The County Fair

Our county fair started last week and we finally got a chance to join in on the fun today. Grandma and Grandpa Barton are here so what better way to celebrate than cotton candy and rides?!

First up was the ferris wheel. She's been wanting to ride it since the fair was set up last weekend. It is hard to see but there she is with Daddy in the purple-

Next up the carousel. I thought she'd be bored with it but this thing was intense. I was super dizzy after!

Next was the first ride she did on her own, the train. She thought it was pretty lame- 

Next were the cars. Remember how much she freaked last year? She was a rock star this year.  She was a little unsure because it jerked to get started but relaxed after a few times around.

She needed a cotton candy break after the cars. 

Then it was time for the flying dogs. It looks like she's waving but actually her hands where just sticky from the cotton candy so she didn't want to touch anything. LOL. She also thought this was kind of lame.

 We FINALLY got a smile on the kiddie pirate ship. She loved it! Just look at that face!

Poor Jack zonked out after going for a walk with Grandpa (thanks Gpa!). Next year he can do a few small things with sis. 

I tried to get her to go down the big slide but she told me it "was boring" and she wanted to do "that" while pointing to the roller coaster. Yickes. I have a clear memory of my brother freaking out on a roller coaster at the and just knew this wouldn't be good. Daddy thought it was a brilliant idea and bought himself a ticket to get in line:

This ride was so intense they made her take her shades off. But she didn't mind and before you know it, they were off:

Holy cow did this thing move. Her little head was being thrown around but she didn't want Daddy to hold her. She had SO much fun on it! 

Look at that confident walk down the stairs. She was right at home on this ride!

I wanted to get a cute picture of her so I had her sit and tell me how she felt when she was on the roller coaster (thinking she'd smile). This is the face she gave me! 

When it was over she decided she wanted to go again. But this time with Grandma. LOL! Good think Grandma Barton is a good sport! 

LOL!!! 

Jack woke up just in time to see all the fun. I think he'll wait a few years before getting on the Cobra. 

And one more of our little daredevil. We know Daddy has at least 1 ride buddy when she gets tall enough.

Thanks for visiting Gma and Gpa Barton! We had so much fun at the fair and can't wait to see you again in September!

A visit to Dow Gardens

We only got to enjoy Dow Gardens a few times before it got cold last year. We've been a couple of times this year so far and this time I got some fun pictures of Layla. Put on a jacket and jump in the car, it is nice outside kind of days. You can tell because I obviously didn't coordinate Layla's outfit or even brush her hair (not that brushing it helps lol).

Part of Layla's therapy is to get out and enjoy the outdoors. She's making a ton of progress when it comes to grass in the last few weeks but when we were at the park...she wasn't really feeling it.

 The tulips were so pretty!

 Layla climbing the stairs like a big girl. This made Daddy extremely nervous...I had to crop him out of the picture. LOL

 She made it!

 Layla's new shoes. Hard to see in this picture but they are sparkly. I can't believe she is in a size 6!

 I love her expression in this picture. Such a free spirit.

 The trees were also blooming and so pretty!

 Putting sunscreen on Layla is like trying to shave a cat. Here is Daddy getting his workout for the day. :)

 So I confess that I was so caught up in trying to get this picture that Layla almost slide right under the rail on this bridge! This is in the kiddy part so she wouldn't have gone far, but she would have gotten wet. Daddy said it was time to go. LOL

 This part is fenced in so Daddy thought she'd be safe. Nothing but tulips here!

Saginaw Children's Museum

We had a GREAT time at the Saginaw Children's Museum today! Layla absolutely had a blast. I was a little nervous that a lot of the exhibits would be too old for her but everything was perfect and I'm so glad we took her. We can't wait to go back!

Dow Gardens Butterflies

Anyone that knows me well knows that I am scared. To. Death. Of. Bugs. If you didn't know this about me, then you apparently have never seen so much as a fly land close to me. I am ashamed to say that my reaction to such would be something you'd never forget. This phobia will not even spare the "pretty" beasts bugs including butterflies.

I've heard from several people that we should take Layla to see the butterflies at Dow Gardens. After struggling to keep my heart rate down and get out a "I'd love to but I'm deathly afraid of bugs" in my inside voice I think to myself "I'm going to have to face my fears eventually". Yes, I do know that normal kids like bugs. I have actually feared for the day that someone gets Layla a bug catcher for her bday/Xmas/Easter. And knowing how my family loves to make fun of me and my weaknesses, it will be soon (gasp!). I know that someday Layla is going to come running up to me thrilled and screaming "mommy mommy, can I keep it?!" while trying to hand me a grasshopper. I am shivering as I type this...it is hard for me to keep these horrific images in the back of my mind while I still can.

So Bryan suggested we go see these butterflies one day last week. At first I was horrified, why was he springing this on me?! I didn't have enough time to see a professional hypnotist and get myself cured! I decided it would be okay, I could just stay outside of the exhibit while Daddy and Layla did their thing.

We had a great walk to the butterfly house and when we got there it didn't look so scary so I decided to go in! But it wasn't even two seconds into the first door that I had my first brush of death. There was a HUGE butterfly right on the door when we first walked in. I almost threw myself on the floor in fetal position but I held it together and once we got in, I was totally fine! You'd all be SO proud of me, seriously. I did freak out a couple of times but it was just a mini freak out and I didn't let Layla see (I really don't want Layla to be scared).

So here are the few pictures I took of my "big leap". It was really humid in the exhibit and I couldn't get my lens to unfog so the pics are a little blurry. What? Do you really think I was going to stay in there long enough for my lens to clear up? My hair was getting curly. Hahahaha!!!