A Sunday at the State Fair

So, the State Fair opened on Friday.  And although every year we put off going to the fair, thinking that the crowds will be lighter if we wait....then find ourselves scrambling to fit it in on the last weekend, which is never terribly convenient to our schedule and always more crowded than the first weekend....well, you see the ridiculous pattern that this year I was adamant that I was going to rectify.  And a quick glance at the overly full October calendar told me that we needed to get to the fair.  Like now.  So yesterday, we went.

In years past, we have left Hudson behind, thinking that it would just be too much for him (and too much work for us), but the boy is growing and maturing in leaps and bounds these days, so for the first time ever, Hudson came with us to the fair.  And I have to say.........it. was. great.  We ate and shopped and saw and experienced and rode and played. 

So here are some highlights:

Big Tex greeting us.  We reminded Lauren that the first time we brought her to the fair, Big Tex made her cry!  The trains and miniature landscaping Big Tex this year were fantastic -- Hudson was enthralled.  Are they new or have I just never noticed them before???

Eating the obligatory fair food -- burgers, dogs, curly fries, and my favorite, the tater twister.  We also partook of some ice cream later in the day, but wisely stayed away from the wide array of fried concoctions....this year the big story was fried butter.  Blech.  Only in Texas, y'all.

Jon Owen and Hudson taking in the trains at the Locomotive Museum on the fair grounds. Look at Hudson's face...that kid couldn't love trains any more if he tried.

Here are Lauren and Jon Owen clowning around before the "Backyard Carnival", and Lauren participating in the show as "Circus Staff" after losing out on being Wanda the Tightrope Walker to another girl because she was one month older.  All's well that ends well, Lauren actually got more stage time and was perfectly happy in her role.  Jon Owen held out to volunteer for the Human Cannonball, but due to time constraints, it got cut from the show.  So we took his picture in the Cannonball later.  And below you see Hudson thinking about falling asleep....but just thinking about it.

Naturally, we fed the animals in the petting zoo. Hudson squeeled whenever a member of the farm community got too close for comfort.....

And last but definitely not least, RIDES!!!! They rode airplanes, cars, fire trucks, motorcycles, boats, and traveled through fun houses. And a great time was had by all.