we loaded everyone in the minivan and headed off - even got a prime parking spot that didnt involve the shuttle. granted it was reserved for the director of some position, but the security guard in the parking lot assured us we could use the spot. i was thinking to myself "self, this is going to be a great afternoon". with m&k strapped into the double stroller and f. in tow we headed across the street as directed by the traffic police and this is where things started to go downhill.
the event was a little crowded, but there was so much to do, lines were not to long. i figured since he had been talking about the pony rides non-stop since i mentioned them, that f. would love to meet this beautiful race horse that was on display for the kids to meet. nope - not going to happen. ok, no big deal - she was 15 hands tall, or so the sign said. i can see where that might be a bit intimidating. so on we went. how about the mini tractor pull? basically there were tiny tractors that were powered much like a tricycle pulling some thing behind it on a timed course or some such thing. no way - f. practically ran away screaming "no". alright then, how about the pony rides? "no, i want to go home!!" umm, we had only been there for about 4.5 seconds at this point. so we declined the offer to pack it in for the day. so then f. insists that all he wants to do is the hay maze. ok we can do that.
we ask someone where the maze is located and discover you have to go through the building, take the elevator down one level and exit out the back of the building. i can already see f. getting nervous just at the mention of an elevator. but we pressed on towards the building. he was terrified by the elevator located in the building and even more horrified when we suggested he take the stairs with his father, while i take the elevator with his brothers and meet him at the bottom. i tell you, i can not figure this kid out. ok, i get the elevator thing - clearly, that has a direct correlation to the vacation from hell. but stairs?!? this could prove to be troublesome in life. where do these fears come from? to the point where after unsuccessfully trying to walk all the way around the ginormous building to avoid said stairs and elevator - he finally decided the elevator wasnt so bad after all. the stairs though - no way he was getting anywhere near those.
so we finally meet at he maze, a good twenty minutes later, and f.'s mood continues to deteriorate. he enters the maze, which was only one hay bale tall so he could easily see the entire course, and he takes a wrong turn. i am thinking "oh sh!t!!" he starts hitting himself in the head, saying "no thats not the right way". and i am standing there thinking, "this is just not right. what is wrong with my child??" he comes running out of the maze and rejoins us. when we encourage him to give it another try, he goes to the other end of the maze and easily completes the task - umm, ok?!
so we thought we would check out some of the inside stuff which involved the elevator. apparently the air was clearing in the 4 year old brain, because the elevator was no problem. the bee colony entirely enclosed it glass however, was enough to push a 4 year old over the edge and start demanding to go home again. this time i said yes, i had enough myself. resigned to chalking up the day we head down the elevator - again strangely no problem and start to head to the car. at that moment f. changed into an entirely different child, calling "mommy, can i go in the cow car?" to which i reply "sure". so in he goes with j. and milks a cow, etc. out he comes and runs up to a 7 foot tall bee character and gives him a high five and proceeds to partake in every other event offered that day without hesitation. who is this child??
