A Trip to the OC Fair and the ER

Every year (probably since I was born) I have gone to the OC Fair. I love the fair and so does Charlie. This was her first fair experience that she enjoyed. (Well, she almost enjoyed all of it!) She went on her first pony ride and LOVED it. She saw the ponies and wanted to ride. She laughed and waved the whole time. She even gave the pony a nice pet on its mane. I thought she was going to freak out when the worker got her off but she understood.

After the pony ride we realized it was Dollar Taste Day at the fair. It was the greatest day ever for food tasting. Charlie, Jimmy and I ate bites of corn dog, chips with cheese, lemonade, a turkey leg, cinnamon roll and an icy pink lemonade. Then we were off to the Kid's Tent. Charlie had fun in the huge sandbox, the train table, the magnetic connecting blocks and the craft area.

Charlie had to make sure she smashed every sandcastle! Daddy taught her well.

Adelyn walked through the tube so she wouldn't get dirty. Charlie crawled through it getting all the sand everywhere!
The craft this year was to decorate a grocery bag with construction paper bits and/or feathers. Charlie chose paper bits and wouldn't let a single feather touch her bag. Daddy did the glue while Charlie did the sticking. Of course, Adelyn did the exact opposite and covered hers with feathers. It's so funny how the are so different.

Working together!

She just couldn't figure this bag thing out...there was nothing inside of it! She wanted to fill it with sand but I took it before that happened.

After the Kid's Tent we went to go find more Dollar Tastes. Jimmy and I found frozen bananas, teriyaki chicken and rice bowls, icess and of course some ice cream for Charlie. She is nuts about ice cream!

Charlie loves her daddy!

I think this was her first roller coaster ride. She wasn't too sure about this one. Jimmy held her head so it wouldn't bounce around too much. That was so sweet...what a good daddy!

After a few more rides we headed over to the elephant ride. We enjoyed a family ride on Betsy the elephant. Charlie thought that was pretty cool. We even felt the wire hair on top of its head. What a bumpy ride! Can someone explain to me why we pay $21 to ride an elephant?

While the family watched the corny circus Jimmy and I pushed a sleepy Charlie in the stroller through the vendor isles and bought a welcome sign for our house. A $10 deal! After a nice nap we headed to the farm. Charlie went shopping in Ralphs and filled her basket with eggs, packets of strawberry jello and ice cream.

Charlie touched a little chick and almost grabbed its neck. (Next year Jimmy can hold her.) She liked to make a peep-peep sound.

Adelyn enjoyed this too with Grandma.

After seeing a few goats, sheep and cows we headed for the pigs. I LOVE THE PIGLETS. I could stay there all day and watch those little guys. See Charlie's hand. She liked them too.

Look how cute this one is. I just wish I could of had one of these.

The little piglets all ran by Charlie and me and let us touch them. They chewed on my fingers and toes. Charlie liked to feel their noses and giggle. She kept saying nose and laughing. Did I mention I love piglets?

She wanted to climb in with the pigs...so did I!

