Speed Demons

Last Saturday, we were uncharacteristically up and ready to go fairly early in the morning, so we headed north to the outlet mall. I needed to get some long sleeved play dresses for Mabes, but that's a different post. As we were shopping, Dave pointed out that they have a go-cart track at the mall. Dave has been wanting to drive a go-cart for a while--he said he had a "craving" for it this summer--but we stopped at a local place and Mabes was an inch or two below the 40 inch requirement, and he didn't want to go without her. But he loves go-carts, and I think he really fell in love with my family when we celebrated Becca's 13th birthday with In-N-Out and unlimited go-cart rides at Camelot.

I didn't want to get Mabes' hopes up again, because I was afraid she wasn't quite tall enough. We got there and measured her, and sure enough, she was well over the 40 inch mark. She was thrilled. She and Dave waited in line while I waited to the side, kicking myself (yes, literally...okay, not really) for not bringing my camera. And then I noticed a girl that was maybe 7 or 8, riding with her mom, just completely freaked out and screaming. When the teenager in charge of the operation signaled that there was one lap left, she screamed "thank you!" and looked positively terrified. And I just thought, "What have I done?!?!" And then overprotective Allison took over--"I should tell Dave to be careful. And that he shouldn't drive fast. Or maybe I should just go get her, I mean, who lets their 3-year-old ride a go-cart? Simply because she's tall enough? They probably assumed most kids are 4 or 5 at that height...There will probably be some horrible go-cart accident and I am the worst mother ever!"

She was fine, and (shocker) my worries were unnecessary. When they opened the gate, she ran to the first car and jumped in. Though I could barely see her head , when she came around the corner where I was standing, her smile and wave were unmistakable. And when Dave realized she was in fearless mode (she's usually quite brave, but every once in a while, silly things, like a helicopter flying overhead or a twig on the ground paralyze her with fear), he floored it and got his speed fix. He even noticed that the 2 person go-carts must have been more powerful than the others, since he was passing (!) a lot of people.

So because I left my brick-like camera at home (someday I'll join Laura and Jeff and trade mine in for a younger, smaller model), phone pictures are all I've got:

And here they are after--notice her windblown hair: