We love the Iowa State Fair! We try to go every year…except when things like new babies prevent us from getting there, as was the case last year.

We started with Cinni Minis… (seriously…first thing we did after entering the gate) 
 
Ev’s thinking he could really get into this fair stuff at this point. How that boy loves to eat. 

Ellie tried her ‘little hands on the farm.’  
What a great thing…farmer for a day (well, 15 minutes). How perfect. One little apron, one little hat, a bucket, and a tractor ride…the kid was in heaven.
 
  
 
milking the “cow”   

 
spending the “money” she earned from selling her produce.  

While she did have to return the apron and bucket, she got to keep the hat. I told her grandpa would be very proud of her pioneer seed hat.   

Next, there was a visit to the IPTV booth to see our favorite friend from the PBS Kids Clubhouse. We do love Dan Wardell!
  

Next, we ventured up the hill to the cultural center to see Daddy’s state fair photo. Daddy is a rock star and had a photo selected to display at the fair this year….
and here it is…Ellie looking at the photo of her…all she had to say was “mommy…its me” (photo is in the top left of the picture…blue matt)  

If you search the background of this picture…if you can see that well…you’ll see my friend Stacey’s picture displayed too. Its the one right off the top of Ellie’s shoulder. Its a great picture of her kids on a couch in the middle of a field.

After the photos, and playing in the fun forest for a little while…Ellie tried her hand at fishing. She and daddy we unsuccessful…but we think she still had fun.

If you can measure your day by how much you talk about it when its over, then we had a great day! She is still talking about it!  

 
This post can’t be over without the full-on list of things we ate that day…now, keep in mind that there were 6 of us…and most of the food was shared. Just so you don’t think worse of me after reading the list.
Trust me, its extensive.
Cinni Minis…with cream cheese frosting, of course
Hard Boiled Egg on a stick. (The only thing my children wouldn’t eat.)
Pulled Turkey Sandwiches and Applesauce (for lunch…otherwise it would be entirely too healthy)
Cookies in a cup
Mini donuts
Chocolate dipped frozen smore on a stick
Chocolate dipped peanut butter bar on a stick
Cheese fries – I ate most of these as a “real food” item to break up the sugar!
Nathan ate a gyro…not shared – well, he shared the bread with Evan…but I’m not sure that counts.
Chocolate Ice Cream 

I think I gained 5 pounds typing that list. But mmm…it was tasty! Can’t wait til next year!  

I just realized that in some of my earlier ramblings this summer, I mentioned my new jewelry making obsession and how it was started by going to the Des Moines farmer’s market.

I thought i’d post some pictures of my favorites thus far.

I’d love to know what you think…so feel free to share…

okay, thats not entirely true…

Only feel free if you like them…if you don’t, keep your comments to yourself, I’m not all that into constructive criticism today. 

I was showing this one to a friend at work (at the library)…and a patron came up and said how they looked like they were those fancy paper clips all strung together. I guess I was hoping they looked a little better than that, but whatever.

and traci, if you’re reading this post…this bracelet is for you. Its your very late birthday present! Hope you like it!

and my baby got big.

he’s already growing out of these clothes…  

and already tall enough to reach the piano keys at Great Grandmas…   

and big enough to start sharing snacks with his sister? (although “sharing” is a relative term. I think he ended up with 3 from the whole box.)

and big enough to ride the carousel…

sigh.

 some would tell me its time for another. this someone would tell them that they’re crazy.

Some of you have heard this story…but its too cute to not share with the blogging community.

We were leaving the Bremer County fair last Thursday night and saw multiple children leaving with animals. The scrambles were that night, and these children were apparently among the “fortunate” ones to catch an animal to take home.

We were talking about catching these animals and told Ellie that maybe when she was older, she’d be able to catch a rabbit, or a chicken, or some other farm animal (heaven knows what I’d do with it if in fact she did ever catch one).  She thought about it for a minute and then asked me very seriously “do they fall from the sky, mommy?” 

Logical, yes…but apparently we have some explaining to do when it comes to county fair traditions.

Can you imagine…farm animals falling from the sky!?! 

We love playtime at the park…our “park” is the local school playground - which conveniently is about a block and a half from our house. We’ve spent many hours there this summer.  

It’s been especially fun watching Evan figure it out.