County Fair

The last weekend of August we went to the county fair.  It was Matthew's first experience with the fair, and first time really riding rides by himself.  He had a great time!  He's been becoming so much more adventurous with new things.  I also wanted to check out the needlework and canned goods entered into competition.  That was boring for Matthew so I was pretty quick and didn't get any photos.  I'll definitely be entering something next year.

We started off getting Matthew his unlimited ride wristband and finding the Kiddie Land area.  We spent about what I paid (half price) even though he rode the rides a couple of times.  Apparently there were more rides geared for smaller kids along the midway, but we just walked around the perimeter.  We ran in to a couple of families from my mom's group while we were here, but didn't get much time to hang out with the kids all going in opposite directions.

Giddy-up!

"I'm in the dragon's tummy!"

Dizzy Dragons

Tick Tock Crocodile

Matthew BEGGED to go on the climbing/slide structure.  He's been avoiding slides for some time, and just recently started climbing to the upper areas of play structures.  We have no idea why, but he gets scared.  After watching for a bit we decided to let him try.  They had a couple of friendly and very helpful employees making sure the kids made it up and then back down again, even if they needed help.  Much to our surprise Matthew climbed on up with no problems at all.  The second time he needed a little help, but he still did great.  Both times at the slide the employee had to reach up and hold Matthew's hand to get him to come down.  But then he got to play in the ball pit - his ultimate goal I think.

Climbed right up

"Can you help me?"

Throwing balls

We saw some tigers and bears.  We didn't wait to watch the tiger show but enjoyed seeing them in the ring while sitting down with a snack.  We did manage to catch the last few minutes of the bear show though.  Matthew wasn't too interested.

Tigers at the fair

Bear show

"Can I get down now?"

 

Hanging out after the show. On the left there is a small pool with a bear and a ball in it

After the bears we came around to the Heritage area.  I think we spent the most time there.  Mike said that this area and associated activities made the trip out to the fair and finding parking worth the trouble.  All of the tractors on display by the Chesterfield Tractor Club had signs saying "please do not sit" so I thought we'd have to disappoint Matthew.  However a very nice young man offered to let Matthew sit on his tractor.  It's a 1950's John Deere that he had restored from a rusty wreck.  He was so patient telling Matthew what each and every lever, gauge, etc. did.  Multiple times.  A couple of the tractors had long belts attached and were running mills.  They were making corn meal when we were there and offered us a bag. I had a really nice chat with a woman by the mill.  She said several people turned them down saying they wouldn't have any idea how to use cornmeal. !  If that's not a statement on how reliant our society has become on processed food, I don't know what is.

Checking out a big tractor

"I can drive"

Explaining how the hydraulics work. For the 5th time.

Trying out an even bigger and older tractor

We fed a few animals in the petting zoo.

Feeding a goat. Just like at Granddads.

And rode a (free!) tractor driven barrel ride.  We got a little nervous when it drove a bit out of our sight, but Matthew had a great time.  He ended up riding this thing 3 times!

Barrel ride

The barrel "train"

Passing the oxen drawn covered wagon

Second ride, right up front

Then we said hi to the two oxen and hopped in the covered wagon for a ride. It was slow and a bit jerky.  I can't imagine sitting in one day after day for months on end, traveling to a homestead in the west.

Checking out an ox

Sitting in a covered wagon

The obligatory group selfie with pouty Matthew

Of course I had to check out the spinning demonstration.  When it came out that I also was a spinner she chatted quite a bit more with us from everything from wheels (mine is the brand she sells) to her great grandbaby.  After spinning with Matthew she pulled off the part he had spun and made him a little bracelet to wear.

Showing Matthew how to spin

This is how you hold the wool

Matthew spinning

And we finished up the day with one last barrel ride. All in all we had a great time, mostly because of the wonderful people we met.

Third ride

Memorial Day Weekend 2014

Aaand it's been a couple of weeks since my last post instead of just one.  Oops.  At least I have a bunch of photos uploaded into draft posts, ready for the writing.  I'll get caught up.  Eventually.

We visited Dad and Betty over Memorial Day weekend.  They took us to the Knoxville Zoo where Matthew enjoyed a little train ride, rode a camel for the first time, saw an elephant in person for the first time, rode a carousel, and had fun running from one enclosure to the next.

