County fair 2013!

The fair is an annual must-do on our calendars. This year we got to go with 3 families we're really good friends with :-) Ella and Sadie were brave and went on the (huge) Ferris wheel! Ella was very nervous and almost backed out butSadie  couldn't wait! Definitely different personalities in those two :-) great time and my annual deep fried Oreos were as amazing as I'd remembered since last August :-)

Watching pig and duck races. Live how these kids are like a little family :-)

Corn pit

Snowballs!

Kayaking and County fair (aka: we do summer days big!)

Thanks to an awesome groupon deal, Ella and I got to go on a kayaking adventure. I loved it. Ella liked it. Is totally go again on this particular tour-it was a gorgeous day and the tour guide was hilarious. So fun to step out of my routine and do something unusual.

A few hours after kayaking we met our POD friends at the county fair. I'm pretty sure we've been every year of Ella's life and it's one of my favorite summer traditions. We lie the pig races, corn pit, animals, and both girls did the huge Ferris wheel this year! Ella was scared but faced her fear and LOVED it. So proud of her. My most indulgent tradition is my annual partaking in the glories of the deep fried Oreo. Nothing like 'em. Deliciousness :-)

Field Trip to the County Fair!

A couple weeks ago Ella's preschool had their first fieldtrip and I (suprisingly to me with a 5 week old and a sore C-section scar!) felt brave enough to take Sadie and venture to the County Fair! And, it went great! I'm LOVING not being a mom for the first time-I'm so much less stressed! When Sadie needed to eat we just headed to the car, set Ella up with crayons and a coloring book and nursed her in the comfort and relative privacy of the car and then headed back into the fair. Ella was a champion about catering to Sadie's needs (since she's OBSESSED with her sister) and we had a lot of fun taking in all the fun of the fair!

Ella and her buddy Annemarie

I am totally fascinated by chainsaw carvers-wood, ice sculptures whatever, I love watching!

What a hideous animal! The gobbling terrified the kids ;-)

Milking a fake cow-kinda lame, I know, but at least the milk was real :-)

Sadie did this during most of the fair (LOVE this adorable sleep-anywhere stage)

Ella has been asking to try Cotton Candy since January. I told her when we went to a fair in the summer she could and it didn't happen all summer but this was her big moment! She loved it!

All the rides were free because it was "Kids Day" I was so proud that Ella went on them without me since I had to stay with Sadie-she's such a big girl!

This was the sign on the ticket booth-had to snap a pic-hilarious and a sentiment I totally agree with!

County Fair!

We've become annual fair-goers. And we're particular: we don't like the state fair, only the county one so this Saturday was the day! As usual, lots of fun complete with friends, piglet races, stinky cows, and deep-fried oreos. Great day.

Not that you can tell, but that's me holding Ella, and Esther holding Hanna on our way down!

Ella and Hanna were "Yee-hawing" all the way around the carousel

Tall enough to go on the Train ride by themselves!!

Chris and Andy, thankfully, did not lose their lunch on this one. I almost did just watching it.

Halle milking a goat!

Me and my fascination with non-domestic animals, I had to jump in and try too :-)

I'm sure there's some reason for this but I just took a picture because it was odd.

My favorite fair folks :-)

Ho Co Fair 2008!

The fair was a lot of fun! We got to hang out with the Boons, Christys, and lots and lots of farm animals. I can't believe it was a year since we went last time! It's flown by. Ella was scared of the huge cows and pigs but somehow by the time we got to the petting barns, she became a new child! She was SO excited to touch everything that she almost fell into the baby goat pen trying to reach them. We ate deep fried oreos (yumm) and corn dogs (Chris loves them) and drank lemonade. We were anxious to see if they had the pig races like last year where little piglets race around a track to get oreos. This time, Ella got chosen to cheer for one of the piglets and won a necklace which she's proudly worn for the last 3 days. Our favorite fair moment was when the emcee at the pig/duck races said "These ducks are really young so they might need some help to get around the track. Who do you think should help them? Who comforts you and helps you and guides you?" All the kids started yelling "Mommy! Daddy! Our Parents!" and with no prompting, Ella yells "JESUS!!" Awwwww! I love that girl!


Peering at the sheep


Wheelbarrow riding with Dad

This is her "Oh my!" face before touching the baby chick

Trying to feed the sheep with her buddy Joel

This wheat felt amazing! Theresa and I sat there with our feet in it for a good 10 minutes. We eventually got the husbands to get shed their socks and shoes and get in also. Who knew there'd be anything akin to a spa treatment at the fair!

Ella really liked this bunny. She reminds me most times we see rabbits that they like carrots but she does not.

Last year's fair pic with daddy. Her hair was so short and she was just so little!!

This year's fair pic with Daddy. They're both so adorable!