John & Gill Went Up a Hill: The Circus

Mimi got tickets for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for Saturday night. She originally got 4 tickets and Daddy & I debated whether or not to take Gillian. We were unsure if she would pay attention or get bored quickly. We later found out that the tickets and Mimi got were for a suite and she was able to get another two tickets. After finding out that we had a suite, it was an easy decision to take Gillian along for the show. We figured she could run around the suite if she got bored.

eating pizza

Mimi met us at our house and took John to the show in her car. Daddy and I drove up with Gillian. Gillian fell asleep in the car and we woke her up to walk into the Prudential Center. As we were walking into the Prudential Center, there were protesters. While I agree that they have a right to protest and want the best for animals, but do I really need to be screamed at while holding my 18 month old. I don't think so. There is a time and a place for everything. And I'm sorry I don't think that they convinced anyone to actually walk away from the circus. Once we got inside, Daddy and I found John and Mimi in the suite. John was already sitting down eating a slice of pizza. Once Gillian saw that John was eating, she had to have something too. We moved John over a seat and sat Gillian down next to him. She had some chicken fingers and then started to help herself to John's juice box. John was a little leery about going down the steps from the suite area to our seats. He got a little nervous at the height. Gillian on the other hand, wasn't afraid. Mommy had to keep an extra eye on her, because she would go running down the steps. She also attempted to throw a napkin over the railing.

Gilly & Mimi

As everyone was getting something to eat, the pre-show was ending and they were starting to get everything set up for the show. The clowns came out first to get everyone excited about the show. John loved the clowns. Gillian wasn't so sure at first. Once the ringmaster came out and started to sing and the elephants and animals came out she was much happier. Gillian loves music, so once they started to sing she was happy. Plus she loved the elephants.

watching them set up the ring

After the opening song, the riders of the wind came on. They did tricks on horseback. I'm not so sure that John was impressed with the horse and riders. I think he was still excited to know that he could have as much popcorn and soda has he wanted. After the horses, they set up the ring below for the tiger and lions, they had a motorcycle on a high wire. The motorcycle was really cool, but unfortunately it was on the other side of the stadium. It was hard for John to see and he probably would have loved it if it was closer. The big cats were up next. I think that Mimi was a little afraid that they would attack the trainer. The cats were well behaved, although one named Princess did not want to do all the tricks. She barely cooperated and was the first one back in the cages. But don't worry no blood was drawn and the trainer survived!

Alexander Lacey and the tigers

After the big cats, there was the hair-iffic act where the ladies actually hang from their hair. That act was really impressive. I don't think I could handle that. There was a short intermission after the hair act while the circus got set up for the trapeze. Daddy and John went on an adventure to find ice cream or a treat for after dinner. Gillian, Mimi and I decided to hang out in the hallway and let Gillian run around. Gillian loved it. She watch over balcony to see the people below and also ran around with the other kids in the hallway. Daddy and John came back with cotton candy in hand along with a fancy mask. We got the kids back in the seats along with their cotton candy. We actually found something that Gillian does not like. She was not a fan of the cotton candy. She pushed it away. After intermission, the trapeze was up next. John loved watching the trapeze. He would yell "wahoo!!!" every time they would catch someone. Then the clowns did a little skit with one acting as Repunzel. He thought it was hilarious. Even this morning, he said "and remember they both jumped on the thing and then it broke." That was his explanation of two clowns jumping on a teeter board at the same time.

just chillin

John's favorite acts came at the end of the night. Just like Daddy, he loved the motorcycles and the globe of steel. He will tell you "they got eight motorcycles in the circle. First they got four and then seven." He also loved the teeterboard tricks.  There were two rings with the teeterboards.  They would make one guy go up in the air and he would land on top of some one's shoulders and they would go higher and higher. He loved it. He was sitting behind me at the time, and all I could hear was "that was awesome!" or "Wahoo!!!"

Gillian's favorite act of the night was the elephants.  She would point at them and say something that sounded like elephant (at least to me).

While we were waiting for the elevator, Mimi asked John what was his favorite part of the night. He responded "all the parts." I have to agree. It was a lot of fun to see the circus and truly wonderful to see both Gillian and John's eyes light up at all the amazing sights.