The Greatest Show On Earth

We had the chance to go to The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (whoo, that's a mouthful!) a few weeks ago.  Aunt Wendy was able to get a bunch of tickets so we were able to go with a bunch of the family - even better!  The kids were SO excited!  I was pretty excited too.  Not necessarily about the circus, but about the fact that they could go to the circus and I didn't have to sit in a stinky tent in 110 degree weather for them to do it.  It turned out to be a really awesome show though!

We got there pretty early so we had plenty of time for a photo op. 

We planned on getting there early because for the hour before the show starts they have a pre-show thing where you can go down onto the floor and get up close to and interact with the performers.  It was a lot to take in.  

We picked up some clown noses for these clowns.

Cash got one too but was not in a picture taking mood that day.  He is not a fan of big crowds or having attention drawn to him in a big crowd.  

Great Grandma even clowned around a little!

Ryley got to try out a few tricks. 

    

It was going to be Maddie's turn next but the performers got called away right when she was getting started.  Bummer!

There were lots of amazing performers. 

     

We had a really good view of all the action. 

Sawyer decided he needed a more comfortable spot. 

Some dancers came out next.

Sawyer took a liking to one of them and couldn't resist the urge to go shake his bootie with her.  (This kid is so freaking cute!)

She was very sweet and played right along with him.  They actually invited any who wanted to dance to come up after their little show was over.  Sawyer was done by then though but Maddie jumped at the chance.   

Sawyer definitely liked all the animals!  

Here, she's showing off the artwork she painted for us.   

The pre-show was done after that so we went and found our seats and got ready for the real show.

These people are CRAZY!

I thought the splits on the highwire were crazy and then they started leap-frogging over each other.  Aaack!

 

These next guys really had me nervous!  There were a couple of times when they almost fell and I think one guy did fall one time.  I was a nervous wreck by the time that act was over. 

  There was a tiger tamer.  Check him out doing a handstand while the tiger jumps through his legs!

 

After intermission they brought out this huge crossbow. They loaded a guy onto it and then lit him on fire! 

He got up off the mat and walked around - still on fire!

The clowns finally extinguished him.  They saved the best for last . . . the elephants!

It was a very impressive show and lots of fun!

The kids talked Daddy (aka "Old Softy") into some souvenirs.

Cash got some binoculars, Ryley got a light up mohawk and Maddie got an elephant, which is what Sawyer is screaming for in the picture.  Old Softy bought him one of his very own.  He held it all the way home and has slept with it in his crib ever since.! 

 

It was a fun day!