State Fair Tradition

I'm still playing a little bit of catch up from my vacation from blogging! (o:

One of our autumn traditions every year is making the trip down to Salem for the State Fair. Most years I enter a picture or 2 or 3 in the photography contest. It's fun to go down and see them - this year I got one in the exhibit. It is the 2nd to the top picture of the chicken. I actually took it at the fair last year. I called it "Red, White and Blue Ribbon Chicken" kinda cheesy eh?

One of the first things we do every year is visit the animals - cows, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, llamas, chickens, rabbits, am I forgetting anything? It's fun for the kids to get up close to all these animals.. We watched a judging of goats and cows this year. We like to guess which ones will win, but we're not very good!

There are all kinds of colorful, strange and fun booths at the fair. This year we found one where you can make your own candle, layering colors of this waxy sand stuff. The girls had fun making the one Sarah is holding above. We often put it on the table and light it at dinnertime.
Eating horribly unhealthy food is another state fair tradition. Cotton candy, elephant ears (big, fried scones with lots of cinnamon sugar on top), and the like. However, we've never brought ourselves to try the fried candy bars. We do have some standards! (o: Anyone ever tried one?
The carnival games are so ridiculously expensive this is usually the only one we let the kids play. It is cheap and "everyone's a winner". They always have goofy prizes, but the girls think they are awesome. This year they were big, soft, pretend crayons. I don't know how we did it, but we avoided the carnival rides this year. They are also ridiculously expensive - like $12 to have all three girls ride on one dumb ride! Okay, this might sound a little rude, but I am always baffled by the following phenomenon. When you go to a fair, there is a certain "crowd" that is always drawn to these events. Interesting folks. Now not to be judgemental, but a lot of them don't look like they have very much money. I am always amazed that these are usually the people that are carrying around a bazillion ride tickets and going on all the rides. That has GOT to be expensive. We cringe at letting the girls ride ONE ride. It seems like such a waste. They could buy themselves some nice new clothes and a really nice haircut with that money. That's just one of the thoughts that run through my head every year. I guess we all have our priorities.
I LOVE this picture of Angela holding daddy's hand. So sweet.

I also just added the top picture - with Natalie and a cute Indian man that told some great stories to the kids at one exhibit. He was great! His wife made the most intricate and beautiful beaded clothing, like the things he is wearing.