Supercross Races at the fair - 2011

As I mentioned, we're still in our fair week frenzy - though this post is the last!  Jeremy's boss won tickets to the Supercross races at the fair but, he wasn't able to go and gave the tickets to Jeremy and Jacob.  There were 2 tickets so, I dropped them off and had a couple of hours of alone time - Thank you, Jason!

I think he enjoyed himself.

And of course, no visit anywhere is quite the same without a fire department involved somehow.  Jacob and Bruce (our chief) are going through the storage cabinets on the Fire Engine.  Yes, Jacob does know what is in each cabinet on which truck.

Remember in my post about the fair parade, when I talked about our firefighters and their concern for Jacob at the parade?  Everyone of the firefighters on duty the night of the supercross, came up to Jeremy or asked Jeremy what was wrong with Jacob at the parade.  The knew something was wrong but didn't know what and each expressed concern for their little admirer.  I was moved to tears.  I try to curb the siren obsession as much as I can.  I don't want Jacob to be a bother, or a pest, or least of all in the way.  These guys are always so kind - "No, no, you're fine".  Yet to know they were watching for him during the parade, they knew something was wrong and they expressed such genuine caring (when I always feel like a pest) - it melted my heart.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate that.  :)

A little bit of the Circus - 2011

It's taking me forever to get all of these up here - sheesh!  When I tell you that our overnight in Sturgis, the Fair Parade, the fair, this post, and the next post were all in the same week (actually with the exception of Sturgis, consecutive nights)...you'll understand.  I hope.

Thursday night, a friend of mine from back home and her son came to Allegan County Fair to see Jason Aldean which worked perfectly as we had tickets to the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus!  I had tried to take Jacob to the circus last year and it didn't work out.  I was concerned when Jeannie said she was coming because I had these tickets (Jacob didn't know) and I wasn't sure how we'd work it out.  Thankfully, both events were on the same night.  Here are some highlights:

"When's it gonna start?"

The clowns.

The opening routine.

One of Jacob's favorites - the tigers!

Daddy's favorite.

And Jacob enjoyed the show so much, that he pooped out on the way home!

Allegan County Fair - 2011

Our time at the fair itself was pretty limited this year.  Between school, the weather and everything else we had going on this week (as you'll soon see), we had one single opening to actually go to the fair.  And it was raining.

We walked the 4H barns and checked out the exhibits.  We also went through the vendors but, didn't make it back to see the animals.

It finally dried up enough to ride a few rides.

Have a snack.

Ride another ride (isn't he adorable!?!).

And hit the Ferris Wheel with Daddy - cuz this mommy won't ride rides for one, and 2) she's afraid of heights!

Sadly, there were no fried pickles to be found at the fair this year.  We looked everywhere.  Yet the Monster bag of cotton candy was readily available.  And just maybe made up for the rain - just a little.

The Fair Parade - 2011

We had a little vacation last week.  I also happened to be fair week in Allegan and fair week in Allegan just happens to get a little CRAZY!  We kick off the fun with the fair parade.  I know it sounds odd - "you have a parade...to celebrate the fair?"   Yes, yes we do.  And this year, the last number I saw was 131.  That's 131 entries.

Just so you know -

The Allegan County Fair

The Allegan County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the state, also with one of the largest fair parades in the nation. The county fair plays host to all sorts of events that the family is sure to love, including concerts, classic carnvial games and rides, a demolition derby, rodeo and so much more.

(Did you see that? "One of the largest fair parades in the NATION!"

And here come the Firetrucks!  Bruce is in the lead.

Followed by Robert in the new pumper.

And a whole crew of kids on the old pumper.  Including Jacob's best little friend.  Jacob had the opportunity to ride and he said "No.  No thank you."

The rescue truck.

Remember this guy?  It's our old friend #10 from Hopkins and the July 4th parade.

How about the guy on your right?  He's firefighter Tim from breakfast at Daddy's work.

And what parade wouldn't be complete without the "Allegan Ambulance"?

We forgot Jacob's ear protection.  Though my boy loves Fire Engines, police cars, honks, and sirens and he can stand in a closed fire station to listen to them - at parades, this is what happens.  Now when our firefighter friends saw this and Jacob crying they were very concerned.  Our Chief stopped his truck, many of the firefighters mouthed the words 'what's wrong with Jacob?', 'Is Jacob okay?', etc.  We did our best to let them know he was okay but, they were worried.

