2014 State Fair

I do not enjoy the State Fair.  I do not even like Disney World.  Not in the slightest.  I do not like rides, lines, rigged games, crowds, fried foods or their noxious aromas, or price gauging.   Given that introduction, I am happy to say that we have successfully avoided the State Fair since the kids were born thereby keeping a lot of extra cash in our pockets and trans fats out of our bodies.

But alas...the kids go to school now where other kids talk about the state fair.  So, the kids added a visit to the fair to their bucket list and have been begging for at least the past two years ago.  Guilt set in for depriving them of this simple bucket item, so, even though our kids have been sick off/on all school year, and the fair is where germs have the best parties, on a teacher workday during the fair, my husband was the only one still sick, so we decided to go...even though neither kid looked totally well.

My husband does not like crowds either, but he loves the rides...although paying $8-$9 per person  for one 60 second ride made him him love those rides a whole lot less.

Father & Son Bonding

Our daughter begged to play those silly games to show her mettle, so we gave her a very limited cash budget to spend as she so choose.  She needed no help to win her prize fair and square, but when she realized they guarantee every child a prize (like that cursed self-esteem movement which is ruining this generation), she was angry and decided these fair games were a rip-off. Having her reach that conclusion was a life lesson worth every penny we spent there.

Bummed about her over priced prize she won fair & square

I will confess, however, that I did enjoy the plant and animal section....well except for the boring cattle show at the end.

That 262.5 pound watermelon would not last 24 hours in our house.

Two tired kids and a 1404.5 pound pumpkin

Deck Extension Idea

Bonsai trees make me nostalgic for the 80s era & The Karate Kid

"Mums" the word!

Cool plane in back

Big fish!

He was so sick, and I was weary, but we love each other dearly!

Honey, I shrunk the kids!

This talented man carved amazing faces into pumpkins

This pic reminds me of the flamingos that kept appearing all over our principals' yard.

Another landscaping idea

I loved all the landscaping!

I am a lion. Hear me roar!

The fair bunnies were unusual and cute.

But none could compare to our sweet Muffin.

This prize winning bunny looked like a Rex version of our late Cody.

The cattle show was boring but the little kids in pigtails steering them sure were cute!

Note to self:  See Dulcimer Dan for a dulcimer and lessons for our boy!

Fair food makes me gag, so I passed on most of it but did enjoy an Amish fudge sample!

John Deere tractor churned homemade ice-cream

Scarecrow contest:  Harry Potter won.

Now that we have a frugal wedding dress idea for our daughter, we can put the savings toward our own 2nd/3rd honeymoon adventure!

Secret confession #2:  I absolutely LOVED the stunt show by our local national superstar BMX & Motorcross team, King BMX.  Those guys flying on the motorcyles are ages 45 and 47. They totally rocked my perception of the mid to late 40s.