Who knew we'd all be so into the circus? (And yes, I still want to be one of those fancy ladies.)

We can't stop talking about the circus

Even though Lil E had never seen the clowns, the elephants, the trapeze artists and all those classic circus thrills before, it was a toss up whether he or my parents were more excited to be there.

We did the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey thing around here. And that's how it should be, only days after Lil E's first visit to the circus., the four of us. Of course, my parents have been to the big top many times and they took us every other year when my brother and I were kids. We haven't been in a long, long time, though, and there is just nothing like watching that awe of seeing it all wash over a small child's face.

And awe, Lil E had. He was mesmerized the moment he saw the sequins (once again clarifying that he is my child) and acobats the moment we stepped on to the main floor for the All-Access Pre-show (why didn't they have this when we were kids?).

He tried on performer costumes, clapped enthusiastically for the clowns and got uncharacteristically shy around the pretty ladies (oh yes, I took notes on their whole fishnet-blinged out get-ups). 

When the lights went down and the live show started, Lil E's mouth dropped and I don't think he closed until the last tiger went through the closing curtain hours later.

BBecause the circus seems to have taken a Cirque vibe, we all were entranced by the men climbing, sliding and swinging from fabric and the women working the spinning rings in impossible contortionist maneuvers. I knew it would be fun, but I was surprised at what a great time we all had.

I'll admit, I was excited. But I was also prepared for the headaches and logistics and screaming masses of children that make even the best-intentioned outings with kids into a time of under-the-breath prayers and mathematic calculations to determine whether the wait in the concessions line and then the bathroom line are worth the sweet relief of a ten-dollar watered down beer. But this was not that. This was just so fun.

I didn't watch every single sequence and I saw my mom looking away as well. My dad did take his eyes off the Harley-inspired dancers with handlebars around their waists momentarily. When we did turn away it was to watch Lil E spontaneously throw his hands in the air or wave without realizing it, so caught up in the moment.

Even if it hadn't been so fun for all of us, I think I still would have been just as delighted seeing Lil E act out the motorcyclists in the big metal ball (do you think they make new ones or that it's the same one we watched back in the Evil Knievel days?) and pretend to be the horse riders doing stunts on my dad's legs. It would have been worth just to hear his uncontrollable little giggle remembering the "siwwwy clown" who put the cell phone down his pants and then yelled out, "Ooh! It's cold!"

Sitting in the dark and laughing with Lil E makes me remember how in love I was with the lady who twirled from her hair above me when I was a kid. And it makes me happy he gets a little of that cotton candy-laced dreaminess to take with him too.

Tons of photos after the jump.

Comments

[furiousball]

your son is adorable! what a fun time that had to have been. did you happen to get the chick in the top hat's phone number?

[Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass)]

Hey furiousball -

Why is that people always compliment my kid and then ask about the vacant-eyed, plastic looking lady in the bling next to me? Sigh.

[daruma]

I usually go to the circus every year even though I don't have any kids to take...they don't serve beer though, do they?!?