After the farm we headed into the buildings. Jimmy and I got some new Rainbows, I got a hat, we got Big Jim a Christmas present, I got my ring cleaned and Charlie got a lollipop (so she would stay in the stroller). Last, we headed over to the other Live Stock area to see more animals, eat the rest of the fair food we missed and see the pig races. Along the way Jimmy being the fun great Uncle and Daddy that he is was holding onto Adelyn's hand with one hand and Charlie's with the other. They were laughing and swinging and having a grand old time...until Charlie started crying the saddest cry we had ever heard. Even a paci couldn't fix it! Instantly Jimmy and I knew something was wrong. Charlie is a tough little cookie for being as clumsy as she is. She gets bumps, scrapes and bruises daily and does not shed a tear. (Well, she doesn't have tears but you know what I mean!) Because Charlie was crying we realized something must really be wrong. After only a few minutes we realized she would not move the arm that Jimmy was swinging her with. We went to the first aid station to get her some ice. We decided we would watch the pig races and if she was still whimpering after that we would take her to the ER. Well, our pig Strawberry won second in the pig races and Charlie still would not move her arm. So instead of getting my beloved corn, cotton candy and kettle corn we were off to the emergency room. Poor Jimmy just felt awful! We put her in the car and she wanted her paci, milk, Rexi the dinosaur and her besi (blanket) to comfort her. It was the saddest thing watching her try to hold all her lovies with her left arm and left foot because she wouldn't move her right arm. When we got to the ER they knew just what it was. Nursemaid's Elbow - Nursemaid's elbow is a partial dislocation of the elbow, which occurs when the lower part of the arm (forearm) slips out of its normal position at the elbow joint. Now Jimmy felt even more awful as he had to admit he did this to his daughter! The doctors told us it is very common and they see it all the time. Because the ER was so busy they just checked us in and had us sit on a gurney (How do you spell that word?) in the hallway - right where the paramedics come through the door to deliver their patients. Now Jimmy was sweating because there was a chance he was going to be seen by his fellow firefighters. If we were in a room he could have hid! (Unfortunately, the firemen did not happen to show up!) As we waited she happily ate fruit snacks, chips and milk and drove her little ambulance around the bed. The doctor had Jimmy sit on the end of the bed holding Charlie. She looked like a little bird holding her hurt wing. He came around from the back and put both his hands on her arm and wrist. He pulled, twisted and popped in back in place. She looked up at me and cried from hurt and fright. After a minute she stopped. Within another minute she grabbed the keys with her previously hurt arm and waved good-bye. For having a dislocated elbow she was mighty strong. Daddy promised her ice cream and she quickly forgave him.

FYI - Do not swing your children by the arms. Nursemaid's elbow happens to kids between 1 and 4 because the bones are not fully developed. After it happens once it is more common to happen again. It can happen by falling, swinging or even by putting a jacket on. Please be careful with Charlie's arms, especially her right one! Oh yea, I was going to snap a few photos of the ER experience but I didn't think it was appropriate! Jimmy already felt so awful I thought I better not photograph the memory as well...See you next year corn, cotton candy and kettle corn! I will be waiting for you!

Back to Mother's Beach

Cutest bathing suit ever!

My very own sand/water pit



Nicole declared every Wednesday "Beach Day" this summer and we have gone almost every Wednesday. Mother's Beach is nice because there are no waves, but it was a bit busy today. There was a lot of us today. The Williams family (who live at the beach) also come to hang out with us on Wednesdays too. So it always ends up being a group of friends of friends. It doesn't matter who shows up because the kids always have fun. Today Jimmy and Bryan dug a big pit and filled it with water. Charlie really enjoyed her own little swimming hole. She also had a lot of fun playing with Michael as usual. We got Subway and Charlie loved holding her own sandwich and biting it. It was super cute. The best part of the day was when two dolphins swam into the bay and were jumping through the water. I don't know if Charlie even saw them but Adelyn sure did...she wouldn't go back into the water for a while. "Scary!" said Adelyn. Only two more Wednesdays for us and I am back to work. So sad. Maybe we can keep the beach days going anyway...we can bring dinner instead of lunch!
P.S. Thanks Nicole and Camille...I stole your pictures!

Here I Am Snoopy!

I love this smile!

Enjoying the train ride - she didn't want me sitting or holding her - Miss Independent
(I held her belt loop from behind!)

Huff and Puff - I wish I could still go on this ride.

I guess she and Jax are a little too small for this ride!

Again - She wanted to sit by herself!

