Fair Time (Part 1 of...a few)

Last Saturday, we ALL got up bright and early to head to the fair. "We" included the 4 of us, Mom, Dad, Kevin and his girlfriend, Caitlin. We hit the ground running. I looked through the schedule book and saw a dance academy that was going to perform about 20 minutes after we arrived. I thought Sage would enjoy it.

He got into the snacks that my mom packed as soon as we sat down. This was his first trip to the fair. Sigh...just 3 months old. He stayed in that sling almost the entire day. Where did the time go?

Kevin and mom

Okay, so I was SO not prepared for what this dance school would do. Look closely. Their opening act was known as their "miracle league." This was full of boys and girls alike in wheelchairs, on crutches, and walkers. Some had downs syndrome. Some were unable to walk at all. All of them were still kids that wanted the thrill of performing and the shine of the costumes. I had no idea this was going to occur, so I was unprepared for the emotion in seeing this.

See the older girls behind them? They were helping all of the ones that were disabled. They would move their arms for them, push their wheelchairs and even carry the little ones. It was absolutely beautiful. They danced to 2 songs. One was called 'There's a place for us," and it was a tear JERKER.

After that unexpected emotional moment, we went to look at some exhibits and vendors. We spotted the owls.

And then I spotted something I'd heard about for this year that I wanted to try: fried kool aide. Mom had told me about it a few weeks prior, and I was kind of disgusted. That didn't even sound good, but there it was, so I figured my kids would like it at the least.

Jaggar was obsessed with my dad this visit. Every time dad would walk away, Jaggar was RIGHT behind him. Then Sage would follow.

He kept saying, "Papa, this fun?" or "See owl?" or "See (whatever happened to be there then)?"

The red stuff being poured into the vat o'grease was the kool aide.

I have to say...it was AWESOME. It's basically like funnel cake batter with the kool aide in it. It was a little overdone, but it was still good. Later, I got more at the "official" fried kool aide stand. Yes, not only did I eat fried kool aide, I ate it twice. And those were like donut holes. They put this original one to shame. I did not want to share.

As if that wasn't enough, I then got this lovely deal: peanut butter pie. It was one of those things that tasted as good as it looked. love when that happens. I did share this with everyone, so I wasn't THAT much of a cow.

Then this cutie saw people walking around with their faces painted, and that's what she wanted. When she was 3, we wanted her to to do it, but she wouldn't. So we found the table. There were so many cute, girlie designs: butterflies, princess type masks, fairies...and she picked....

A black and white dog with a tongue hanging out. I tried to talk her out of it. Wasn't happening.

But it was her deal, so she could have what she wanted.

And she made a very cute dog.

Remember me mentioning Sage wouldn't do it at 3 years old? Well, this big 2 year old couldn't be outdone by sister, and he was lunging to get on that chair with her.

He was SO cute. And so still.

Well...as still as he gets.

The lady put some makeup on his hand so that he could see, and he was fascinated.

LOOK at him!

There they are: 2 pups. She opted NOT to put the tongue on Jaggar's because...well, he's still 2, and what she did put on gradually disappeared throughout the day and night.

So cute

We got MANY comments on them throughout the day. People stopped to look at them, and kids made their parents ask where we got this done.

And again...

They had the same setup of animals in the center part again. It's like a mini petting zoo.

Jaggar wanted to touch ALL of them.

Miniature horses!

So cute. Travis and I both agreed we were wrong in discouraging her about her dog pick. She made a good choice.

Clearly a mother pig that is ready at a moment's notice to feed the piglets.

Jaggar's favorite thing in the world: a cow. I actually have a pandora charm of a cow to represent him instead of the cheesy "boy" one they offer. He loves cows.

And we all remember the duck slide from last year? They were back! And the girl brought one of the ducklings around for everyone to pet.

This was slightly terrifying in her putting the duckling in Jaggar's reach. How traumatic would it be for him to injure it? He was easy though.

There they are: sliding away.

pretty peacock

This year, both kids were able to do the traffic school sponsored by the police department. Jaggar loved being able to "ride a bike" like a big kid.

Then there was this remote controlled dog that talked to the kids. Jaggar would have stayed there touching his nose all day.

See? He did not let go until we made him. Sage was better about moving on. :)

Annd apparently, we are deciding what to do next. More to come!