Our Fair Adventure

We have had children now for 8 1/2 years, yet we have never bothered to try to take them to the Indiana State Fair. When they were younger, I figured they wouldn't enjoy the heat and the crowds enough to take them. Stupid thinking on my part really, since the admission for kids 5 and younger is free.

Well, now they are old enough that they know about the fair, want to go to the fair, etc. Boo, especially, LOVES pigs and knows there are some to be found at the fair, so of course she wanted to go and I figured, why not? However, mother nature had other plans in mind for us, since the best weekend for us to go it was 90 degrees with about 87 percent humidity. Needless to say, the pool definitely won out when it came time to plan that weekend's activities.

Weekdays are not a great option either, since school has started already. Yeah, you heard me right, school started here August 11. Seriously. Who is the brain child that thought early August would be a great time to start school, when it is 90+ degrees out? I could write a whole blog post about that since it annoys me so much. Anywhooo. . . so we can't go during the week very easily now that the girls are back in school. However, since the local paper decided to be nice and publish free fair coupons this week, I figured we could go for a few hours after school one day.

Yesterday after school got out, we ate an early dinner and headed to the fair. I knew taking my pig obsessed daughter Boo to see the pig races was a must. We had enough time to explore some of the kid activities before the races started at 7:00. We saw people starting to gather about 6:40 so we found our way to a seat, just in time for it to start sprinkling. No big deal, right? After all, what are a few little sprinkles? Well, those sprinkles quickly turned into a torrential downpour and we had to abandon our front row seats to find shelter.

Boo of course was freaking out because she 1). hates storms and is terrified of thunder 2.) the weather was raining on her "pig parade" and she was afraid the races would be canceled. Mother nature decided to play nice this time, and the rain passed through quickly, just in time for the pig races to start. To say Boo was ecstatic is an understatement. That child was so happy she was speechless, and that NEVER happens.

The girls did enjoy the fair but I felt like we didn't have enough time to truly explore all it has to offer. We did see some of the kids stuff and of course toured the animal barns, but we only saw about half of what was there. And even though I enjoyed seeing the smiles on their faces, I was reminded I am not really a state fair kind of gal. So many people I know LOVE the fair with the animals, music, rides and greasy fried foods (chocolate covered bacon? Seriously?!). Me? Notsomuch. But I know for the girls' sake, we will be going back next year.

The girls "planting" their garden

Boo picks her potatoes

This tomato looks good

Not quite like the apple orchards we went to when I was a kid

Is this really where milk comes from?

Look what we earned from all of our work!

Proud of her purchase

"Why do you need a picture of me holding Froot Loops?"

Front and center for the pig races! (note the dark sky behind her)

Mother Nature's surprise

Awwww!

"Piggies!"

Kiki's favorite - bunnies!