Golly gee whiz, gosh darn, y'all! I just had one heck of a morning. Today may seem like an ordinary Saturday to the rest of you, but for the Schweighardt clan, we've been looking forward to this day for months! (or possibly hours...who am I to speak for that many people) Today is the day we set aside to throw caution to the wind--to pet livestock, eat nine dollar turkey legs and vow not to return home until we're sticky with the residue of too much fun. That's right--it's fair day!!
Standard fair protocol for us generally consists of: riding the bus to the fair grounds (this is incredibly exciting for toddlers and big girls alike) checking out the goats, sheep,cows and piggies, eating elephant ears/corn dogs for second breakfast, getting creeped out by the crazy chickens, drinking lemonade, petting bunnies, eating something deep fried, picking up swag from the vendor booths, eating giant turkey legs and enormous french fries, finding dessert, getting way too hot and riding the bus home sticky and tired.
This year was not too different.
except for one really big thing.
Remember that girl? The big girl who has to be talked into doing just about anything fun? The one we've had to work with to be ok with house flies being in her general area?
Well, turns out she loves to ride ponies.
And I know what you're thinking; what three year old wouldn't drop-dead-love to ride a pony? The kind that has to be convinced to pet a bunny. That kind.
I know I should be prepared for stuff like this since the kid throws me through a loop at least once a day, but never before have I seen Audrey take to something so enthusiastically. Even when she's having fun, there is usually some element of anxiety present; tensing her arms, putting her fingers in her mouth, shaking her hands......something.
For months we've been bringing up the topic of the fair coming to town and we always asked Audrey if she was going to ride the ponies. "Yep", she'd reply and then we would move on. Neither John or I thought it was actually going to happen. So when we got to the fair and we asked her: "Are you going to ride the ponies?" she said "Yep". We were still skeptical. She just didn't seem to be thinking about it in her normal Audrey-obsessive way.
Anyway, after petting lots of critters, we eventually made it around to the pony rides and I asked her again...yep. No hesitation. Standing in line, she was cool as a cucumber. I was still waiting for the nerves to hit.
They never did. That kid saddled up like a pro and rode in circles on her pony without an ounce of hesitation. Not only that, but she was so calmly excited; like she knew she was born to ride. It sounds cheesy when I put it in words, but it was magical. She rode around smiling like a Rodeo Princess, waving to the adoring parents standing outside.
Put that on the list of top five moments as a parent. And I'm including birth there.
It was a good day.
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