Ringling Bros Circus: The First Half

The circus was absolutely AMAZING.

The show started off with a singing of the Star Spangled Banner.  A single elephant made it's way around the arena.  It's rider carrying an American flag.

Then there was a singing, dancing, parade of entertainers.

And like the rest of the show, one thing progressed directly to the next.

I enjoyed watching the grace of the ring entertainers.  Connor on the other hand was more impressed with his popcorn and the swimming fish on the screens.

Then the tumbling guys came out.

I couldn't believe how much height they got on their flips and how they managed to land flawlessly on the itty bitty narrow boards.

While we were watching the tumbling on the far side of the stage, the tigers were taking their place center stage all beneath our notice.  When the lights shifted focus they were just suddenly there.

I have to confess - we were really anticipating the tiger show, but were a little disappointed. 

The tigers were a little less than cooperative, and the trainer talked the entire time, but rarely in English so it was hard to tell what they were supposed to be doing.

The best part actually came when they had sent most of the tigers back to the back and he only had one or two left and they did a few tricks.  Kevin still wasn't terribly impressed.  He asked what happened to the days where they stuck their head in the tiger's mouth!?!

Connor's favorite part (other than the elephants of course) were when the music was blaring and they were signing and dancing.  He had a good time dancing along in his seat. 

Kevin on the other hand was particularly impressed with this show.  That is a woman on the bottom.  In HIGH HEELS.  She lifted her partner throughout the show several times.  I can't even imagine how...

We kept glancing from one end to another to see what the various groups would do next.

As they flowed gracefully from one position to the next.

It was really beautiful.

And of course they had the classic guy who walked on broken bottles and hot coals.

And what we thought was a single person in a cube turned out to be 3.  Kevin looked away for a second and when he looked back he supprisedly ask if all 3 of them had come out of that little box.

Then there was the highwire act.  While they managed to walk 2 & 3 high, and balanced on top of balls it was a little slow paced for the boys and they began to get a little restless.

The next act however was not.

The motor cycle act was one of our absolute favorites.  They started off with I think 4 riders in the cage.  And turned the lights out to where all we could see well were the glowing parts of their costumes as they zoomed around.

They eventually progressed all the way to 7 people.  In the cage.  On motorcycles.  Inches away from one another.  I can't even imagine the timing required to make it all work as they circled high and low and even did a crossing pattern at one point.  Talk about concentration and practice!

About halfway through the show there was a short intermission to let folks stretch their legs, visit the restroom, concessions, and souvenir stands.



During which we did a little clowning around of our own... :)

[Nearly] Wordless Wednesday

Mmmm... Homemade M&M Minis ice cream.  The colors were a nice, but completely unexpected, side effect.

And for the record,  it takes real talent to get the one thing you were aiming for out of focus... My photography skills are clearly unmatched.  ;)

Dive-in Movie at the Pool

On Saturday night we checked out The Woodlands Dive-in Movie at the Cranebrook Pool.  It was showing Despicable Me.  We hadn’t seen the movie before, but had heard lots of positive comments about it.  And from what I saw of it anyway, in between snack breaks, potty breaks, chasing Ryan around,  and sneaking away with Ryan to do the big slide a dozen or so times, it looked pretty funny.  Connor was entranced.  He sat in our laps watching the movie the whole time.   Belly laughing when the little yellow guys got conked with something or suffered other bodily injury.  We should totally be worried about that kid…

We got there right at 8pm and had about 30 minutes to play in the pool before the movie started. 

It was an awesome pool – I just wish they had left the spray stuff on for the first 30 minutes, but I am sure they turned it off because it would have been far too loud during the movie and would have drowned the people like us sitting in the beach entry.   

Even without it running the boys had a great time checking out the pool. 

They particularly enjoyed the family slide – despite the dunking at the end.  J

And then when it was movie time everyone gathered in front of the screen to watch the movie.

The boys picked out a nice spot in the middle of the beach entry.  Just deep enough to stay wet, but not too deep as to float away or drown.

It was perfect.  Getting to sit in the pool, splash and watch the movie?  How cool is that!?!

