Meet Me in St. Louie, Meet Me at the Fair!

We recently spent a two week vacation in St. Louis from mid-late July.  It was a wonderful, although very hot, time spent seeing our family and friends!  Our first stop was going straight to Mema and Papa's neck of the woods for the fair.  We drove from Dubuque to their area, in New Florence, and the timing worked out just perfectly because their county fair and parade was beginning that night.  We knew MJ would have a blast at the parade and were looking forward to sharing this time with Mat's folks!

Just a couple years ago, we took MJ to this parade, which was his first parade ever.  This was just a week or two before moving to Dubuque.  That year MJ cried through lots of the loud sirens from the parade and slept through most of the fair. 

My how he's grown since then!!  That year it was even chilly and I had him snuggled under a blanket.  Imagine a chilly July day in St. Louis?!  Crazy!  Fast forward a few years, several degrees, a sibling, and a cousin...

 Three Generations!

Mark (Papa) with his two sons and their children.

 MJ and cousin Lily parade watching

 Charlee hanging out with Mema at the parade

 Mema and her girls!

Thought the fan might help keep those poor red cheeks cool, but instead she thought she'd eat it!

We all enjoyed a great parade together and then walked over to the opening of the fair.  This is the first fair MJ's been to since he's been old enough to enjoy it a bit.  We weren't really sure if he'd ride any rides by himself, but bought the armband (tickets) with hopes that he would.  Our little guy blew us away that night!  Here was his first ride ever...



I never knew watching my son on a ride would make me so sappy!  It's funny how being a mom turns me to complete mush at things I would have never dreamed of.  Seeing MJ enjoy himself that night though was PURE joy.  It brought tears to my eyes to watch him smile and get so excited as he gained his independence and experienced these things for the first night.  Traveling can be rough on a three year old.  Although he gets to have lots of fun and many wonderful experiences, he's away from his sense of normalcy for awhile.  I was so glad we were able to start our trip off with a night focused on him having fun.  He was all smiles!!!  At the end of the night, after the parade and fair, we pulled into our hotel, and before getting out of the car he said "I had a good day."  You did indeed little boy, and that's what it's all about! 

Oh, and Charlotte stayed awake well past her bedtime the entire time we were at the fair.  She was such a good baby and a wonderful little trooper!  Both kiddos konked out at the hotel and Mat and I did as well!