State Fair

Sunday was chilly and damp, but we decided to brave the weather and head for the State Fair in Raleigh (for the first time in three or four years). Simon was at Road Atlanta for the weekend with the B-Stingers, so it was just me and the kids. We tried to enjoy the most fair we could for the least amount of money. My little adrenaline junkies liked the kids' midway so much that they decided to eat less and ride more.


Norman begged to go on this "plunging" ride, called the Super Shot (there was an even higher one, but I nixed that idea). Boo was thrilled to be tall enough to ride too, though I think it scared her quite a bit since Norman rode it a second time but she didn't.


Here are their happy/gleeful/amazed/thrilled faces after it dropped.


I bought three caramel apples to bring home (one of my all-time favorites treats when made with Granny Smith apples), and the kids each had a bag of cotton candy while we wandered. We all ate fried dough (AKA Elephant Ears) ...


... and the kids had two ears of roasted corn apiece.


We spent a lot of time checking out the free shows (such as "Michelle's Magical Poodles" and an unknown band on the bluegrass stage) and exhibits, especially anything that was indoors. Here they are with a rooster in the Children's Barnyard.


These piglets were a lot of fun to watch. First they were asleep in a pile under the heat lamp -- soooo cute. One woke up and ambled over to mama, then suddenly they all raced over for a vigorous suckling. Poor mama pig.


We checked out the Old Farm Machinery, which had a tractor that kids were allowed to sit on. Goofballs!



We even wandered through the Flower and Garden Show on our way out. Here's part of a Where The Wild Things Are landscaping display ...


... and a nifty garden railroad setup that the kids had to be dragged away from.


In spite of the weather, we had fun, Fun, FUN!