"It's showtime!"

This year, because of some lucky timing, I was able to tell the kids my birthday was declared a public holiday and Gympie was putting on fireworks and monster trucks and getting in lots of rides to celebrate. They were very impressed.

Another fantastic show this year - kids loved the trampolines, bubbles, teacups and jumping castle. 

The local annual show is a great family experience, but more importantly it's a chance for us to pick up all the new bugs going around and getting as many of this year's batch of colds and flues out of the way as we can. With luck, the kids will all get sick at the same time.

Birthday-wise, it was great. Lots of junk food and things to see and do. Because of all the excitement and busy schedule, and because I'm exhausted, I decided I wasn't writing much this weekend.

But here's a visual diary of a wonderful couple of days -

Looking good. Starting to see why I don't
see any action first thing in the morning.
Headphones & glasses were added by Miss2 -
probably trying to bling me up.

The birthday snuggle :) 

First things first - above photo is me standing around the McCafe van waiting for them to notice me so I can order a coffee. Photos directly below are after I've had my morning coffee. Only fifteen minutes or so of time has passed, but as you can see, the difference is palpable. 

Master7, who states he isn't afraid of heights but rather of falling & hurting himself when he smashes into the ground, would moan as the mini Ferris Wheel went up, reaching a loud bellowing peak at the top and slowly grow quieter on the way down, only to do it again as it went back up again. For five minutes all we could hear, standing below, was, "iiiiieeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaa-AAAAAA!!!!AAAAA-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeiii -iiiiieeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-AAAAA!!!!AAAAAAA- aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeiiii -iiiieeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa -AAAAA!!!!AAA- aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeiiii -iiiieeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ..." And then he says he wants to go on the BIG Ferris Wheel! Not on your life.

Miss8, Miss5 & Master7 answering that age old question:
"If your sister told you to jump off a cliff, would you?"

Trampolines cost us a sizable $60 (3 kids, two goes each). The carnie sent Miss5 up into the stratosphere, after which she admonished him loudly and demanded a far more sedate height (about my head height - I don't think the bungy-type ropes would have registered any use).

The highlight for Miss8 & Master7 were the inflated balls. We saw them as a fantastic way for the kids to

pick up all those hard to find bugs.

Miss5 about to freak out as they inflated her ball. 

After the trauma of the (half) inflated ball, Miss5
took a (sulky) spin on the Merry-go-round. 

No fireworks photos this year because, thanks to Miss2 & Miss5, we didn't get to see them. We did get to hear them though, from the inside of a DB shed in machinery alley, where we huddled with our two trembling little girls. I must say, the fireworks did sound stunning. Oh, well.

I'm already excited about next year :) Gympie will certainly have to come up with something special to top this birthday.