"I'm in the coal car Mommy!"

She's coming round the bend

Wave for the camera

"It was bumpy"

A little video of the camel ride:

Elephants!

Zebra, much closer than we see them in Richmond

Juvenile gorilla if memory serves correct

Carousel. On the bench.

We went to Smokey Mountain Knifeworks and saw some singing country animals.

He's clearly over the shopping experience.

And of course enjoyed (just a little) time on Granddad's Gator.  It's by far his favorite attraction at Dad's, closely followed by all of the "bow wows" and the goats.

It was a really nice visit.  Too short like always.

Summer Update

This has been a crazy busy summer.  It seems I blinked and now it is almost time for school. Matthew has had swim lessons twice a week since just after Easter.  He's still at the same level, but in the "older beginner" section now - so moved up a little bit.  The first few lessons involved a few tears, but now he is all smiles. One of the instructors always tells me how much she loves his laugh.  Just a couple of months ago Matthew wouldn't jump in the pool.  Or off curbs.  Or out of the car.  But now he will gleefully jump off of any curb and jumps into the pool without holding on to a hand.

Get ready

Swim!

Yay!

We also took a Kindermusik class once a week for 8 weeks.  It was fun, but a bit stressful for me.  Matthew preferred to run around the room over actually participating with the instructor.  At lease she is a friend of mine, and also has a three year old.  

Getting a treat for much better behavior

Even with the classes Matthew still wakes up every day asking where we are going or who is coming to play.  He loves activities out of the house.  Some of our regular haunts include the Children's Museum of Richmond.  The central location downtown has a fantastic splash area.

Firetruck at CMoR Chesterfield

Splash area at CMoR Central

Splash area fun

Ambulance at CMoR Central

Another usual trek out for us is the Richmond Zoo.  Matthew's favorite activities there include feeding the giraffes, feeding the budgies, riding the "train" ride around the African yard, and riding the carousel at the end of our morning there.  He FINALLY let us put him up on a stationary animal this last trip.  He usually likes just sitting on the bench better. And he recently started climbing to the top of the structure in the playground.  Daredevil he is not.  But he's slowly becoming a little more adventurous.

Getting braver holding the cup himself

On the carousel - the bench

On the zoo train

"Look Mommy, I'm up high!"

"I'm up high!"

Hungry ducks

Hungry giraffe

Slurp!

Budgie!

Another budgie

Starting to feel like "The Birds."  They love shoelaces.

Carousel bench

On the tiger!

Still cautious

Every boy needs a ride with a monkey

We tried out bowling a few times thanks to the Kids Bowl Free program. The first time bowling the employee set us up with a ramp. Turns out it's a special needs ramp and he wasn't supposed to let us use it. Oops.

First trip with the ramp

Third trip to the bowling alley and he did surprisingly well (without the ramp)

We enjoyed the park.

Hauling sand up

Swinging.  Always a favorite. He still doesn't want to try the big kid swing.

Matthew enjoyed his first movie in the theater - Planes Fire & Rescue.  It was surprisingly pretty good.  Mike and I took him a second time.

Waiting for the movie to start

"Cheese!"

And then there is berry picking, the random trips to Lowes, and the excitement of the new house being built next door.  The excavator driver saw Matthew all geared up in the yard, watching the work, and parked close to our side gate.  He came over and chatted for a couple of minutes and invited Matthew to check out the excavator.  It turns out he has a couple little ones of his own and completely gets the fascination.  Super nice guy.  The only downfall is that now Matthew expects to get in all the heavy machinery he sees next door and melts down when we say he can't.

On the hayride

Picking blackberries.

He ate as much as he picked

We picked blueberries too.  Berry picking is hot work!

The haul - about 5-6 lbs each.  Now it is jam.

Thanks to Granddad's Gator, he now looks for and finds the key slot

Hey, I can reach!

I like this one too.  The arms are fun.

Helping sand his new used bookcase for painting

Picnic lunch on the front porch watching the cement trucks.

Foundation being poured

Checking out the excavator

That's a big scoop

Having a blast

I can drive this, no problem

Picking rocks out of the track

I think that's a pretty good rundown of our summer so far.  Of course there have been some playdates and trips out for various errands keeping us busy too.  I'll fill in on our out of town trips and holidays soon.