State Fair 2011

We went to the Eastern Idaho State Fair again this year. We always go to the fair. Chad and I talked about how the fair is really not very exciting. The fair does very little to really entice us. We are not concert-goers. The fair needs something new and exciting. Something amazing. Anything!

Anyway, here are some pictures that we might have taken any other year in the past or future, but at least the kids are older this year.

Leah is introducing Sarah to a huge horse. Leah is in love with horses. Sarah is in love with Leah. ;)


I don't fully understand the fascination with touching the animals. We are surrounded by them at home! Then again, none of them are this calm or clean. This is really a stretch for Sarah.


More amazing animals. Nathan and Sarah are feeding this goat.


Daniel seems to be pondering this goat. Maybe they are silently communicating with each other.


More goat-gazing. Sarah is offering her finger. :) Joseph seems a little more hesitant (safety-minded).


Incidentally, have you ever been confused by a closely shorn sheep and not sure if you're looking at a sheep or goat? Sheep's tails are down, goats' tails are up. Think of me next time you are walking through the sheep shed at your local state fair.

I know that fair food is a major highlight for most. I would love to indulge, but I can't afford it. With a family this size, we're lucky to pay for parking and get in the gates. But we have just about made a tradition of getting ice cream. These are big ice cream cones, so Sarah didn't get one of her own...she shared with everyone else. :)


Yep. Big ice cream cones. Messy, too.


Before we leave the fair each year, we head to the carnival rides and let the kids walk around to choose one ride. We tally up the number of tickets and buy just the right number. It is very difficult to choose just one ride! We often have to redo our calculations as the kids change their minds with each new ride they find.

This year, we needed 22 ride tickets = $22. Sarah was asleep and didn't know that she was missing out on anything. Daniel was finally tall enough to ride a "big" ride and asked me to go with him. When the ride ended, I was a big dizzy and Daniel wrapped his arms around his stomach. (It cost $10 for the two of us to get spun to the point of nausea.)

So after spending so much money in one place, I was anxious to save it in another. Shopko used to have a Kids Tough guarantee on their kids' clothing. Leah wore a hole in each knee last school year, but by the time I remember to take the pants in to exchange them, I was one month after the time they discontinued the program. Yes. Shopko lost a customer.

Anyway, I got creative. Leah got dots. :) And last week she showed me a new hole in those knees. Argh!

The kids enjoyed a night of sleeping in the living room. They all wanted to sleep in the shark tent. None of them actually did. Rebekah was surprised to wake up under the tent! ;)