Night at the Fair

Last evening, I decided to take the kids to the County Fair. I grew up going to the fair and have always loved it! I like to walk through all the barns, look at all the animals, and meander through the 4H exhibits, pretending I am the judge. The kids know they have to put up with my slow pace, oohing and aahing over things, if they ever want to have time to check out the rides (their favorite part of the fair). Becca loved the animals, reaching into the pens to pet as many as she could. Her very favorite were some little kids (baby goats) that she found in a pen, they were absolutely adorable! I think we would have taken them all home, if we could.

After I had my time, we made our way to the midway and the kids had their fun. They each had enough tickets to ride 5 rides, anything they chose. Towards the end, the kids talked me into going on the ferris wheel with them, not usually my favorite ride. As many of you know, I am not exactly fond of heights, which the kids enjoy exploiting. So there we are, slowly going around on the ferris wheel, when we see something drop to the ground just a few feet from us. What was it you ask? Oh, it was just a wheel that helps turn the ride around, the size of a wheelbarrow wheel! Needless to say, this mama was freaking out a bit, yet trying not to let on to the kids how scared I actually was. We did a few more rotations, mainly to circle around and evenly let people off the ride. Each time around, I can see the spot where the wheel belongs, an obviously empty gear. Finally our basket stops, the doors open, we are the last ones off the broken ferris wheel, and I felt such instant relief, to know that we were all off safe. Whew, I don't think I will offer to go on another ferris wheel for a long time. While the wheel never felt unstable and seemed to rotate easily, I sure didn't like being on it, knowing it was missing a piece.
Tonight and tomorrow evening Andrew has baseball games and then on Sunday he leaves for scout camp for the week. Next weekend we have another family reunion, which I can't wait for. Then Joey leaves for his scout camp. He will be gone for 4 nights, the longest he has ever been gone alone, without Rich or I with him. I hope he makes it!