Sunday, Fun Day, at Sacred Heart Church’s Carnival

Kicking the new year off right, and ending the last day of my son Nathaniel’s winter break, we headed over to the carnival at Sacred Heart Church on January 7th for some Sunday afternoon fun.

While I worried that we were in for a soggy Sunday, the weather cleared and we beelined for some rides after getting our tickets for them. And much to his initial dismay, despite now being too tall for his favorite rides, he was still able to get on the bumper cars.

After being stuck spinning his car around hopelessly at first, he managed to get the hang of it and successfully bumped a couple of younger riders before it came to an end.

Further into the carnival, he tried his hand at smashing plastic plates with three balls, won a slinky, then eyed the next game of chance: a bean bag toss into the smiling mouth of a wooden Scooby-Doo. He aced this also with the three supplied bean bags, and won a stuffed unicorn.

His win streak ended, however, as he tried to use a ring attached to a fishing pole to lift a bottle straight onto a platform. Nonetheless, as Meatloaf sang; ‘two out of three ain’t bad.’

Now ready for some more rides, Nathaniel decided to check out the scrambler. Last year he wouldn’t have even attempted to get on it, but this year, he was emboldened to try it out – especially since he was tall enough to ride it.

Jumping into our seats he was nervous but excited to see what would happen. As the ride began to spin out from the center then out, and back again, his smile became just as wide. By the end of the ride, he was beaming.

“That was awesome,” Nathaniel said. “I’m doing that one again!” Before we could though, I recommended we get something to eat, so straight to the hot dogs we bolted. The Knights of Columbus manned a Ball Park hot dog booth, and we both couldn’t be happier.

With our hot dogs, chips, and soda, we hung out at the booth enjoying our food and even got to be a carnival barker for them. “Hot dogs, hot dogs here,” I said. “What’s a carnival without them, we’ve got your ballparks right here! One ticket gets you a hot dog, one ticket gets you chips, one ticket gets you a soda, get all three for just two tickets, best deal at the carnival!” So. Much. Fun.

But even more fun was to be had, as Nathaniel was ready for the scrambler again, and this time he had a surprise for me. “I think I want to go on it by myself this time Dad,” said Nathaniel, “is that ok Dad?” I couldn't be prouder. “No problem,” I said, “go for it!”

Watching him jump into his seat, strap in, and spin out while making all kinds of goofy faces at me each time he passed, had me howling! He’s getting bigger every day and remains one of the funniest people I know. Yeah, I’m a proud papa.

Since the Ferris wheel was right next to the scrambler, it was next. Making our way through the fast line, Nathaniel sized it up and got himself ready for the height. As we got seated and began to slowly roll higher and higher, he psyched himself up.

“I’m good, I’m good, I think I’m good,” Nathaniel said. Reaching the top of the Ferris wheel, he calmly accepted it, much to his surprise. “Oh,” he said, “this isn’t too bad.”

By the time we got off the ride, he was also hungry again (growing boy and all that), so he settled on two pieces of pepperoni pizza from Little Caesar’s. They didn’t last our walk from the booth that had them, to our car as we got ready to head home. He can seriously put away some food.

He also decided he would keep the slinky for himself, and the unicorn for mom. “Sorry I didn’t get you anything Dad,” Nathaniel said. “No problem bud,” I said. “Hanging out with you today was my prize.”