The Circus!

The Boston Marathon Bombings took place less than 2 miles from our house. It was a very somber Monday evening April 15 for Becky and I. We kept the news from Ally and decided to attend the Circus in downtown Boston with Ally and Gwei Gwei (my boss’s daughter). Becky and I decided that if the public officials were encouraging people to come into the city and go about our everyday life then we should go – not going would mean the terrorists had won.

It was a bit startling to see such a massive police presence. There was even National Guardsmen checking bags at our local T stop and everywhere we looked downtown there were police officers and bomb squad dogs.

But we just talked about how they wanted us to be safe. Ally seemed oblivious to it all – she is used to getting our bags searched at Disney, security at airports. I think she was so excited about the Circus it did not phase her. Gwei, who is 14 was a bit intimidated but she did ok with it all.

 

On the T I had asked someone to take our picture.

We walked around a bit before the show and Ally’s legs got tired so I carried her up this long flight of stairs on my shoulders!

The Circus!

Ally had been looking forward to popcorn, one of her favorite treats, and she tried cotton candy for the first time.

She loved cotton candy!

It was a small circus – one ring and it had lots of old-fashioned performances, like a contortionist, a trapeze artist, 2 clowns who did silly acts, a guy with a giant steel ring, horses, dogs. Ally sat enraptured thru the whole thing.

On our walk home we stopped for a family picture.

Its important to note that Ally is wearing overalls – Becky and I have been trying to get her to wear these for over a year. Finally on this day she agreed. So we had to get a few pictures to remember what we think will be a once a year occurrence

Gwei was a sport with pictures. And I just could not resist how cute Ally and Becky looked holding hands as they walked.

Then it was time for Ally to put on her own circus performance! At Gwei’s house there is a big tree with some really fun things to play on; 2 kinds of swings and a bar with rings.

Look one hand – and check out my position!

Can you tell it was a great day?