The Greatest Show on Earth

Tonight was the big night...the one we have been looking forward to all week! Drew and I got Mikayla as soon as we got out of school, filled the van with gas, and went to get daddy (he left his truck at work, and then we stopped by for him to get it on the way home). Then it was off to the circus. We stopped and got some dinner on our way (mommy wanted Olive Garden since we don't have one in Spartanburg and she rarely gets to go, but we were afraid the wait would be too long). We arrived at the Bilo Center about 6:15 and the doors opened at 6:30 for the pre-show. If you've ever been to the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, you know that this is one of the best parts. You get to walk around visit with the clowns and other performers, and see elephants and other animals up close. It's really neat. Mikayla was not fond of this, especially at first. She didn't like the noise that was coming from the trapeze artists, and she did not want anything to do with the clowns. Drew, on the other hand, couldn't get enought. He and Craig stayed right up front the whole time! Mikayla and I walked around to see what else was going on. She got to dress up in a costume, rode a wooden horse, and we got several performers' autographs (even some of the clowns which she slowly, but surely warmed up to)! After we saw an elephant paint a picture and Drew rode the wooden horse, it was time to head up to our seats for the show to start. I must say I was a little dissapointed that this is no longer a 3-ringed circus! I remember it being hard to see everything the last time we went, but it was so exciting! Since Drew and Mikayla didn't know any different, this didn't bother them at all. Drew's favorite part were the elephants, horses, and motorcylces! Mikayla really seemed to like it all! Sometimes she danced, sometimes she clapped her hands, and other times she stared in amazement! It must have really worn them out because both were fast asleep not long after we had left!
tickets to the circus: free (mommy won them from WSSL fm by being caller 12) 1 circus program: $15 2 icees in elephant cups $16 1 motorcycle twirly light $14 1 ballerina/dancer music light $14 seeing the faces of Drew and Mikayla at the circus: priceless