indiana state fair 2009

To say that Katie and Carter were only a little bit excited about going to the State Fair would be an understatement. As soon as they found out they would get to see animals, have ice cream, and hang out with Mama Deb and Papa Jay...it was endless questions of "how many sleeps till we get to go, mom?????" Quite adorable.

Honestly, I've never been much of a State Fair kind of person. I HATE fair rides, they just leave me feeling nauseous and disgusting. (Thank goodness we just avoided that part of the fair!). As promised, KJ and Carter did get to see all kinds of animals, have a whole ice cream cones ALL to themselves (most of Carter's ended up on his shirt :)....cotton candy, and all kinds of other goodness my mom would murder me for. It was a great day, a little cool, but nice not to be sweating underneath a blazing sun. By the time we were done at the horse barn...I had two little exhausted kiddos (and one exhausted momma!).

The first exhibit the kids experienced was this adorable little orchard/scavenger hunt where they got to go around and collect vegetables, ride mini-tractors, clean a sheep, feel real sheep wool, pretend milk-a-cow...everything a kid could want. KJ was sporting her way cool Dora sunglasses on her pink and purple tractor (anyone else surprised she picked that one??)

Carter LOVED the tractor and wanted to keep going around and around and around. Wait until he gets to ride in Grandpa Dan's tractor!


next we were off to the sheep barn...where...


both kiddos took turns washing the pretend sheep

these pictures just make me laugh...KJ "milking a cow." Wow. I had a lot of questions to answer after that.

Carter wanted to play with it like it was a squirt gun, and kept trying to spray his sister. Hilarious!

could there be anything cuter?

KJ was most excited about the prospect of riding her first pony. I thought she would be too scared once we actually got there...but up she went, and she was smiles all the way through. Her pony's name was Copper (she still talks about him).

Mama Deb and Carter with "Oliver." So proud of my big boy for not being afraid!

the four of us making our way around the pony track

five dollars well spent!

next up was the racing pigs. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard me correctly. The racing PIGS. The kids loved it, I could barely contain my laughter.

And they're off!

tired little legs

cute popcorn faces

KJ's first taste of cotton candy. I don't think she like the way it felt in her hands (she's always been a texture girl...just like her momma).

she took a little taste and decided....

I think you can just have it, Auntie Anne!

Carter on the other hand was lovin' it!

(we had to take the bag away before he actually turned into sugar)

This was probably KJ's second favorite exhibit...the Prairie Village where we got to see wood carvings, an old prairie store and even a band singing some good ol' hillbilly songs. Anne and her Joe helped Katie with this puzzle, which she could have stayed at for hours and hours. (This girl loves puzzles!) The pieces were very, very little but with Joe and Anne's help they made a little dent in the big puzzle. I'm proud of you KJ!

My big boy on a BIG tractor! You should have seen his face. This is three year old heaven.

(look at that tongue :) I swear each kid had to sit on EVERY tractor. Exhausting, but fun, nonetheless.

As the rain started to drizzle it was time to return the wagon and head home. (can you believe those legs!! They look like little stilts!).

Both kids had so much fun with Papa Jay, Mama Deb, Eric, Anne and Joe. Thanks for coming with us guys, and putting up with bathroom breaks and a few whines here and there. We had a great day and can't wait for next year!