Going to the Fair

What says fall is in the air more than the fair?  It's such a wonderful time of year.  Cooler weather, trees starting to change colors, pumpkins, cinnamon candles, and the fair!  I just love it all.  Yesterday was Anna's actual birthday.  She's officially 4 years old!  Hard to believe.  So we made the most of her special day by going to the Arkansas State Fair.  They had a special yesterday for kids 6 and under.  So, the timing was perfect.  And if any of you reading this live within close distance to LR, they're doing it again Friday too (rides are free, admission's free, parking's $1 all from 10-12).  

There was a petting zoo where Anna got to get up close and personal with all kinds of animals including zebras, pigs, turtles, and exotic animals too.  I loved the camel.  I've got to share the story.... Anna was busy trying to pour her food into a little shovel.  The shovels are tied to each cage.  The idea is that kids can stick the little shovels through the cages so the animals can eat out of the shovels instead of their hand or little cup with all the food in it.  Anna is such a perfectionist in certain areas that it takes her a long time to do certain tasks.  Pouring the food into the shovels was one of those time-consuming tasks.  Picture with me a little girl trying to get the perfect amount poured onto the shovel without spilling any.  If she got too much, she'd use her little pinchers to put some back into the cup until it was just the perfect amount.  That in and of itself could take a minute of two.  I'm not exaggerating at all!  Then if she put too much back, the whole process started again.  It was cute to watch.  Anyhow, she's standing in front of the camel's cage trying to get the shovel ready.  Her head is looking down at the shovel with only that on her mind.  Well, the camel walks up to her and reaches its long neck down right into her hands to start eating.  It probably got tired of waiting!!!  She got scared half to death.  She spilled all the food in her shovel and jerked away.  I don't think she knew exactly what had happened.  When she realized that the camel was literally two inches from her face, she panicked!  She didn't know what to do.  Her face looked like she may start crying and you could definitely tell she was scared.  But I just died laughing.  It was hilarious!!   And the camel just kept dipping down toward her again and again.  Finally, after getting plenty of distance away, she got a little, and I do mean little, grin on her sweet face and gave me a look that said, "This is serious.  Stop laughing!"  It was so funny!  I'm laughing as a write this.  

 
Here are some of her prizes.  She's very proud of the dolphin.  She won that at a fishing booth which she used some of her birthday money to play.  She has played with it ever since.  Unfortunately, for me, it's got a very loud squeaker in it that she squeaked the entire way to McDonalds, which is where we met Jason for lunch afterwards.   As long as she's having fun, right? 

This is a pig race.  It's the first thing we watched when we got there.  She thought that was really fun.  They race to consume a single oreo.  This is some serious stuff.  I might race if there was an oreo laid out in a plate in front of me and three other people too!!! 

This is a show Anna wanted to watch.  I'm so frugal minded that I think if there are free rides from 10 to 12, then that's what we need to be doing. :)  But she saw them getting ready for the show and wanted to watch it.  So, we did.  It was 30 minutes of fun.  She loved it.  It was geared to little ones with some funny stuff.  I'm glad we watched it.  Aunt Sharon called Anna to ask how the fair went this morning, and Anna said that the show was her favorite part!  

Here she is enjoying some rides.  We had a great time, and I think she had a very memorable birthday!