Friends at the Fair

When we met the Clives the first week we moved to Chicago we never would have dreamed that either of us, let alone both of us, would end up in Arkansas.  At the same time.  Considering how scattered all of our Chicago friends are, being 3 hours away seems as if we're still just six floors apart.  Sort of. 

We visited them in Bentonville a few months ago and this past weekend the Clives drove down to experience Little Rock.  And...the State Fair!  Apparently some of Mardee's friends were sort of confused as to why we'd want to go to the State Fair.  Well, apparently some of Mardee's friends don't know the great lengths we went to in Chicago to see the sights!  Buses, trains, blocks of walking...all in the snow.  Anything to do something "local".  When Matt and I saw the ads for the Fair we high-fived and thumbs-upped and then immediately got in touch with the Clives.  We were completely certain that they would by dying to go.  And they were! 

Their visit was wonderful.  Fun to catch up and try to hear each other over the racket the kids made. 
Jacob told me that he loves Cadence and Campbell more than Daddy...which means I'm further down on his love line.  When our families met Jacob was 3, Cadence was 2, Nicholas was 1 and Campbell was 6 weeks old. 

And seriously, Campbell pretty much was the stroller or Baby Bjorn those first few months.  So little!

Awwwww.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

 

We tried to take as many pictures of the kids in as many configurations as we could.  I mean, with our three boys and their three girls surely someone has to at least date!

Poor Benny experienced 99% of the fair from his stroller. 

Sunny, hot, confusing and yet fun.

Maybe Nico and Cadence will hit it off!  I see this at their reception on the table where the sign-in book is.

This ride rocked.  It was a little track that whipped the kids around a sharp curve.  As you can see, it was fun. 

In my attempts to photograph the three cars our kids occupied I got a few strangers.  But look at how cute these boys are!

It was fun AND Nico needs a haircut.

We also went because we were anxious to see any crazy fair food we could.  This article has changed us.  I love how colorful and wild it is.  I half expected to see Pinocchio running around in such a sinful, gluttonous place that serves fried dough (look far).

The food wasn't as crazy as we had hoped, but still...

Yes, chocolate dipped bacon.  Eeeew.

This sign was in the cow barn...what is "filling"??!?

More couples shots.  Layla and Benjo chillin' in the stroller. 

Nico and Campbell playing peek-a-boo.

We ended up with a funnel cake and a deep fried twinkie. 

And here comes the part where I come off as a fuddy duddy.  Ah so be it.  Spencer is pretty much always up for it.  He even was up for wheeling and dealing with the carnies.  He was able to save us major dough (un-fried) by dickering them down ride after ride.  When he started working with the guy running the bull I didn't even consider doing it. 

But Spencer did.

And Matt.

I was ready to walk away when Mardee hopped up there!  I was impressed.  But the minute they all came off saying it was exhausting I said no thanks.  Now that I'm blogging it I'm a bit sad, but mainly just for the photo op.  I've become an old lady!     

More car ride!

I am seeing more wedding video fodder!

I can't get enough of these smiles.  Unfortunately, Campbell and Cadence weren't as easily seen so we missed their reactions.

Smiling eyes...

Note our kids' cars are the Budweiser car and the Miller Lite car.  It's a kid's ride!  Ha.

I must have taken 100 pictures of the dads from behind holding kid hands or carrying babies.  I guess we enjoyed seeing all of the domesticated animals at the fair.  Ba dum bum.

Oh Benjo.

Matt's fair hair.

I honestly hate this picture of me.  My hair fell all stringy-like on my forehead when I took of my sunglasses and then there's my weird shirt.  And I was all fair-ey by the end.  But everyone else looks so darling I'm swallowing my pride.  Plus, Matt has horns.

I guess Spencer knew I felt a little insecure about that photo.  Thanks.  (And yes, Mardee really looked that darling and stylish and fresh the whole time.  She really brought class to the fair.)  Don't confuse Mardee with the other redhead with glasses walking by. 

We love you Clives.  Please let's be related some day!  (Here are a few more pics of the kids while still in Chicago.)  I say next time we get together we do formal couples shots.  Just in case.

(What you can't see is that Jacob is in his underwear at the park.  We're close.)

What do you think?

Up?

Or down?

Or up do?  (Ballerino Ben) 

Here is his normal hair.  Not quite so much of a jheri curl mullet as pictured above.  And since it figures into his Halloween costume, it won't get cut until November 1st (if ever...).

And yes, this is not the first time.  In the words of every old lady to ever lay eyes on my sons, "They're just too pretty to be boys."   

Crunch Munch

Check out who we found munching his way through our tomato plant. 

Whoah-hoah!

You can't make this stuff up

I came downstairs from putting Benjamin down for a nap one day and this is what I found.  From top to bottom.  Would that the house had been more tidy when they spontaneously decided to do something so darling and blog worthy.  Alas...

Jacob often wants Nicholas to play chess.  Nicholas often wants Jacob to play trains.  They make deals that one will play the other person's activity for a specified amount of time and then they'll swap activities.

It usually ends with Nicholas losing his queen in 3 moves and then running away from the table screaming.  Then Jacob, desperate for a partner, says, "OK, OK" and puts the queen back while warning him that he needs to be more careful.  The agreement usually dissolves after 3 more moves because, as Nicholas so artfully puts it, "this is taking for long".  Crying, anger, and promises from mom to play with Jacob are the only things that will put it aright.  

Happy Birthday Grandma Jan!

Hope you like your presents above!

For those of you who don't know, Grandma Jan holds these skills in high regard.  Also, Nico's video doesn't demonstrate his ability to swim 4 feet without floaties (yay!).  It does, however, demonstrate the darlingness of a little boy with big floaties jumping off the diving board.  It's like puffed sleeves!

We love you Grandma!  Hope it was a great day.

For those who are curious, Benjamin is 15 months and these are his first steps.  We are elated.  And yes, we reeeally wanted him to "stand up please" in that second video.  (Excuse the general debris and jumble of cords in the background.  The house is for another post.  Ooooh yes.)

Oh, and we're still working on the dive.  Soooo close.