the greatest show on earth!

...Is none other than the Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus!

As a birthday gift to both of the kids, we took them to see the circus for the very first time last weekend.

During the "pre-show" they got to watch various circus acts and even participate in one! Our favorite part of the show -- which was entirely enjoyable -- was when the seven motorcycles zoomed around in this tiny steel cage. it was incredible and adrenaline pumping. the motorcycle performers consisted of an entire family -- there was even a girl in there. most of the acts were family-based that way and it was really neat to see.

meeting one of the clowns. i love russell's face here:

natalie trying on some circus clothes:

i *SO* should have pursued my hula hoop talents...

classic circus elephant moment:

little russell really enjoyed the trampoline jumpers!

as the circus date was approaching, russ reminded me of how his grandfather used to be a circus performer himself. when he was 16 years old he joined the largest circus in Poland. he was a trapeze artist and was the one who [triple] somersaulted from one trapeze into the arms of another team member on the trapeze. he also did an acrobatic act involving a chair placed on 4 stacked tables and he would back flip off the top, and was a skilled juggler as well.


that night after the circus russ and i pulled out his mom's old photo album and went through it to see the pictures. there is so much history in the old black and white photos, most of them dating from the 1930's to 1940's, some even from the 1920's. they even saved a clipped newspaper article about how his father performed for Hitler (before the war). Russell's grandfather stated "the next time he sees Hitler, the fuehrer himself will be swinging from a rope, but not by his hands." at that time, he was serving in the United States Army. sounds like he was an incredible man and i only wish i could hear some of the things he witnessed in his lifetime.