Ringling Brother Circus: The pre-show

Our trip to the Circus couldn’t have gone better (well, except for that one trip to the bathroom...).  We drove straight up to the parking gates – no battling crazy traffic either downtown or around the stadium.   And after a well guided maze around the stadium found ourselves on the front row of the parking lot within sight of the front of the stadium – none of the usual mile long hikes.  We grabbed our tickets and headed for the gates.  The boys excitedly running along with us.   As we reached the ticket gates along with throngs of other people we were pleasantly surprised to find once again that there was no wait - we handed our tickets over and walked right in.  I have to hand it to Reliant – they were well prepared for the crowds and did an amazing job getting everyone in and moving.

As we neared the ramps to the stadium I shouted “Race you! GO!!!” as I pointed the boys towards the ramp while I strolled leisurely towards the escalators.  I cheered and jeered as they raced up several switchbacks from my vantage point on the slow and steady escalator.  I arrived at the top well before the boys much to Ryan’s displeasure.   Luckily as soon as we stepped through the doors onto the concourse all was forgotten as we took in all the colorful and bright sights of the vendors souvenir stands, and giant posters and were helpfully guided along to the animal viewing pre-show.

Connor spotted the elephants on the way down the stairs and practically dragged me along making a beeline for them.  The excitement was contagious and palpable in the air.  Kids of all ages running from one wonder to another. 

Connor saw an opening at a fence and darted in to see what everyone else was looking at and found the tigers who were resting ignoring the crowd of gawkers with their flashing cameras.  At a slower pace we made our way back to the front to see the rest of the tigers including a white tiger who picked his head up and looked at us as we approached.

From there we made our way to the first of the elephant pins with 2 mother elephants and their babies.  The boys were super excited to see them. 

We stood watching for a while as the elephants happily munched hay.  We did eventually make a our way to the ponies and llamas, goats, and a dog? 

And of course Connor spotted the snakes.  One of which picked his head up on our approach and looked right us in a Harry Potter creepy kind of way before settling back down.  

Ryan asked about the lions about the time Connor mentioned he needed to go potty.  We told the boys would make a second round to see all the animals again, after a potty break and then asked staff nearby where the nearest restrooms were.  We were sent up a back hallway with a single family bathroom that was already occupied.  We waited nervously repeatedly asking the attendant if there were other bathrooms while Connor did the potty dance.  Luckily, we made it just in the nick of time.  Ryan on the other hand insisted he didn’t have to go, and we insisted he did if he wanted to see the lions.  Or the elephants.  Or the circus!   In escalating volumes.  As he shouted he didn’t need to go, and didn’t love us anymore.  Luckily he did eventually deign to go and we were able to head back to the animals.

Though we arrived back at the arena to find it deserted with just a few staff members ushering out the handful of folks still waiting in line to take pictures and the circus crew moving the animals to a staging area in preparation for the show.  We were shown to the show floor where a variety of performers were entertaining the crowd before the show.  We stopped to watch 2 clowns on a small side platform as they played with balls and balloons and picked kids from the small circle around the platform to help.  Connor stood by eagerly hoping to be chosen while Ryan latched on to my pants leg and attempted to hide behind me wary of the clowns.  We picked up some red clown noses at a painting kiosk and made our way to the far stage to see what it offered.

Before long an elephant came out and did a variety of tricks for the excited audience. 

Including a game where he caught sticks with his trunk and then held them in his mouth.  He also painted a picture with a paintbrush held in his trunk.

With 15 minutes to go before show time they made an announcement for folks to begin finding their seats.  The boys stopped by a small platform and danced to the lively music for a minute while we looked for our tickets and made our way towards our section.  

We were in section 137 just to the left of center stage, just a few rows up.  It was a perfect vantage point.

As crews efficiently cleared everything off the main floor vendors strolled by with popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones.  We got the boys each a box of popcorn and sat down to watch as clowns came out to further entertain and engage the crowd before the show.

National Ice Cream Day

Did you know that today was National Ice Cream Day?  Declared so by President Regan in 1984.  I can't remember what I did 10 minutes ago, but I remember random facts like this.  Though I have no idea what I will ever use them for.  Other than to ensure we celebrate appropriately.

And by appropriately I mean by making our own homemade ice cream.

In the kitchen sink.  Because it's way too hot outside.

With the help of my trustly little helper.  He helped me pour in the vanilla extract, and then helped me pour in all the ice.  And keep it at just the right level.

To make absolutely perfect, and delicious homemade ice cream.  We know.  We tatsted it straight out of the bucket seconds after this photo was taken.  :)