Or, conversely titled, a good place to lose your money, your kids & your waistline.
Depending on how you look at it.
So the kids and I were enjoying a quiet morning at home yesterday when I was struck upside the head—mid laundry—with one of those untoward, unwelcome temptations. You know the kind: I’m a really boring parent and I’m ruining my children.
Seriously. I called my husband up all weepy and sniffed out, “You know, the fair’s in town and I haven’t even taken them.”
He laughed in my face, then—laughed in my face! (Well, in my ear anyway.)
And he said:
“I was wondering when this was coming.”
‘Cause I, like, do it every year. I tell myself the fair is way too crazy—too pricey, too over-populated, too Fast Food Nation—and then I just guilt myself into going. Quickly. As in one minute I’m folding laundry and the next minute I’m stapling the kids into the van and taking off.
They love it, really.
And so do I.
After all, where else can you justify the consumption of something so…so…horrifically fattening and unhealthy and other-worldly and delicious as a deep-fried Twinkie?
I send my children off to buy things so I can pretend that they’re not for me.
See that pimple on my chin? I got it just thinking about eating this deep-fried Twinkie.
Getting there is half the battle, as any parent of multiple little people knows. We get in through the gate (after mortgaging our home and Daddy’s car to pay the admission) and are swallowed up into a sea of locals.
I have my “What was I thinking?” moment.
Once or twice or maybe five times.
And then I get over it and we have fun.
“Hey! You said this was a foot-long hot dog!”
I find it amusing, you know, how despite the hundreds of people milling about, it’s the lady with the five kids who gets all the stares.
Why is that?
The bearded man in this photo is indeed living, just so you know.The very best part of the day was when Daddy got off work and came to meet us. He was just in time to wipe our 4-year-old’s tears after her brother accidentally knocked over the stroller and spilled its occupants onto the asphalt. Darn curb.
A ride in the Space Tower proved to be just the distraction we all needed. It was far too sedentary an activity to burn off the calories from the deep-fried Twinkie, but still. The view was great.
Self-portrait of a Minnesota blogger & her happy clan.
One of the views from the Space Tower
Another view from the Space Tower
Here’s a question for you before I end this post, though: Do you not find that watching your kids on these rides is even more fun than going on them yourself? Or I am just a big, goofy, grinning parent with a camera?
A couple more photos for the scrapbook I’ll never assemble…
And then it was goodbye and see you next year.
Don’t tell my husband I said that.
I love fairs. We don’t seem to get any down here, or maybe I’m just too out of touch? Glad you had fun!
What a fun post. The fair around here is called The Big E. (The Eastern States Exposition) I’m going to skip it again this year, but plan to go next year for sure. BTW, I think the pimple was really small because I couldn’t see it.
You are such an awesome Mommy and not because you take them to the fair but rather because your love for them and enjoyment of them is oozing out of every part of your body. (Um… maybe oozing wasn’t the best choice of words considering…) Anyway, you know what I mean. I would never have the courage to take my kids to the fair alone.
You got guts baby!
Yea! State Fair! We’re going to ours on Monday – with everyone else who didn’t go downy ocean, hon! Yes, that’s what we say here in Bawlmer. Glad you had fun – hope we do too! Only we’ve got Grandma instead of Hubby…
I agree with Matilda…you do got guts! I’m afraid I don’t have the courage to take my kids to the fair with my dh much less without him. But you’ve inspired me. You’re right—they do love it—and it is worth it. (It is worth it, isn’t it?)
I have never heard of a deep-fried twinkie. Is that a Minnesota thing?
And where are the animals?
I haven’t been to the Great Minnesota Get Together since 1998. Maybe it’s time to go again…I really need some mini-donuts…and something deep-fried…
This looks incredible!! HOw fun. I have never even heard of a foot long hot dog, but I could sure eat one for lunch right now : )
I can’t WAIT for the Texas State Fair to come around again… we’re not too far off now. I love the fair!