Friday-Sunday, September 18th-20st 2015
In honor of Miles’ & Bubble Wow’s birthdays, the family trekked up to one of our old favorite haunts in Vermont: The Tunbridge WORLD’S Fair. I stayed back to grind away at work but came along in spirit.
First up, loading up the cars. Mary’s prepared to drive:
Speed Racer Game Face
Baba/Bubble Wow is all too happy to ride shotgun on this one:
“Buckle Up Grandma!”
Then, stopping for snacks:
Sugar Babes
At last, Tunbridge Fair! *Just* in time for… the CALVALCADE OF ANIMALS!!!
What we call, “Exiting”
(Note: Nothing like this.)
That endless moment where you wait to cross the track while they pridefully display every last cow, sheep, goat, dog, horse, chicken and rooster at a slow clop… when all your kids really want to do is GET TO THE RIDES AND GAMES! Here is Gavin pressed up against the fence so close to the Midway he can taste it:
SO close, but SO far… wait! Is that a HEREFORD?!
Paul reported that the last 4-H troop to plod by did generously cap the whole shebang with a delightful flourish of walking their animals in a little circle at the end. Nothing like the pirouette of a cow to slake you with a deep, deep feeling of satisfaction. Or as the child would say, “Phew it’s finally over can we GO NOW?”
And the answer is… not YET. Because of course, having paraded all the animals from the barns out onto the grounds… they now have to go BACK. Bonus: You get to see them all go by TWICE.
Once they opened those gates the boys disappeared in a blur. First up, GAMES. Paul described a protracted interchange between Miles –meticulously doling out $1 bills for a game– and the running commentary of the comical game operator lady sporting pronounced carney bosoms. (Note: Nothing like these.)
Next; RIDES. Here are Amanda, Gavin & Miles barreling down a big slide while apparently riding a burlap sac.
YEE-HAW
Followed in hot pursuit by ClaraJane faithfully holding her Daddy’s hand:
Don’t let go Daddy
Later Aunt Amanda captured some Cute Fuzzy Baby Animal Time:
Baby Girl Chick with Actual Baby Chicks
“Feed Corn” Sand Box; seriously how awesome is that
Baby Mary & Baby Bunny
Q: What’s cuter than a baby lop?
A: A pile of baby lops. (Duh!)
James, Mary & Tiny Horse
After such an “exiting” time, it’s literally exiting time. Nothing like grilled corn and a portion of Bacon-on-a-Stick to get you back to the car. This weekend’s adventure also promised a hotel with HEATED POOL, much anticipated by Boys and evidently enjoyed by:
Bathing Beauty Girls
After a rough night’s sleep and refreshing morning swim, it’s off to the much anticipated MONTSHIRE MUSEUM of Vermont. My Mom has always raved about it, and Hubby reports that it rivals my beloved Providence Children’s Museum of Rhode Island. PLUS it sports an expansive outdoor play area (reminiscent of DeCordova sculpture park in MA).
Wanna go play, Honey?
There ya go:
Montshire’s Garden
Gavin and Miles drop gravel into the Musical Rock Boxes:
Rock Box Rockers
While Orla and ClaraJane whoop it up on the Musical Fence:
Hit it, Ladies
It’s a serious rule that before we do anything in this family, we do PICNIC; this one made possible by King Arthur’s Flour near Montshire in Norwich VT.
Paul, James’ Mom Dell, Bubble Wow, Baby Mary & Dell’s Sister CKathy
Meanwhile, that ubiquitous moment Gavin is takin’ it easy while Miles waits and wonders, “When will you get up and PLAY!?”
Um…
Finally, a successful ride home to tell Mommy all about it, and Voila. There you have my Vicarious Weekend adventure in Vermont (as conveyed from right here in my bed a couple days later in Massachusetts).
Or as my mom put it in her text:
Everything Devine. Wish u were here. Much love
In summary: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILES AND BABA!
Love you each so mush.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PS: For even more gripping anecdotes, see Bubble Wow’s retelling in the comments below!
circuskitchen 
