State Fair Time

It is that time again around here! Jesstine was super excited when we told her that we were going to take her to the State Fair after school was out. She gets out at 11:30, so it worked out great! We went on Monday because it was Dillon's Dollar Days. All coupons to go on the rides (except the big slide) were $1 and it was free to get in if we showed out Dillon's Plus Card! Here are a few pictures of the fun we had:

Daddy's sweetheart walking toward the fairgrounds hand in hand with her Daddy! That is the grandstand in the background.

First stop is always a pony ride! She got the same horse this time as she did the first year she rode the ponies, Diego! She was stoked! There was no hesitation this time. As you may recall last year, we had to bribe her with popcorn!

This was Emmitt's seat throughout almost the whole thing. He got to get out a few times (you will see in a few pictures to come). Here he is jealous of Jesstine riding the ponies. Did I mention he loves animals?

Sitting next to Daddy waiting for the pig races. It was hot! We waited too long to find seats and ended up in the sun for the whole thing! Kinda a bummer and the bummer didn't stop there...

Had to put my hat on little man so he didn't get overheated!

Here it is! The PIG RACES!!!

Front row seats!

Here they are lined up in the starting gate ready to race.

And they're off!! We were cheering for the pig in red, "Brittany Squeals!" HA HA! (Yes that is what the pigs name supposedly was!)

They just rounded the bend (to the right at the bottom of that speaker stand).

And the winner gets to the prize first....a fig newton (I kid you not).

The pig races were a bit of a bummer for two reasons. One I mentioned already was that we had to sit facing the hot sun. Not so fun! We burned through our water supply fast (which in case you didn't know, it is always best to bring your own water because fair prices are sky high on stuff like that!). Second was because the announcer was a bit....shall we say, lack luster in her presentation. She mentioned how it was her last race for the day because she was getting a little overheated. I would have to agree with that after what we heard! It just wasn't as entertaining as usual. Most of the fun is in the introduction. The pig races themselves are fun, but only last a short time! I digress! Off to our next stop, the fountains!

This is the first year we have let the kids (of course E was still inside the womb last year) go through the fountains as last year it was too cold and the year before, I don't know why we didn't. They enjoyed it! I packed an extra set of clothes for this purpose!

Up next was Jesstine's favorite part of the fair...the big yellow slide! If you don't remember, last year she screamed all of the way down (almost a scared scream) and jumped up at the end wanting to go, "Again! Again!" SEE HERE This year she was super excited and hardly made a peep on the actual ride itself (at least with me, I got to ride too!!!). Here she is with Daddy on her favorite ride:

It's a long way to the top.

They are on the far right in the middle almost to the first hill.

Here they are at the end! What a blast!

No trip to the fair is complete without seeing the butter sculpture which was a train this year!

Jesstine wanted her picture taken with a REAL princess. So we thought Mrs. Kansas would do!

We even found Wilbur of Charlotte's Web fame (we are currently reading that book). Jesstine sat in as Avery and I played the part of Fern!

Oh how my little sunflowers are growing!

My cheesy kiddos!

Jesstine decided that she wanted to have a pig race of her own. Unfortunately for her, her big was an old sow! 

The highlight for me was taking Jesstine on her very first EVER Ferris wheel ride! Okay so it was really a gonadala (sp?). 

Can you find us?

There we are!!! I am the one waving!

Emmitt was a trooper! We ended the fair with his favorite part, a trip through to see the turkeys, ducks, geese, and bunnies! We even saw a few goats (to which he was calling out to, kinda cute) and horses!

So long for now state fair!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family