Del Mar Fair

Well, I had the goal of getting caught up on posts before the wee bairn was born in October. It seemed reasonable when I started a couple of weeks ago. But then we started school and that seemed to be the trigger for massive contagious illnesses to enter the home. So, while I try to school and waddle around with three small children crying/clinging to me and feed my starving husband dinner, I may find that I do not have as much time or energy to get this done. I'll try, but the slow and steady approach is going to have to be sufficient, I hope.  Anyways, on to the fair...

The Del Mar Fair has become a much anticipated annual event for my family. My father so generously hosts the excursion and we always have the best time! This year everyone was captivated by the butterflies. Now this did not look promising when we entered the dilapidated tent with our expensive q-tips, but those poor sugar-drunk butterflies were really enchanting. Everyone wanted a butterfly mustache after Olivia started sporting hers. So my little ones chased after and hunted down every crook-winged insect that couldn't teeter off fast enough. Poor things!

Now while everyone enjoys the endless varieties of rabbits and goats and chickens, the rides are the key to the fair experience. Even the thrill of seeing the world's largest crocodile could not hold a flame to chill-inducing excitement of the giant slides. My littles love any and all rides. Cars with bubbles? Yes! Farris Wheels? Oh, Yes! Vomit triggering spinning contraptions? Give me more!

After awhile even my kids needed a little break from all the crazy spinning. So we headed over to the hysterical racing turkeys and kid farm zone. If they couldn't be riding jerkily on a roller coaster, then milking a pretend cow and riding on mini tractors was the next best thing. The girls got the biggest laugh out of dressing a scarecrow up like Miss Laine. She is truly serious about staying out of the sun and they captured her perfectly - much to their amusement!

Xavier thought the best part was filling his hat up with beans and then dumping them on his head. He must have done that a hundred times.

After some quiet time and greasy fair food, we headed back to the rides, of course. If there is anything better than rides during the day, it is rides during the night. Something about the sparkling lights in the darkness just makes everything more exciting.

The big kids were really starting to enjoy the challenge of the scary rides. Quinton was brave enough return to the tower of terror. Stephen and grandpa went, too. The rest of us just watched in amazement as the seats climbed higher and higher before plunging back to earth. I did it once last year and was quite pleased to have pregnancy as an excuse to not indulge this year.

As a last hurrah, we stopped by the games for one more bit of fun. Nothing like racing to pop balloons with water to top off a day at the fair. My little family filled up every seat! Someone was guaranteed a fuzzy duck hat. Don't they all look intense?

Until next year.
Thanks, Dad!