I try to take the kids to the State Fair every year; I've been doing it since we first moved here in 2002. However, with Xela and Aurora in high school and taking summer school classes, it has just been me and the three younger ones the last two years. The tradition is: get the free ticket in the IndyStar (local newspaper) and go on the day on which the coupon is valid. Last year, I think all the kids were in school when the coupon was available, so this July (the fair is in August), I got on the fair's website and looked at the discount days to find out when the coupon day was scheduled. Thankfully, it was the Wednesday before Graigry, Nate and Neta headed back to school.
I bought the newspapers, with the tickets included, on Monday morning (for 75 cents) and then took the following Wednesday off so we could go to the fair. We've had a very wet Spring/Summer, so I was grateful that the weather didn't call for rain until later in the afternoon.
 |
| Ready to roll our way to the State Fair |
Wednesday, August 10, we got out the bikes, pumped up the tires, filled up water bottles, grabbed our helmets and headed out. One of the great things about where we live is that we're pretty close to everything, including the state fairgrounds. It's not quite a four mile bike ride.
 |
| Happy bikers! |
The kids enjoy riding their bikes, I enjoy riding with them and there's never enough time to do it, so we head to the fair via pedals and get to park for free once we arrive (another bonus!). This morning we left around 9:00, got about a mile and I decided to double check that I had our tickets. Good thing I did because they were not in by backpack. I called Eric and he brought them to us (thankfully I remembered where they were - on the kitchen table).
We headed to the Monon Trail, a popular paved bike trail, that follows the old Monon Railroad line. It goes right by the fairgrounds where the park and pedal was located. We got there just after ten and headed into the fair. We're usually one of the first guests there, which is part of the fun, for me at least.
I had seen on the website that there was a Lego display and so we headed out trying to find that location. The map of the fairgrounds that I had, lead me to think it was on the opposite of the fairgrounds from where we were, so we hit different places while in route to the would be Lego display. First was Department of Natural Resource exhibit where the kids could do some catch and release fishing. Graigry had gone fishing at a scout outing, but Nate and Neta had never gone fishing before.
 |
| Listening to fishing instructions |
After the instructions, kids got to pick a spot with a mentor, pull a pole and toss out their bait.
 |
| I caught one!! |
 |
They got to catch three
before their turn was over |
 |
| Brothers in fishing |
 |
| Graigry holding the fish as instructed |
 |
| He caught a catfish!!! |
 |
It took him a few tries,
but he finally got his three |
 |
| Nate with his blue gill |
After fishing, we headed back to the would be main street and found goats. Nate and Neta wanted to bring one home. Let me think about that for a minute - NO.
 |
Trying to get some food,
which is hard when the goats stretch
to get some for themselves. |
 |
| Nate with his would be pet |
 |
| This goat didn't wait for handouts. |
 |
| Neta and the goat getting food |
 |
| My kids with kids |
As we continued to the Lego display, Graigry found a spot selling kettle corn. He had brought his own money so that he could buy his OWN big bag of kettle corn. He quickly exchanged $8 for a long bag of the tasty treat and we moved on to the next kid friendly exhibit, which happened to be the 4H barn which had miniature golf for the kids to play. My goal during this stop is to keep track of the kids as they went to different "holes" in the 4H barn. My payment was to nibble on the popcorn while Graigry was out putting.
 |
| The trio at different holes |
 |
| This hole was more of a challenge |
Then we found the Girls Scout's spot. They had "artifacts" in three different sandboxes that the kids could "dig" up. Hidden in each of the boxes were four - six Indian pennies. If you found one, you got a prize (a Capri-Sun juice pouch). Socks and shoes were taken off, I was again dubbed guardian of the kettle corn and the kids jumped into the boxes.
 |
| Neta - the archeologist |
 |
| Nate & Graigry looking for buried pennies |
 |
| Graigry asking the leader for hints |
The kids were anxious to find any of the pennies and were told where the last discovered penny had been tossed back. After finding the most recently hidden penny, Nate got the Capri-sun and the others got a dum-dum lolli-pop.
 |
| Penny found; Prize given |
I enjoyed nibbling on the popcorn, but was a little bored and wanted to move on, so encouraged the kids to brush off, re-shoe and we moved on.
Finally, we found the spot I'd been looking for, but there were no Legos. Just several painted buffaloes. I can't remember the name I saw on the map, but upon seeing the buffaloes, I realized my misunderstanding. Thankfully there was a race car replica that the kids could get inside and "drive" on a race track.
 |
| Nate - the focus Indy car racer |
 |
| Neta ready to take on her brother's score |
They thought that was pretty cool, especially Nate who would
love to grow up and be an Indy race car driver.
We took one last turn at the "Tiny Hands" farming. It is something that we've done every year. Well, it's for children age 2-10 so this would be Neta's last year.
 |
| Farmer Neta |
 |
| Nate asked if he could ride a tractor |
 |
| Harvesting tomatoes |
We made the turn on the east side of the fairgrounds and headed to the animal barns. Much to Neta's dismay there weren't any horses around yet. We did see the "World's" largest sow and bull. There was also a litter; the kids liked watching the piglets interact with each other. I'll admit, the piglets are cuties.
 |
One of my piglets
watching the other piglets |
Now, one of the things we HAVE to do at the state fair, is eat an elephant ear. You haven't officially been to the fair, unless you've partaken in the deliciousness of that fried bread dough covered in butter and cinnamon sugar. (Yes, now my mouth is watering. Mmmm!)
 |
Love, LOVE, LOVE
Elephant Ears!! |
Because they are so large, I split them in half. This year, as Xela and Ro were unable to come with us, I bought one for them to share.
Finally, after going full circle, we found the shelter that had the Lego display. Inside, the first thing displayed were also some "CAN"struction projects celebrating the 200th anniversary of Indiana's statehood. Then came the Lego displays.
 |
There was a farmland scenery
all made out of Legos.
It was soooo cool! |
They got to build for a few minutes before I told them that it was time to go, to which, after some more prodding, they reluctantly obeyed. We had to walk through the fairway, which was now open and enticing walkers-by to waste $5 to play a game which they would likely lose (I have a bitter taste in my mouth for such games as I was snookered as a kid by such games). I finally caved and the kids used their own money (I wasn't going to pay for it) and played a dart and balloon game. These were actually kids friendly and they each came home with a small stuffed animal.
Piano lessons started at 3;30, so in order get home in time, I wanted to leave around 2:30. We were a little late leaving, but making good time (rain was also chasing us). We called Eric to give him the heads up that we were off. He was going to meet him at some intersection along the trail. We pedaled faster than he expected and met up at 21st and the Monon (he originally thought he'd meet us at 30th, but he wasn't there yet).
Eric picked us up, we put the bikes into the van and headed to piano. We hadn't moved a mile down the road when the clouds opened and bathed the roads with their water. I had thought about riding my bike to the house while Eric took the kids to Ms Clowers' house, but his look at me changed my mind. I enjoy riding in the rain, but was glad that I was in the van.
I enjoy traditions and the fun I have with the kids on bike rides, in the rain and at the state fair. :)