Loving the Trucks

Today we went to Knott's with Ashleigh and her boys Ryder and Jaxson. We headed straight for Camp Snoopy. I tried to pass by Snoopy quickly. I wanted to get her on a few rides before the Snoopy obsession kicked in! She goes Snoopy crazy when she sees him and wants to follow him all around. Well, Ryder was on a ride so I decided to pass the time with a little Snoopy time anyway. She ran right up to him and grabbed his hand. She hugged him and then turned around to say "Cheese!" This is the only character she will do this with. It is so cute to watch her love him. She calls him "Snoosnee" and says it with a scrunched up nose. Also, she was very brave today. I had just finished telling Ashleigh that she won't go on anything by herself and then she went on all the rides by herself. What a liar she made me out to be! She had a lot fun on the Huff and Puff Ride, the train, the twirly ride and the jump house. She loves the trucks the most still and we won't be going to the cars ever again...I felt so sick! That ride is awful. It goes in a circle and whips you around the corners. Not good! Oh yea...Now when you go on the train you not only pass the trash cans and the employee's break tables, but now you also get to pass the sweating construction men hammering the Knott's Scary Farm mazes as well. Got to love Knott's! Thanks Patridge family for a fun morning at Knott's.

It's August! We Want Ice Cream!

We kicked off August with a swim day and the taco man at Grandma Bubbie's house. Debbie and Drew had a first annual family fun birthday party for all at their house with swimming, the taco man and ice cream cone chocolate cakes with vanilla ice cream on top. Charlie couldn't wait for ice cream. We spent the afternoon playing with all Charlie's cousins in the pool and playroom. The best part was when Charlie found her "BAAAA" in the playroom. BAAAA is a stuffed lamb Grandma Bubbie gave to her when she was little and she has always loved it so much. It has been missing for quite awhile now. I guess she left it there last time. I'm sure she won't leave it anywhere now! Thanks Grandma Bubbie and Drew for the fun August afternoon.

Tons of Fun

I had the bright idea long ago to buy Charlie her very own ball pit. I got a few hundred balls and a ladybug ball tent to put them in. She absolutely loves it! Even though Jimmy thinks it's obnoxious and it is a pain to keep all the balls inside the tent I'm glad I got it for her. She hides in it, plays peek-a-boo, reads in it and takes all her toys in it to play with. If she goes running I always look there first. Most of the time I hear a giggle to guide me. Just yesterday Grandpa Jim came over and she went running to hide. She wanted him to find her in her tent. When I guided him to the right spot she had the biggest grin on her face that he found her. The thing I love most about that ball pit in that it produces the best Charlie giggles ever. It is the sweetest noise in the world!

River Trip #5

My wild and crazy hair!

A blow-up seadoo courtesy of Alex and Evan

Adelyn...not Ya Ya!

On my tippy toes!

Not happy in the VEST!

Happy in the vest!

Jimmy works so hard at the river. Finally he stopped to relax. Thanks Jimmy for all you do for us!

First time on the tube ride!

Melody and Alex on a sea-doo ride!

Evan hanging out on the boat!

We spent the last few days at the river with my family this time. My mom, Melody and the boys, Nicole, Mike and Adelyn all came too. It was fun watching Charlie splash around in the water with all her favorite people. Charlie is so brave...she will walk right out into the river lagoon until the water is up to her lower lip and she is standing on her tippy toes. It is a bit scary! Jimmy and I decided next trip we need to teach her that she needs to ask us to go into the water. Ha ha...we can dream! She loves finding rocks and throwing them, shoveling up the dirt/sand, drinking river water (GROSS), riding on the coolest floats ever (thanks Alex and Evan for donating them), sitting in the golf cart and eating chips all day long. Charlie had two firsts at the river this time. First, I took her on the boob tube behind the boat in Havasu. It lasted for about 2 minutes because I was so scared we were going to tip over. Maybe next year I won't be so scared! Second, she went on her first sea-doo ride with Daddy. Because of the life vest, she didn't enjoy it too much. As soon as she is 30 pounds she can wear the life vest that isn't so uncomfortable. Charlie woke everybody up every morning. Grandma would always be eating donuts at the kitchen table when she woke up. On the last morning she popped right up from bed to play peek-a-boo with her at the table - but she wasn't there! It was so funny. Thanks everyone for coming to the river with us. It was so much fun! And thanks Jim for letting my family borrow your amazing river home!