Ho Co Fair

It's time for the Howard County Fair!  In this season of our lives, the fair is not about rides, it is about seeing and smelling farm animals.  I purposely go in the morning so the rides aren't open and we aren't tempted to eat cotton candy and funnel cakes.  There will be a time for said activities, just not when I have a 3 year old and 20 month old.

In the past, we've gone with Auntie L, this year we piled in Liz's van and prepared for a hot mess of a time.  With 4 kids three and under, we expect the worst, hope for the best.

Braylen is back there too
The more times I ride in a van, the more I want one.
For now, I am happy to take rides from my friends/family
with vans.  I love the road trip feel :)

The ride to the fair was smooth; Liz and I did lots of chatting while I the kids relaxed.  It only took 2 minutes in the parking lot for our calm morning to turn to a hot mess.  Liz and I pack the van with multiple strollers, the wagon, and backpack carriers.  We can never decide what combo is the best because we know whatever we pick, we will end up carrying screaming children and pushing all the childless gear.

We decided on the backpack carrier and the wagon.

3 of the 4 in the wagon and seated.  A good start.
30 seconds later everyone was crying and wanting to be held.
I think it ended up with Bray in the backpack, Jack in the wagon,
Liz holding Fiona, and Liz holding Evie's hand.  Yep, that's how we roll.

Once inside the fair, we saw, smelled, and heard all kind of farm animals.  (it's like a 5 senses field trip!)

Lots of roosters, hens, and chicks

At the kids area petting the sheep

As you can see Fiona is sticking her head through the gate.  A second later she was screaming because her head was stuck.  I am cracking up just thinking about it.  I mean, that's our life with two toddlers.  This is real life friends and why I enjoy Liz's company so much; we're two moms trying to survive stay sane have fun.  Just look at my kid in the next one.  I take a picture and he's about ready to climb into the rabbit pen.  

Braylen is all ready for the army with that move and outfit

Petting the hen

Attacking petting the baby chick

Evie was very brave at the fair; typically she wants nothing to do with petting the animals (which is fine by me).  I think her fearless brother and friends encouraged her to touch some furry friends.

Go, Evie, go!

The corn box and seed table were pretty awesome this year.  I didn't let Evie do it in the past because I was too worried she would suck her thumb and get swine flu.  Ev and Bray amazed me this year by not sucking their thumbs until we got to the hand washing station at the end of the kids barn. 

If you ever want to run into moms and kids you know,
go to the corn box.  It works every year :)

He could shovel in corn loads all day

Other kid activities included horses to ride and of course, huge bubble wands

A play date and fair visit is not complete without snacks every 15 minutes.

I dressed my kids for 90 degree weather and I don't think it hit 80.  We are so fortunate to have such comfortable weather this summer; it makes all our outdoor adventures more enjoyable.  

See you next August, Howard County Fair!