State Fair Attempt # 3!

So, after trying/planning to go to the fair two different times, we finally made it! We left Saturday morning, Aug 21, there was a slight chance of rain in the forecast, but not enough to ward us off. It turns out we didn't have to worry about the rain, but rather the risk of melting into a puddle. It was SO hot! We were sweating like crazy, but it was worth every drop of sweat! Micah had a blast and Jude did great! The only hiccup with Jude was he HATES nursing in public, and despises the bottle even more, so after trying to give him a bottle I resorted to nursing him while sitting on the toilet! (Don't worry, I didn't multitask!)

As you'll see we saw so much in the 6 hours we were there! Yup, I still love the Iowa State Fair!

** Dear Jude, I am so sorry that we didn't take any pictures of you! You were an awesome, sweet little boy the whole day! Thank you for cooperating so Micah could have some fun!

Micah peeking at the sheep. I didn't capture this in the picture, but he was more interested in the pens that the sheep were in, how they were constructed and how he could take them apart, than the sheep themselves.

This picture is for Forest Isbell! This sand sculpture was built while the fair was going on. Since Saturday was the next to last day of the fair, it was finished by the time we got there. It was very impressive!

Micah getting his first tattoo! He was slightly confused, as he should be! He kept pulling at it like it was a sticker and saying 'stuck'! It stayed on for over a week, when I finally scrubbed it off!

The next few pictures were taken at the 'farm' area. This was a great addition to the fair a few years ago. Kids go through this farm walk where they plant seeds, harvest their goods, get some corn and soybeans, pick some apples, ride a tractor, milk a 'cow' (don't worry its fake) and then sell their bounty. Their pay is a fake dollar bill that they cash in at a general store. Each kid picks out one item for free. The had all kinds of 'not-so-good-for-you snacks', which is par for the course at the state fair. Micah chose spongebob fruit snacks. I have been giving him a couple towards the end of our walks the past week, in appreciation for him being so patient on our walks.

Oh, they also got to keep that pioneer seed corn hat. Micah put it on over his Royals hat. He insisted on wearing both! Whatever ;)

The farm tour was a little too structured for this not quite two year old, but we just rolled with it and cut out of a few of the activities (like milking the cows).

Picking his onions and tomatoes!

Diggin' up the dirt so we could plant our 'seed' (a plastic coin with a veggie on it). Micah was being so slow that I gave the coin back to the volunteer ;) He just wanted to play in the dirt. Like I said, it was a little too structured for him...but he still had a blast!

Micah looking at the baby goats.

*warning-my 2 cents on this part of the fair ;)*

When I was growing up there was a place in the hog barn (yes, hogs, not pigs...that's how redneck I am) where a sow would be farrowing (giving birth) to piglets. They had sows that were 'scheduled' to give birth during the fair and so you could hold or pet a baby pig that was literally only a few hours or days old. Growing up on a farm I was less than impressed with this, but I recognized that I was in the minority. ANYWAY, now, they have a whole building that has all different kinds of animals that are pregnant or have just given birth to a baby. The idea of the building is great, kids get to see chicks, calves, piglets, kids (goats and lambs), and ducks. As an adult I felt kind of weird taking my kid into this building. While we didn't see any animals in the process of giving birth, I overheard in a crowd that one of the sheep had a lamb an hour or so after we left. Can you imagine how traumatic this experience would be if you were from the city and you think its just a petting zoo? Not only that, but after being 9+ months pregnant twice now, I had major sympathy for the mamma animals, they were in these little pens, often squished in with another prego mamma. You put me in a 4x4 pen with another pregnant being and I'm going psycho...I'm just sayin'!!!

This tunnel was a major attraction for Micah, and I can't wait til next year when he's old enough to go through it by himself. It is in this beautiful garden outside of the Agricultural Building. Vines grow up over chicken wire and the kids can run through it. Since I'm an entire foot shorter than Jason, I drew the short straw (pun intended) as the parent who had to go with Micah through this tunnel. It was SO uncomfortable! I couldn't even lift up my head, thats how small it was. We went a total of 3 times and then I said "That's it!"

Micah thinking I'm chasing him through the tunnel. I couldn't have even if I had wanted to!

There was much more that we saw and tasted ;) But we'll spare you from ALL the details!

Stay tuned for my next post...

And the Blue Ribbon Goes To regarding what happened after we left the fair! Yes, it does get better!