Music with Madelyn, Boulder County Fair

We are nearly done with our Music with Madelyn class.  We really love her classes.  They are very high-energy, age appropriate, always involve different instruments and props, and are completely age-appropriate.  We took her younger child class, and it was very different from the toddler class that Spencer is taking now.  He loves it.  The summer classes are being held at Madelyn's home, and after class, she offers organic sliced apples and a chance to romp in her big back yard, complete with swing set, tire swing, large grassy lawn, shade space to color, sand box, and two water features (both shallow and safe).  Spencer really loves this.  She encourages you to bring a lunch or snack and picnic, and doesn't seem to mind if sticks and grass and pinecones and small boats are floated down her creek.  Very worth it.  After class, we sometimes pop over to the Walnut Cafe for lunch (in their S Boulder location) or go to Saver's or the new Goodwill, since they are very close to her.  She is offering Fall classes at the WOW Museum in Lafayette.  We think the WOW is ok, but not the best children's museum ever.  They do try hard and I am glad they are there, so we will think about the classes.  Playing at the WOW is an additional $5 per class, so that is less exciting.

On our way home, we stopped at the Boulder County Fair, which opened to the general public today.  We love the free admission and free petting zoo, but we were not super impressed with the fair itself.  Lots and lots of things for sale, but a complete absence of signage, and none of the people staffing booths could tell you anything either.  For example, where is the kids area where they are making fun crafts?  Where is the petting zoo?  No one knew.  When we found the kids area, at last, it seemed to involve several couches and some coloring pages and crayons.  The craft area in front had some very fun stick horses to be made, and a sign that said they could be made from 11-12:30.  However, the woman controlling the supplies said she was done for the day (although other kids were still making their horses), and walked away when Spencer started to cry.  He really wanted to make a horse.  We will apparently be crafting here at home after nap.  Since she still seemed to have horse heads already cut out and plenty of decorating stuff and another 15 yardsticks (for the horse body) on the table, I am not sure why she suddenly decided to be done, but she did.  Also, she had no badge or sign or anything else to indicate that she was the woman to ask for help.  We stumbled around outside and happened to find the bounce house.  No sign to indicate that it was free (although it was).  Spence was excited to get inside, but it had an open roof, and in the hot sun, it was apparently blazing hot on bare feet.  The black mats for the kids to land on when the slid out of the bounce house had gotten so hot that I could feel them through my sandals.  I caught him rather than let him stand there and he told me that the house was "too hot, needs to cool down."  We ambled around for awhile longer and finally happened to see the petting zoo.  Food was 50 cents, but the exhibit was free.  We got to pet chickens, rabbits, goats, calves and a horse.  Pretty fun, although the poor animals were panting in the heat.  Not much to do about that, I guess.  We looked at the rabbit cages inside for a bit and went home.  The fairway doesn't open until 4, so the rides weren't set up yet.  We will probably go back for those, and we may try the fair again later in the week. 


My husband has been on a business trip for the past few days.  This is very rare, and Spencer misses him keenly.  He keeps asking about Daddy, why he isn't there in the morning, when he is coming home from work, etc.  He's had real conversations with my husband on the phone, which is a big difference from the past.  (Usually he just says "No train today!  I love you, bye-bye!")  But missing Daddy has apparently meant being difficult for Mommy.  Lots of "No!" and "Go away!" today.  Exhausting for all.  I will be glad when my husband comes home tonight and my sweet little boy comes back.