Fun at the Fair

For the past 3 summers, we have made an annual trek back to Iowa to visit Kevin's parents and attend the Iowa State Fair. This year the kids had so much fun, we actually went to the fair twice! They had such a good time seeing so many fun and interesting things. Last year the "big hit" was Little Hands on the Farm and this year it was still number 1 (at least for Anna, Eric was fascinated by the baby pigs, but more on that later) Little Hands on the Farm is designed for kids to see all aspects of farming in Iowa. Here is a list of the activities:

1. Plant seeds

2. Harvest different vegetables

3. Pick apples

4. Gather grain and soybeans for later use

5. Fuel tractors with biodiesel (the kids have to turn in their soybeans)

6. Drive a tractor around a circle

7. Gather eggs

8. Gather wool from a sheep

9. Milk a cow (Eric's favorite)

At the end, the kids turn in all the things they collect and get a $1 to be used in the Country Store sponsored by a local grocery store chain. Both Anna and Eric passed on the fruit, granola bars and other things and went straight for Bomb Pops! Just right for a hot Iowa afternoon!

Just next to Little Hands on the Farm is a building with TONS of educational information, sometimes too much information! Any baby pigs, calves, kids (is this the correct name for baby goats?), chicks and ducklings born during the fair, are born and kept here. AND if you miss a live birth, don't worry, there are videos running continuously around the building - Kevin just loves that part, it brings back so many fond memories of growing up on the farm! To say that Eric was excited about the baby pigs is an understatement! On our second trip to the fair, he sat down in the street in front of the building until I took him in to see ALL the pigs. He even said he wanted to grow up and be a pig farmer!

There is so much else to share but I don't want to lose you, so I'll try to give a brief account and then I'll put all pics on snapfish.

One exciting event for the kids and for me was their first time on carnival rides, other than the carousel at the zoo. I was so nervous to see my babies up in the Ferris Wheel and then twirling around in the tilt-a-whirl like strawberries. Anna wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel from the first moment she say it and she enlisted Grandma to go with her. Eric said he didn't want to ride, UNTIL Anna did it, then he was ready. He took Dad with him and climbed on like a big kid! Everything was so much fun and the kids really learned a lot during the two day visit to the fair. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for such a fun and memorable time!

Oh, Daniel was there too! He was such a trooper! He rode in the stroller or in the baby carrier with Mom and didn't complain. He really is a great baby, we are so blessed to have him be an addition to our family!