep in the car on the way home.  The booth seats all have mini-jukeboxes with old hits on them.  Plus the food trays have fun mazes and hidden pictures on them to amuse the kiddies (and grown-ups).  The food is simple but good, and who are we kidding?  We all went to this joint to see friends and family and be seen :-)

Here's a couple of great pics from Tam's first time out to Eddie's.  

He's not really allowed to eat hot dogs yet but he really wanted to try!  

Still trying to keep cool...III

Tam's growing so fast...where is the summertime going? I can't believe that it is already mid-July! The school year is just around the corner and Tam is almost 8 months old. It is so hard to motivate myself to start thinking about the upcoming semester...especially when Tam is being so fun and/or cute.

It was warm again yesterday, but not hot enough to go in the pool. I tried a "parent hack" and filled Tam's high-chair tray with cool water. I stripped him down to diaper and shirt, then let him have at it. He would smack the water and then be shocked that he splashed himself :-)

Lots of giggles and laughter, and my floor got a little cleaner too.