Owen & Anson started saying they were going to the "Fair-O" early Saturday morning & we just couldn't tell them it was "fair" because they were so darn cute! So we loaded up & were on our way with a happy bunch...even mommy & daddy. It is often a feat to get everyone ready followed by getting everyone buckled without meltdowns but somehow we managed with all smiles. Our first favorite thing about the fair was not even within the gates. We were about to purchase tickets when we saw three security guards yelling "Get'em!" as they chased down a family of four including a child riding in a wagon. We were staring like "What on earth could they be doing to excite the security team to that magnitude?" The next thing that was stated in a loud voice, "SIR you cannot have a selfie stick within the park! Take it back to your car or throw it away immediately!" You might have thought they had a bomb! They looked completely dumbfounded at the extreme reaction & for a second I thought we might be on Candid Camera. Anyway, I found it hard not to laugh which was a little confusing for the girls but I explained what a selfie stick was & why it is banned at the Fair & we moved along.
Once in the gate we banded the girls with their name & our phone number. We reviewed our "what to do if you are lost scenario" & I quizzed Eloise on some things we had previously spoken about such as "Lolo, what if someone you don't know comes up to you & invites you to go somewhere with them. Do you go?" She said "No, I yell & run away!"Then I gave her the real test...."Lolo, if someone comes up to you & tells you that if you follow them you can have the biggest bag of Cotton Candy you have ever seen? Do you go?" She actually paused for a second before offering the correct answer. I applauded her & laughed inside thinking how I might go with a stranger who told me I could have the biggest funnel cake I have ever seen. We were off to a good start & made a bee line to meet Grammy & Papa.
It's always nice to be greeted by this handsome fella when you arrive at the State "Fair-O" of Texas. He was completely surrounded so it was difficult to get a picture with him but the boys were hilarious as they saw what we tried to describe that morning. Before we arrived they were asking if they could hug him & I said that he was too big to hug but he could talk. Anson had some serious issues with this & immediately started saying in his deep growly voice with a scowl on his face "I do not want him talk to me!" Once we were there they were talking about how big his hat & boots were & how he says "Howdy!" Big win for those two.
Once we met up with the ring leader Grammy who has twins attached to her anytime they are near we were at ease to walk around & explore. They had also been to the fair earlier that week so they were our direction givers....never looked at a map!
There was lots to see, plenty of fun things for the kids to explore & great views of the iconic Ferris Wheel the kids yell excitedly about when we drive past Fair Park on our way past downtown. It's so much better up close. Charlotte makes me laugh the hardest, her head turned perfectly to look natural in her selected spot & it looks like Eloise just slapped Owen upside his head.
Here's the Valentine Six (almost seven) like within two weeks!! I was just a day away from 38 weeks & felt comfortable enough to get moving to coax Arlo to begin his exodus in the coming days. I was shocked at how great I felt the whole time, five hours of walking & chasing kids with no swollen ankles or any major contractions. It was wonderful. We did hear phrases such as "Whoa girl, looks like turkey is done!" or "Are you trying to walk that baby out today?" about 20 times. I don't blame them....he is just about done & I was just beginning to "walk him out."
In the kids area the boys loved looking at the newly hatched chicks that were extremely adorable.
The girls had a blast "helping" which meant choosing the color for the man to squirt as they made spin art around Big Tex. They turned out cute though!
We showed back up at the ticket stand about 3 times to give them as much money as we possibly could & made sure we had enough tickets for the girls to pick a few rides. We searched for one the boys could ride without Rob since I am out of commission in my current state & came across these swings. Anson was a little apprehensive which was not a surprise. I think he only smiled when he passed a special Grammy that said "Scootly-Bootly." I'm not even sure how that started but it gets everyone a little giggly.
Charlotte was in shock when we walked up to the bumper cars to see that she is actually tall enough to be the driver & carry Eloise as her passenger! We were pretty excited for them. Charlotte panicked right as they were about to give the man their tickets. She looked at me with great concern & said "but I don't know how to drive!" I assured her that she would learn before the collisions officially started. The guys working that ride were so sweet to the little ones giving instructions on how to get out of the huddle of cars in the middle who were driven by children 9 & under minus one 70 year old man who was cruising around with his sunglasses on....not sure how he snuck on there! They did alright though & were very proud of themselves when exiting. What cutie patooties!
Next on the agenda was filling the bellies of all the Valentines so as to insure cooperation for the rest of our visit. We took yet another trip to the ticket stand to stock up. We found a great table in the shade & took turns grabbing meals to bring back. Robby & I would have loved to find some more award winners for 2015 but some things are hard to come by with us plus four so we settled with giving the Smoky Bacon Margarita a try. I did wonder if they would sell it to a pregnant woman. I assured her that it was not for me but I could have sucked down that thing in about 2 seconds! Rob was laughing at me as I took my four sips exclaiming how delicious it was. He thought it was decent but we decided that the reason I thought it was so delicious was because I have only had a sip or two of things of that nature in the past nine months....I figure if Arlo comes before his due date I might swing by for a drink ; )
Once lunch concluded, these four headed off to the Ferris Wheel while Jeannine & I took the little guys to the petting zoo which was horrendous due to the amount of people crammed in a small space. The boys loved it though & that's all that counted in that 30 minute span.
We bought $5 worth of feed for the animals but it was pretty much like Thanksgiving Day & the animals were completely full so we dumped ours all into a bin for a cow. The boys thought we were magicians....mean ones that made all of what they wanted disappear. Owen was excited to pet some piglets & they were precious all snuggled up & sound asleep. He loved how the mother pigs' tail was so curly. Today at the park he saw a dog from a bit away & said that he liked their piggy & that piggy's like to go on walks. I was wondering what he was talking about until he brought up the piggy's (dog's) curly tail. Haha!
I thought the llama we saw last year was the strangest & least attractive animal we had seen until we came across this guy.....
Yuck, Really yuck, that's all.
We met back up with the Ferris Wheel riders & had hit the four hour mark. Bob & Jeannine headed home while we continued to mosey on around. No one had lost their marbles yet but even if they had I would have still stopped for a funnel cake. It worked out perfectly because the boys drifted off to sleep just as we rolled up to the stand meaning I lost two addicts I would have to share my funnel cake with. Funnel cakes & french fries are the two things I have great difficulty sharing, even with my own children. We parked the boys in the shade while the girls & I devoured our delicious treat. I must say, a white top was the best choice of the day.....no evidence of my messy eating other than the powdered sugar coating the lower half of my face & my hands. We added up the amount of funnel cakes I ate over three weeks between Oktoberfest, a special night at the Valentine's where Bob hooked me up & at the fair. It was probably about 7-8. Gosh those things are good! I could eat two more as I write this!
Once it was time to head home the big girls were lagging behind a bit & begging for a ride so their muscle man Daddy loaded them up. Charlotte helped push the stroller. I love the looks on the peoples faces just behind us. They look concerned like many others who talked to us during our visit.
We were so thankful that by God's grace we had such a lovely day. The kids were in great moods & so were we. Five hours away for us in this setting with me 9 months had the potential to be extremely NOT fun in any way but it was the opposite. The "FAIR-O" was a success! It is refreshing to have days like that. They offer a little glimpse into days/years ahead where our time together will look different. But for now, difficult or not, outings with these four are sweet & special.
We made it home around 3:30 & were all exhausted so we snuggled up on the couch, watched a movie & some of us got a little snooze in. I could not have been happier with all four of my boys within inches of each other. Love each & every one of them!
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