Day from Heaven...Night from Hell (DAY 2)

Of course the first thing we had to do on Friday morning was take a dip in the Homestead Pool. I LOVED this pool. It was big, deep, and uncrowded. There was a deck where you could climb up some stairs and soak in either a hot tub or a mineral tub, which had natural mineral water pumped into it from the Homestead Crater.

What the heck is the crater, you ask? See below.

This is what it looks like from above ground. a 55-ft high dome.

The water is crystal clear and about 96 degrees.

People come from all over train to scuba dive here...even my brother Jim and his wife Ameli did. The Homestead Crater is a high dome filled with 96-degree spring waters rich in minerals and "vital nutrients".
It was so neat inside, but not neat enough for me to take a plunge. There was something very eerie about it. Maybe it was the thought of being trapped in an above ground cave....should there be an earthquake. Or maybe it was not knowing how many scuba divers were down below me that I didn't know about. (Literally just got a shiver from that thought). The depth of the crater also freaked me out. All around, the freaky level was off the chart and I didn't want to go there. Especially with my brother Mat with me. He is a freaky disaster magnet.

The pool had a little cabana where the treat man worked. He was in charge of charging us $20 for 5 Ice Cream drumsticks. I must admit that they were the best tasting drumsticks I had ever had. Maybe it was the lack of demands and deadlines in the air?? Mat had a great time throwing all of the kids through the air...and then me. I think we were great entertainment for the sunbathers.

After our morning swim, Tom went to golf Soldier Hollow with my brother Mat and Kevin, the husband of my best friend from growing up in Cincinnati (Renee'). The kids hung out and played and I enjoyed some quiet time reading and napping.

All was FINE until they came home.

Mat and I thought it would be "fun" to take the kids to the carnival in Heber that night. Tom agreed to stay home with Bryce. Wise decision on his part.

Can you see the excitement in our eyes?

In fairness to Lori, Mat's wife, I need to say that she was NOT up at the house at this time. Mat had full reign over his two daughters - Kourtney and Maddie (on left). Maddie is a gorgeous little girl - but Mat thought it would be fine to let her go to the carnival with ratty hair and spaghetti stains on her face and shirt. He thought it would be better if she "blended in". Lori was NOT happy when she saw this picture. She is normally impeccably groomed. :)

Anyway, we followed the smell of human feces and located the fairgrounds. We should have turned back as soon as we saw this advertisement when we entered:
"Fortunately there is a difference in carnivals."

Was that foreshadowing? Was it a cryptic message telling us to run?

We didn't. And our children lived to regret it.

It started out innocently on the swings. Besides the fact that my kids were just coming off of a stomach bug - we probably had no business being there. Their equilibrium was compromised and their tummies still weren't settled. But we couldn't resist how "happy" they looked when they got off the ride. They needed more! This was going to be FUN!!!

Bradley was too short to ride most rides. I could sense his frustration - so I was frantically trying to find ANYTHING that he was tall enough to ride. I found a ride that he cleared by 1/2". I asked Mat what the ride did and he said "goes in fast circles". "WEEEEEEE", I thought.

I strapped my sweet little 3 year old boy in the car with his little cousins. Karah wanted NOTHING to do with this. My feelings of "WEEEEEEE" soon turned to horror when the ride began spinning WAY faster than I would have imagined - and then launched in the air!

I was freaking out as a million thoughts raced through my mind. A small sampling:

1. What kind of crappy mother are you?

2. What is Bradley going through right now?

3. How am I going to get my baby out of there?

4. Is he going to fall out?

5. Why is his body limp and lifeless right now???

That's right - we quickly noticed that Bradley's body that had once bee rigid - with a death grip on the bar - was now limp and completely slouched over. He had completely PASSED OUT!

I was crying - trying to communicate to the mexican carnie - to stop the ride!!! Apparently the Time Out sign is not universal. Neither is pointing and screaming "NO! STOP! NO!" When Mat yelled that someone was going to puke....they understood. I swear, unless there is a threat of pixie dust - the carnies don't give a crap!"

They did an emergency stop and we saw Bradley as he came to. He ran to me and cried,

" Mama - I was scared. It went willy willy fast. I had to go in the dark."

That will forever haunt my memory. Poor little guy. I was later able to laugh - about how stinking stupid I am - in relief that he was Okay and unconscious most of the ride :)

We thought we would simmer down at a game: The Ball Toss - every child a winner! Bradley threw his ball and was then given his choice of prizes:

Hmmm....will it be the gun, the dagger, or the hammer. All murder weapons.

That's my boy! The murder weapon that doubles as a functional tool.

We thought we would let them try a walk through the "FUN HOUSE". Again, I failed to recognize that the kids had to climb three stories of rickety scrap metal - to cross a suspended, wobbly bridge. Bradley was screaming to me in terror - two stories up. The carnie yelled down to me - asking permission if he would help him across.

Thank goodness for English speaking carnies! He was a nice man.

The fun house ended with a slide down a humid tunnel of infestation. Cotton Candy was DEFINITELY out of the question.

While we waited for the kids to come out of the fun house - I noticed several people carrying around huge dismembered barbie dolls. I soon realized that this was another carnival prize. How sick is that?

One little girl hauling it around had Downs Syndrome. What parent would let their handicapped child have that? I may strap my 3 year old into a death trap and wave him goodbye.....but the dismembered Barbie Doll? I am SO much better than that mom. :)

Our only safe option left was the merry-go-round. What could go wrong on that? Oh, yes - the fireworks were set up directly behind it. The kids went round and round, crying, covering their ears and begging to go home and never come back. It was horrible.

We high tailed it out of there. Quick to rush back to our parking place that we had "lucked out" and gotten - right in front. Of course, the rodeo was letting out when we made a run for it. We couldn't back up because the entire stadium was walking behind our car. Mat was at his breaking point. Please sit back and relax as you watch this CLASSIC Mat video.

The day started wet....good pool wet.

The day ended wet....tears and "schweat".

And they were right.....

"Fortunately, There is a Difference in Carnivals."

Will the vacation head up from here? Stay tuned for days 3-10.