A little bit simpler

Friday night was our "American" cuisine night.  I wasn't feeling well and Scott still had a cold (still does).  I had already planned for us to make hamburgers, but I really didn't want to do it.  I did though, and they were a welcome reprieve from all the rich foods.  We had them with a salad--nothing else. 

Sat. C played w/daddy in the am and they gave Kona a haircut.  I went to the Farmer's Market and downtown Normal for a couple of hours.  I had a craving for Chinese food-- so I picked some up and checked out a cool sewing store on the way.  We had our food--C loves lo mein and the green beans.  Then we walked down to our landlord's garage sale, bought a desk for $30 and found C a stuffed horse (he found it in about a milisecond and started to ride it (it is small--not rideable).  After C's nap we took him to the Catholic church's carnival.  C had a blast--petting zoo (where he wanted to be held by daddy and not touch any animals--a waste of $4)--we should have just let him look at them from outside the fence.  Then he got to ride a pony (excellent $2 spent--we should have just let him have 3 pony rides). He kept saying he wanted to ride.  We got his ticket, I took him to his chosen horse, a cute brown pony, but as soon as we got close he started freaking out and telling me no.  I had to force him onto the horse--and he kept saying no and trying to get down.  He finally settled down by the time the worker came to buckle him in.  Then he sat up straight, Simon the pony got going, and then it was magic.  He was smiling and loving it.  When it was over he started to cry for more.  I asked him if had any more money in his pocket to pay for another ride (I knew he didn't), so that stopped the whining.  Then we went to look at the fairway.  He rode in a mini-train w/about 7 other kids (his cheeks were shaking the entire time), and then he "drove" a corvette on waht appeared to be a fast carousel of cars.  I took some pics w/my phone, so I'll have to figure out/remember how to upload them.  Then we headed back to the animals.  C of course wanted to ride the ponies again, but we held our ground and just watched.  He made animal noises looking at the lion cub, chickens, zebra, llamas, goose, ducks, goats, turtle, and lemur.  His favorite noises were the goose and lion and tiger of course--even though no tigers were present.  He was cracking us up dancing and making noises and hand motions for these animals.  I seriously don't know where he gets this stuff--my theory is too much Wiggles in the car.  We took C to Carl's Ice Cream and eatery for dinner.  We ate there and took our ice cream home (we live like 2 minutes away).  Successful and fun!!  His new stuffed horse is now named Simon after his brown pony he rode (which looks very similar to the stuffed version)

Tonight's big finish is Brazilian--pinto beans, tomato salad, pork chops, and rice--followed by a coconut drink.  I'm going to try to sneak out and get Scott a dessert as today is his actual b-day.