Well … given my state of health, our trip to the state fair this year was in jeopardy. But, luckily, with lots of good drugs, the kids and I were able to go. Ron, on the other hand, bailed due to feeling a version of what we all seemed to have.
This is the first time in 20 years I’ve gone to the fair without him. Needless to say … I didn’t like it. 🙁
But I promised the kids, so off we went. Joseph, luckily, was tracked out, so I took off work, the girls were actually dressed, Joseph brought his friend Spencer and about 1/2 hr later, we were walking from van to gate.
I didn’t bring the stroller, instead, planning to rent a double stroller — a “fun” stroller at the fair. The first place the girls and I went to wanted to keep my ID as collateral. Uh, i don’t think so. So, we walked to the Red Cross building and found out there were two other places. So, we walked all the way around to the other side of the fairgrounds and found a different place that would let me leave my keys. Fine. 🙂 And they were $5 cheaper.
So, off we went, with two 4 year olds stuffed into a little wagon — happily, I should add. 🙂 They picked the wagon over the other options.
After our long walk to find a stroller, we strolled on over for some “dinner”. The girls both asked for hot dogs — and being at the fair, I figured that was appropriate food. 😉
Turns out though … that the girls weren’t really hungry. So I ate my chili/slaw dog, Abby ate the fries and we all had our sugar drinks (Coke for me, Sprite for the girls).
Then, off we went to buy those ride tickets ($1/each!) and ride some rides.
First stop … the carousel. Emi was all ready for it … Abs not so much (as is evident by the photo) but once it got going, she was happy!
Oh and let me add … The girls and I spent out time together. Joseph and Spencer were accessible only via cell phone. 😉
Next to the carousel was a little train. So, guess where we went next? 🙂 These rides, by the way, were 3 tickets per person. That’s $3 per person — with me shelling out for 2 people each time. Ouch! While we were waiting for the train, one of my GREAT customers was two in line behind us. 🙂 She did NOT have her twins with her … just her older daughter.
And next to the train? Big trucks! But then, we were OUT of tickets
I remember when Joseph loved these rides. Now he prefers games. Apparently between he and Spencer, Spencer rode rides and Joseph played games. They DID spend every bit of their money and ALL their ride tickets … between the two of them. 🙂
So since the girls and I had conveniently (and truthfully) run out of tickets (the first batch) I suggested we go see stuff. We walked through the art and commercial section — getting stickers. Then to the 4-H building and more commercial stuff. All the while I was listening to “When are we going to ride more rides?” 🙂
Then, they spotted a game they wanted to play. Luckily it was “always a winner” so they each “fished” and snagged a big “shark” and got a little red heart pillow from their “catch”.
We actually played the fishing game twice — at two different locations. That was their favorite game. I did play my $1.50 worth of quarters in the bowling game. Lost all 6 times! 🙁
Joseph and Spencer apparently won a kite — but it had a whole so they threw it away. They won some tattoos and some other small thing that they ditched. Boys!
By now it was getting dark and colder … though not cold. The girls had their coats with them, but didn’t put them on until we were leaving. Joseph didn’t bring a coat — both he and Spencer wore shorts. Boys!
Back over to the kiddie area after giving each of the boys another $5 and I decided I was going to buy some food and try to force it down the girls. Emi ate one whole bite of her hot dog and Abby ate NONE of hers. Abs admitted finally that she was hungry, so I got her to eat a piece of pizza along with a bottle of water.
While we were sitting at the picnic table “munching” Emi spotted a fun house and begged to go in it so she could slide down the slide. I had to promise Abby I would hold her hand in order to let Emi go … If Emi went, I had to go and if I had to go, Abs had to go. So, technically, I rode a ride. 😉
The bottom level of the fun house was a mirrored maze. Let’s say that Emi started off ok and then smacked straight into one of the mirrors giving her a little red circle bruise on her forehead. Didn’t last long and she didn’t even seemed phased by it. She just hit and kept on going.
We made it around the mirrors, up the stairs and then had some fun in the funhouse mirrors — the ones that make you look long, fat, short, skinny, etc. 🙂 The girls got a huge kick out of that.
Emi went down the slide without even a pretense of worry — and I slid down WITH Abby to ensure she was comfortable. At the bottom, they both begged to go again, but for 3 tickets each I suggested we try other rides.
So then we hit Jalopy Junction.
The girls also spotted bumper boats, but with only one set of tickets left, I wanted them to see what else there was.
We went “walking” ok — me pulling the wagon and the girls sitting and yelling “Mommy! We want to ride that ride!” Or Emi yelling “Mommy! There is cotton candy!”.
So, we went to the other side for a bit and went through the field to pick vegetables, saw some of the midway and stopped for funnel cake! Wahoo!
The girls and I shared a powdered sugar one with a big bottle of water. We sat by the water fountain which was in full movement this year (empty last year).
The girls complained it was windy — and I think with the water falling it WAS extra windy!
We managed to eat the entire thing though.
At this point, we had one more set of tickets and I had to check in with the boys to see where they were. They were finishing up rides and games and had more tickets to use up. So, the girls and I made our way back to the bumper boats while they finished up and then we were to meet back at Gate 10 (or was it 8?). 🙂
After bumper boats, we cruised the midway (killing time for the boys) and then headed back over to trade the wagon back for my keys. Emi was continuing to remind me about Cotton Candy and I was down to my last $3 with NO intention of pulling out more, so we had to find a cotton candy place that sold for $3 instead of the usual $4. We found it. 🙂
After returning the wagon, we loaded up our bags with our stuff, our balloons and then walked, slowly, all the way back to our gate (across the fairgrounds of course).
The girls didn’t complain one bit about the walking. All in all, they did a fantastic job for two 4 year olds! We actually met up with the boys before we got to the gate … and learned that Joseph had a stomach ache. He described his night of food …
cheese fries, funnel cake, Sunkist (to drink), a corndog and something else. I kind of figured it was the food that was making his stomach hurt … but he was holding his own, so I figured it would pass.
We walked all the way back to the van (a great walk!) and then got started.
Alert! Here is the gross part. If you care to … stop here!
Joseph sat up front on the way home because he said he felt like he had to throw up, but it wasn’t happening and again I thought he’d be ok, but to save Spencer from being covered (on the off chance) he stayed up with me.
As we pulled out onto Edwards Mill Rd … heading to the back roads, it all started. I managed to pull into an office complex parking lot, pull over to the side and him jump out in plenty of time to heave out ALL (and I mean ALL) of the crap he ate all night. 🙂
He felt much better afterward and got in the car ready to go home.
Since we were delayed a few minutes by Joseph’s stomach, we got to spend a few minutes watching the fireworks (we hadn’t made it far enough away yet to miss them!) and even the girls enjoyed the few minutes that we watched.
So far, no one is worse for wear tonight having done all the walking, crappy food eating, etc. They all had fun and I walked around wishing I had my other half with me. Next year I guess.