Friday, September 27, 2013

State Fair of Texas 2013

One of our favorite days of the year is opening day of the State Fair of Texas!  We wanted to be some of the first visitors and got there just after it opened at 10:00 on Friday morning.  The early crowd was bigger than in past years, and we actually had to wait in line to get in.  There weren't any lines for food or rides, and we were sure to get the freshest items and least germs!  After Big Tex's sad demise at the end of the fair last year, everyone was exited to see the new Big Tex.  He has the same goofy arm position but a new different shirt and boots.  He wasn't talking when we visited him, and the boys were a little sad that they didn't get to hear him say, "Welcome to the State Fair of Texas."  Beau told us the reason Big Tex couldn't talk was because he had a stomach ache.  Whatever! 
The Fletcher's Corn Dog stand is one of the busiest places at the fair and right near Big Tex, so we had breakfast there!  Daddy always has a corn dog at the fair, and this year Beau wanted one too.  He loved it and proudly waved it for everyone to see as he munched on it.  I'm not going to get into the corn dog/corny dog debate, but our family says corn dog and many others around here say corny dog.  Don't worry, Beau will correct you if you say corny dog around him! 
Lincoln was definitely not having a corn dog.  When I told him it was just a hot dog on a stick, he told me that he didn't eat his hot dogs on sticks!  He requested his favorite fair snack - a giant soft pretzel.  He loved the buttery and chewy pretzel, and sweet big brother was kind enough to share some with Beau. 
Mommy and Daddy had done plenty of research on the noteworthy fair foods for this year.  We had our map with locations of the items we wanted to try and got started right away.  Let me say in advance that the next few pictures are extremely unhealthy but extremely yummy!  First up was Chicken Fried Meatloaf.  It was delish!  We each had one piece and loved it.  The boys weren't interested in this at all and happily stuck with their selections. 
Next on the list was the winner of Best Taste of all new fair foods this year . . . Deep Fried Cuban Roll.  We split one and were both surprised at how good it was.  Shredded pork, a little ham, melty cheese and a little pit of pickle fried in an egg roll wrapper.  Perfection!!  Again, the boys asked what we had then went back to their chosen items.  Glad we didn't have to share!! 
As if that wasn't enough fried foods for one morning, we had to get the Fried Cheeseburger Balls from the Chips stand.  They are completely amazing in every way, but the secret is to let them cool for at least 10 minutes before biting into them.  They hold some serious heat, and no one wants a burned tongue!  The boys checked this one out but couldn't understand that it was cheeseburger in there because it didn't look like a cheeseburger.   
After all of that eating, we needed to hit the midway to check out the rides and games.  The obligatory height picture was first.  Linc has stretched to 40 inches and Beau is close behind at 36 inches.  They were so excited to check out the rides and pick the ones that looked cool. 
They chose a race car ride that was pretty tame first.  Linc and Beau got in separate cars and rode around in a circle.  Beau was changing his mind after getting strapped in and seeing that Mommy was outside of the gate, but the ride started and he really enjoyed it.  Lincoln loved it of course! 
We rode a two-seater bomber airplane ride that went up and down in a circle, so Mommy accompanied Beau.  He made the height requirement but probably needed my hand over his shoulder when it went up high.  Sweet fun with my little guy!!! 
Lincoln rode solo in the plane in front of us, and he was a pro!!  He squealed and laughed and looked back to check on us a few times.   
The boys rode a bumpy Jeep ride together that they loved!  I wasn't sure about the bumpiness, but it turned out to be fun.  Luckily, the designers of this ride considered the fact that two brothers would be riding together and both want their own steering wheel.  It's the little things . . . really!!!   
When we walked by the Log Ride early in the day, I begged Lincoln to ride it with me.  I showed him the big water slide and made him watch the other riders, but he told me no way.  We walked by the Log Ride again, and Beau offered to go with me.  Lincoln still didn't want to do it, so Beau and I got in line for Mommy's favorite ride ever!!!  I can't even imagine how many Log Rides (in all of their different names) I have dragged my parents on in so many different amusement parks.  It's my favorite ride ever!!!  (I kind of think it's Bubbles favorite ride ever too!)  We were giddy cruising along the lazy river and posed for a quick smile.   
Daddy snapped our picture as we came down the water slide!  I had my legs wrapped around Beau's legs and my arm wrapped around his chest.  I mean, really was he going to fly out of the log?  Safety first!!!  He didn't know what to think as we went down the slide, but he loved it after it was over!  Log Ride buddy for life!!!  (Side note:  Lincoln changed his mind that he did want to ride with us after we had already got in our log, so mostly he cried that he didn't get to do it.  Life is so hard!!!)

Lincoln was so exited to about the games, and he won at the water shooting game.  He picked a stuffed lady bug and told me he was so happy that he won his first prize ever!  The games are so tantalizing and fun.   
We had so much fun at the State Fair of Texas!  Fun food, fun rides, fun games . . . so much fun!!!  Oh, and the weather was great too.  It is amazing watching the boys ride new rides and experience the joy of a little exhilaration.  If anyone wonders where Daddy was in all of these pictures, he was at the ticket stand constantly buying more tickets for more food, more rides and more games.  Thanks, Daddy, it was super fun!!  I'm not sure how we will wait until next year for another Fair Day because everyone loved it so much. 

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