Sunday, August 9, 2009

Goin' to the Fair...Twice

We were to start a new practice today, with which my children would occasionally add some blog entries....being that this is a FAMILY blog, and all. With our recent vacations, and the extra time involved (it is currently August 20th as I write...I am SO thankful for back-dating options!), I find we are quite behind, once again, so Melissa will have to patiently wait until next month for her turn to come around again. I apologize for the delay. Hang on for a slew of new entries!

The County Fair has been in town since Wednesday, and my kids have been begging to go since Tuesday. Being on our new money saving plan, we had to research which day would be most cost effective as well as convenient for us to go. Unfortunately for the kids, that day turned out to be the last day of the fair, which for them meant the longest waiting time. Poor kiddos...

After inspiring messages at church about grace (and boy, am I thankful for that gift from God!), Grandma ? and I treated the kids to lunch at the fair while Lyle played games at the house with Laura and Tubby. The teens took off on their own for awhile, searching out food I guess, and were back within about 30 minutes, nearly depleted of the money I had given them. The rest of us managed meals of foot long hot dogs and corn dogs, cheese curds, and mini-donuts for less money and triple the personage as those 2 teens did. *sigh*

Despite packing water bottles for all the kids, we were all melting in the afternoon heat until we found a lovely shady spot where we ate our lunch and listened to some fantastic jazz music under the tent across the way. With a light breeze, it was completely comfortable under the leafy greens, and I think Grandma and I could have remained for hours in that spot enjoying the glorious summertime atmosphere. The kids, however, became bored once the food stash was depleted. So off we headed to search the fair exhibits.

We spent a good deal of time in the 4-H building, admiring arts and crafts, science projects, and gardening spoils. I am considering this group for Melissa, rather than continuing on in Girl Scouts. It seems to be a bit more her style, and there are so many more options for her to choose in areas that she can be successful in. I have also heard of the local homeschooling group's Girl Scout troop. Being fairly certain that Melissa WILL be homeschooled after this next year, this too, may be a great option for her, and help to facilitate new friendships. Sooooo, I don't know. Chances are, I will probably think about it so long that it will be too late to choose anything, and then we will be stuck with nothing. That may not be a bad option, either.

ALL the kids, big and small had a total blast in machinery hill. They all played in the tractors and buggies, and whatever other contraptions were present for a good 20 minutes while Grandma and I hid with the baby under some shade. Too bad Tubby was not there, because he would have been in 'vroom-vroom' paradise!

We spent another hour looking in the education buildings while Jonny took the kids to the petting zoo and the animal barns. As always, new things to look at were everywhere, and new ideas were gathered (though promptly forgotten upon getting home). But it was hot. Laura and Tubby had a delightful time in the coolness of our home playing games and watching videos with Lyle. I don't know what happened over the next few hours....it had been so hot.....my brain must have been a teensy bit fried.....(and for goodness sake, it was already so long ago, how could I possibly remember....)

A few hours later, Daddy came home from a birthday golf outing, and we once again packed everyone (and this time, truly everyone) into the truck (10 people in a 9 seater vehicle...hmmm...you figure that one out!), and headed to the fair. This time we had one goal in mind:
THE RIDES.

Oh....my.....good....ness.....they had so much fun!!!

With wristbands adorning their little people wrists, they had access to everything for 3 hours. And believe me, they accessed those rides for 3 hours solid! Even Daddy purchased a wristband of his own, and flitted from ride to ride with his kids, enjoying the experience (and sometimes NOT enjoying the super-spinning ones. Funny how some of those feel a bit "icky" as we get older!) Crispy even found a friend of his from school who palled around with him and the big boys as they were quite brave. Melissa, Laura, and Tubby had a great time hanging around the more tame versions of things. Bethany slept through the whole evening (or perhaps was passed out from heat stroke of earlier...I really can't be sure), and I had fun taking pictures and watching everyone have a great time. Three hours passed by in a flash, and all too soon, we found ourselves squeezing back into that truck and heading home for the night.

The fair was a lot of fun, but I think that the best part was just hanging out as a family. All of us. Together. Now THAT, is something always worth the wait in the end.

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