A Day at the PNE - aka, there goes the kids' college fund ....

Last year, after a day at the PNE, which included one ride only - a couple of trips around in the Ferris Wheel - I told (not suggested, but TOLD) Nikkie that this year we were going to get ride tickets and do all the scary ones, including the wooden Roller Coaster. She just shivered and shook her head in denial.
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But just in case that didn't work for me, she went and got .... up the builders. (How quaint - an Irish way of saying up the stump, up the duff, in the pudding club, or having a bun in the oven.) No matter how one says it, it's enough of an excuse not to go on wild rides at the PNE. 

So this year we decided to take two kiddies and their daddy's bank account, and off we went for the day. 

Seems like we weren't the only ones.

Well, to be honest about it, this picture was much later in the day. There weren't nearly that many people there when we arrived about noon - or I would have just turned around and went home.

We had a sorta kinda plan - first, let the kids 'play' some games ('play' in this case means 'buying' a prize before they throw the basketball, the dart, or the ball - the more you pay, the bigger the prize), so we headed to the Midway.

 There. That did it. They were really good at these games - Chris killed tons of balloons with hard little balls and darts, threw basketballs galore into nets, and Lizzie excelled at racing her little horse. However, that skill didn't transfer, as you'll see later.

This hammer was hugged so much it got a bit .... smooshy as the day went on. Fortunately there was a remedy available.

After the midway (should I say the first visit to the midway?) we decided to check out one of the three MAIN REASONS to visit the PNE - the food vendors. Of course, it was chips on a stick for Nikkie and me - the kids stayed with the mundane, burger and fries for Chris, cheese pizza for Lizzie.

 

After lunch, we headed for Playland. I would have bought ride passes for the kids, but we didn't think they'd be brave enough to try out all the different rides - and we were right. However, they did get on these crazy spinny teacups - and Nikkie and I got on with them. For those of you with limited budgets - take a kid to the PNE. They get in for free - and you get to go on the kiddie rides with them for free, as long as they are 4' or under.  And let me tell ya, these tea cups do go crazy. Whew.

Then it was a Merry Go Round. Lizzie clamoured on board a tall horse, and I stood beside her. Chris sat in a 'sleigh' with his mom. When Lizzie saw he was sitting in a sleigh, she wanted to get off her high horse and sit with them, but I persuaded her to stay, as it would be more fun. She really needs more horse time, I think. That thing went pretty fast though, let me tell you, and I'm not ashamed to say I got a tad dizzy before it finally, thank God, stopped.

After those strenuous activities, we stopped for refreshment. The sun had popped out, and it was a lot hotter. Because the promise of rain seemed to have blown away, a lot more people had showed up, and now there were more line-ups for our Slushies (Nikkie and Chris)

and ice-cream (Strawberry Sundae for Lizzie, Orange Float for me.)

If we had waited for this little princess to finish her ice-cream we'd still be there.

However, just like life, we moved on. This time we went to the Safeway barn, where there were lots of animals to see and smell. Lovely. And what should we see ... but pony rides! 

Chris said no in a very absolute way. I knew there was no way to talk him into it. Lizzie is much easier to persuade, though, and she seemed fine with it - until the lady there popped her onto the saddle, then she started to wail for her mother. So Nikkie was allowed to walk around the pen with her .... and when they saw me in the sidelines with the camera, Lizzie was kind enough to turn her tear-filled fear-filled face into a wan little smile.

Of course as soon as she got off, I asked her if she wanted to go again, and she said .... Yes.

For all you fancy knitters, this is where Angora wool comes from.

Aren't they the cutest of all?

And if you knit with llama wool, thank these beasties.

And of course, the alpacas. They obviously had already donated to all the knitaholics.

After the barn, with its bees, chicks, doves, cows, etc, we headed to the arena to await the Superdogs. I know every dog is a super dog - but boy can these ones move! and jump!

When we left the Superdogs, it was time to check out the second MAIN REASON for visiting the PNE - the food vendors. Nikkie and Lizzie had fish and chips, Chris had fries, and I had my yearly (well, maybe semi-yearly) dose of Poutine.

As we walked to the next exhibition, we passed the eco-scultptures. These were amazing.

- quite a few pictures following - I loved the yarn bombing ones!

Then we went to the Get Animated exhibit, where we found Sponge Bob's underwater realm -

- the Simpsons' living room -

- and Mr Toad's Wild Ride.

I'm not sure what his wild ride was.

The Walt Disney Family Museum was interesting -

 - but I don't know what this is, besides being very cool.

And of course, we cannot forget the third MAIN REASON  for visiting the PNE - the food vendors. This was our first experience with the Deep Fried Mars Bar. Nikkie and Chris turned their noses up at it, but Lizzie was game, and ate about half of it. I had about half what was left. Seems like she is brave like me!

After our last snack, we headed back to the midway, through millions of people, because one little boy wanted to play one more game. Then it was on to our last wild ride of the night - busing and sky training and busing back home, and a long tired walk up a long tiring hill to our home. Yawn.

But all in all - a very successful day, wouldn't you think?