At the Fair

Okay, I have some catching up to do photo-wise. This first batch is from the Verona Hometown Days about a month ago. Verona was only our hometown for less than a year, but we liked their annual shindig enough to go back even though we have moved on to Cross Plains.

The highlight for Casey was the rides. Verona had their fireworks on a Thursday evening at dusk, which here in Wisconsin doesn't arrive until about 9:30. Darby and I were wiped out for some reason that I don't remember (maybe, I'm guessing, just the fact that I'm a mom, and he's one), so just Chris and Casey went to the fireworks. From what I heard afterward, Casey enjoyed the fireworks all right, but he REALLY was intrigued by the carnival rides. Chris told him that we would go back on Saturday, and that he could ride some rides then. On the way home, Casey told Chris, "I want to ride the zoo train. That's at the top of my list." Chris asked what else was on his list, and Casey thought about it for a while in silence, then said, "Nothing. That's the whole list." As it turned out, there was more on the list. For the next day and a half, all we heard about were what rides he wanted to try.

So we get to the festival and check out a few other things then head over the rides, which Casey was as excited about as ever. Chris bought some tickets for him. Immediately, Casey froze up and refused to go on anything. Chris stayed calm, and we spent the next half an hour wandering around trying to coax him out of his fear. FINALLY, I talked him into trying this really tame-looking ride where he just got to sit on a motorcycle and go around slowly. That was a hit, and after that we got him to try just about everything he qualified for height-wise.

You can't really tell by the strained expression on his face, but this rocket thing was really one of his favorite rides there.

This alligator coaster was one of the ones he was talking about nonstop between Thursday and Saturday. It was his first roller coaster experience ever. He looked really brave before it started moving. Then he looked like he was holding on for dear life. Afterward, he said it was fun, but he didn't want to go again.
Chris even took him on the Tilt-o-whirl, and I took this picture before it starting tilt-o-whirling. This was another one that Casey said he didn't want to go on again.

Darby isn't big enough yet for rides, so he just got to watch. I was worried about how he would take that since he always wants to do whatever Casey's doing, but Darby was great. He just liked watching the rides, and he cheered and clapped for Casey.


I think this is him watching the Cobra ride--something that Casey did NOT go on, but that they both were fascinated with.