Lot's of Firsts at the State Fair

We talked about possibly taking a ride up the big wheel but decided not this year.

We arrived at the fair and before we even got in the gate, I ran into some of my relatives. Then, not 30 minutes later, we saw some other people we know. Later we saw some others as well. I usually always see at least somebody I know at the fair each year but I thought it was funny to run into family before even entering inside the fair. We got there around lunch time and it was really crowded with people, the food lines were crazy long and the kids were getting hungry. After weeding through the crowds, I decided to go on a hunt for some food for my kids without having to stand in a long long line. Craig though I was never going to return.

We had the most memorable experience with making numerous stops to the potty while at the fair. We brought a portable potty chair but we also tried using the restrooms and quickly found the portable potty worked much better. We really didn't think we would find enough places that were secluded enough to allow the kids to do their business, but surprisingly we did. We just backed up to a building, dumpster or line of shrubs etc. and put the two strollers in front to block that side. It worked out really well. The kids did well keeping their pull-ups dry (I just wasn't brave enough to do regular underwear) although we did have a few minor leaks.

It definitely takes a lot longer to get through the fair with kids in tow that is for sure, but then again, what doesn't? I couldn't believe it when I looked up and we had been there 3 hours and literally all we had done was potty, eat, potty, and see one thing. The pottying novelty wore off and we were able to get through the fair with much less potty break distractions.

We stopped at the "Little Hands on the Farm" and the kids went through the entire process of farming for the first time. This was such a fun and educational experience. We started off getting an apron. Tyler was the only one that wanted to wear one. We also picked up our baskets and our corn.
We watered the trees...
we picked our fruit from the trees.


We milked a cow


We placed milk in our baskets after milking our cow.
We planted our seeds.
We watered our seeds. We also watered our seeds with milk but unfortunately I couldn't get a picture. Ha!
We picked our vegetables out of the garden.


We stopped for a picture - Tyler on the tractor.
Whitney
Hannah
We picked up their bag of grain.


We "rode" tractors... although we didn't actually ride them.
We fed the farm animals.
We made a stop by the farmer's market to sell our foods.
We went shopping in the store and picked out whatever they wanted and payed for it with their hard earned money.


Tyler giving the cashier his money for his crackers.
Hannah receiving her merchandise back after paying for it.
After we finished farming, we attempted to take a picture. You'll see in the next few pics, our failed attempt to get everybody to look through the holes at the same time but not for lack of trying.
Take two
Take three


We wandered around the car show as Craig dreamed of owning a big, monster truck. Tyler experienced his first time to sit on a monster truck tire.

The kids had their first experience with cotton candy. Of course, they all loved it but after a while, Tyler (of all people) was very concerned about his dirty, sticky hands.
Of course, Mom & Dad couldn't pass up the cotton candy either.


We watched the parade come through that evening. (I think this was their first parade???) We saw police on horseback.
We saw clowns...


We saw some motorcycle cops. This one in particular stopped and just stared at the kids and said hello.


We saw some interesting creatures on stilts.
We saw floats...
This, as always is the best part!


Of course we had to pet and feed all the farm animals.



Their first time to sit in a real tractor. On our way to the car, we decided to give the kids a "ride" on the tractors that we saw when we came in. They were really tired by this point but enjoyed sitting in the tractors anyway.



After making it to the car, pottying and getting everybody and our gear loaded up, we were headed for home and the rest is history. As soon as Tyler started to nod off, I flashed the camera again and he woke up.

We ate corny dogs, tornado taters, nachos, funnel cakes, cotton candy, fried bacon, ice cream and loved every minute of it! We saw several other of the "usuals" like the pavilions, a trip through the Midway, a passing by of Big Tex, but we missed several other "usuals" like the dog show and the street acrobats and performers. All in all, it was a great day and a very fun and memorable experience with family.