These were/are my favorite.  You see, my grandpa, Edna's dad raised Belgian Draft Horses and they are just beautiful.  I remember standing up on the fence at the farm when my grandpa would let them out and the thunder from their hooves would about shake me off of that fence.  I'll never forget it.

Jacob's friend "Little Dude".  He's the plumber that the city contracted to connect the new sewer system last summer, I think.  He and Jacob made fast friends.

Every fair parade needs a "Miss Manure".

And her entourage.

Huge - just huge!  Have you ever seen a six door dually Chevy pickup?  Look at these trucks in relation to the people.   It's HUGE!



Did I mention that the fair parade was larger than our Memorial Day Parade and the 2 July 4 parades that we were in COMBINED!  Laugh at my fair parade....go ahead!

From the teacher

I've been meaning to share this since Jacob brought it home the first day of school.  It made me choke up a bit (even now) and I hope his teacher truly feels this way because if she does, then I'll really, really like her! 

"Thank you-
     For sending me your little boy today.
     All of your years of patient care
     Have made him ready for this day.

Send Him to Me-
     Again tomorrow.
     I hope I will prove myself worthy
     To teach him and guide him
     This first year of his school life.

May I return Him-
     To you at the end of the year
     A little taller
     A little stronger
     And a little closer to his goal.

Thank you,
Mrs. M."

A Day in Sturgis

Jeremy had an opportunity to fill in at another store about an hour and a half from our house.  We didn't want him to make that drive home alone in the middle of the night so, I booked a hotel room, we kenneled Kelsey for the night, and Jacob and I went with him to Sturgis.

I had to share this as Pumpkin Spice Lattes are on my Fall to-do list and this was the first one of this fall.  Besides, how else to start of a road trip besides with a GREAT cup of coffee!  Jeremy did try the Salted Caramel Mocha and that was pretty good as well!

Jacob and I did a little school shopping at the Wal*Mart in Sturgis.  These were waiting in the parking lot.  Jeremy was told that most of the stores here do have hitches out front for the horses.  These poor guys - it was raining.

Our room.  It had this awesome little refrigerator - I so want one.  (I keep telling Jeremy that we should have one for our bedroom.  Before you think I'm crazy - just think about it a minute.  Especially if your bedroom is upstairs from your kitchen.)

And of course, we found the Sturgis Fire Department, with their September 11 memorial in place.

We walked around the back and found the Sturgis Police but, they didn't come outside (until we were out front).

But Firefighter Mike did!  And Jacob and I got a ride in their BIG ladder truck!!

There was a huge SCBA pack attached to the seat behind my back and the siren controls at my feet - we didn't have much room.

Close up of the painting on the side of the bucket.

And in case you forgot that we were in Sturgis.

Even Daddy got to "drive" a pumper.

And while Jeremy and I were goofing around with a $10,000.00 thermal imaging camera and Jacob and Firefighter Mike were "driving to a fire"....

Sturgis Fire Department got a call and we had to go!   Jacob got to see lights and hear the sirens!

We sat on the bench and watched them go.  Jacob cried.

I felt so badly for him, I got coffee.  If you ever see a Great Lakes Coffee Company, and you like coffee.  You NEED to go there.  They didn't have anything pumpkin but, they did have a Milky Way Latte - and I am telling you this is the BEST coffee I have EVER had!  Yes, that good!

I love firefighters that love kids - as we were heading out of town, Sturgis Fire was coming back to the station, and they recognized us as we passed by while they were backing into the station, they honked, waved, and gave us a little...as Jacob calls it a "NNRRTT" on the siren.

At this point, I was really glad that we did go with Jeremy on this little trip, and I was really, really glad when we found out that on our way home, we were detouring through Battle Creek to pick up some food products (and I could do some more school shopping!).  On the way across, we passed through this little town called Leonidas.  And wouldn't you know it - we had to pull over for some fire trucks coming lights & siren!

Sturgis?  You ask?  What's in Sturgis?  Plenty.  Trust me!