State Fair Time

As was tradition when I was young we've become accustomed to taking Hannah and Owen to the State Fair of Virginia every year.  It is always a fun way to spend several hours together as a family.  They enjoy seeing the sights and sampling food that they don't see and eat any other time of year.  It is especially fun to see the animals so up close.  Owen loves the tractors set up on display.  This year their favorite part about the fair was definitely the rides.  Thank goodness we decided to buy them the wristband for unlimited rides.  We had a great time at the fair this year. It was a beautiful night and the first night it was open and there were no crowds or lines for anything!  Hannah and Owen loved it and Owen did not want to leave.  He was so upset and said he wanted to spend the night at the fair.  They rode all the rides that Mommy and Daddy deemed "safe" and we also ate our fill of mini doughnuts cooked to order, kettle corn, and cotton candy (which Owen does not like, but Hannah LOVES)!  Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the family time we got to spend together doing something fun!

 Sitting in the wheels of a combine!

 Owen LOVED this tractor with tracks!  This was something we'd never seen before!

 Hannah and Owen rode a pony for the first time and loved it.

 Onto the rides...

 This "ship" made Owen giggle and giggle.  It was so fun!

 The kiddie ferris wheel:

This is all they talked about wanting to ride and they definitely had their hearts set on it so how could we not?!

 Owen and Hannah loved this too, but Daddy was not the biggest fan of the Ferris wheel...hee hee!

 Onto the giant slide...this was fun for me to see them do because I always remembered it as my favorite fair "ride".  They looked so big climbing all the steps by themselves even though I was really nervous they would fall.  The guys running the ride were super great and met them halfway up to get the burlap sack they were carrying and help them the rest of the way up.  At one point the man got to Owen and then made him stop and wait for Hannah to catch up on the steps so that he could assist both of them to the top.

 They can't wait to do it again!

 Now the train:

 Then the 4 Wheelers:

 And some more 4 wheelers:

 Then the flying elephants:

 Finally the teacups:

 Our thrill seeker loved this ride and enjoyed spinning in all directions, but...

 Owen decided his fair rides were over when he finally got off the teacup ride.  He started out strong and was spinning and spinning and spinning his teacup.  He had a huge grin on his face and was laughing all the way around.  After few spins around he slowed down and just sat there and I heard the desperate words, "Mommy, I feel sick."  Then he proceeded to lay down in the tea cup.  I didn't think the man would ever stop the ride to get him off.  I think he had fun, but I think he won't get on the teacups ever again.  Poor, Owen!

We ended our night at the fair by looking at all the animals.  Hannah would have brought a bunny home in a heartbeat.  We enjoyed seeing the baby cows, but were disappointed we didn't get to see the ducks on the slide this year.  It was more crowded in the animal tent and so I guess I didn't get any pictures of that.  But the rides were their favorite this year and so I managed to capture each one!