The Great State Fair of Texas!

Our trip to the State Fair has become an annual tradition. The girls talk about it ALL THE TIME and ask when we get to go. They don't understand that the Fair only comes one month out of the year. They also don't understand how freaking expensive it is!!  WOW!  $15 to park and never mind the cost of admission added to the cost of the rides. We discovered this year that with three kids riding rides, the cost adds up rather quickly. I'm glad I packed a cooler with drinks and a bunch of snacks. This year, we didn't arrive as early as we would have liked because Megan has started Sunday morning Faith Formation at church so we had to do that before loading up and heading south. We entered at the Midway and got straight down to business on the rides.

Well, we stopped to relax under a tree first.

This was Matthew's first ride ever! He rode with Megan and she was such a good big sister to let him ride in her car. She even took care of him getting out of the car and exiting the ride. He had so much fun and high-fived us all when he got off the ride.

Yes, my first three pics are of Emily. It just worked out that way. The purple tractor was an obvious choice.

Matthew's first solo ride! He was so excited and just giggled every time I waved at him on his way around.

The girls got to ride the bumper cars but Matthew wasn't tall enough for that one. He was very mad but then we found the swings that were only for kids his size. The girls were too tall to ride it so I think that cheered him up a little.

This one has been a favorite in years past. There is a mermaid in the middle that blows bubbles and there is actually water under the whales. They got a big kick out of all riding together. At 8 coupons per rider - do the math - this one ride cost us $12.

She already has the attitude of a 16 year old BA student leaving campus for lunch.

What?

Another solo ride for Bubs and another race car ride! He LOVED this one because around the turns, the cars drifted. Basically, they spun out and flung the riders around the turns. Brought out the belly laughs every time!

We ate lunch in the Midway instead of going to the Cotton Bowl food court area. Nachos, Fletcher's Corny Dogs, and icees all around, and a few peanut butter crackers for the weird kids that don't eat the yummy stuff. We walked over to the animal area and the kids had a blast feeding and petting all the animals. The piglets were by far the cutest things I have ever seen!! 

My favorite people!

We made our way back to the Midway before we left. The girls and I rode the log ride. It was awesome. Megan saw it at lunch and wouldn't shut up about it so we finally gave in. We only had enough tickets for the girls to ride but the guy at the front of the line putting us in the logs let me go for free!  WOOT! That was a free $5 ride for me. Yes, it would have been $25 for our family to ride it together. Really? We stopped in the greenhouse to see the trains, the walking tree and to decorate some pumpkins. Usually we stop in there for some A/C but this year it was just gross and humid and warm compared to outside. The girls love the "tree man" and Emily gave him a high five. Megan wouldn't go near him.

I had to ride this coaster with Megan last year.  This year, that honor went to Emily. She had such a timid look on her face while they were in line but she LOVED the ride. I may have someone to go on the rides with me at Six Flags someday.

Since Bubs couldn't ride the coaster he got to ride the little safari train by himself. Every time he came back around, the girls jumped up and shouted, "BOO!". He loved that.

Our final ride of the day. It was a good one since they all got to ride together. The girls had their little balloon spinning around so fast I was worried Matthew wouldn't be able to walk straight when he got off. He really had fun on the rides this year and I know next year will be even better for him. We better start saving now. Emily will be well over the 42" limit that kept her off of some rides and Matthew will be more willing to hop on anything. Megan was able to ride whatever she wanted, without us, so next year she may want to do some of the big rides. God help us!