State Fair: a playlist

This is my iPod playlist for the State Fair this year. Usually I just load it up with Bruce and Gear Daddies but this year I put a little more thought into it. I put it on shuffle and it is my soundtrack to the Fair. Although I often turn it off so I can listen to all the funny overheards.

• State Fair, RaspuTina
• Organ Donor, Jeremy Messersmith
• Fidelity, Regina Spektor
• She's a Rainbow, The Rolling Stones
• Shadows, Four Star Mary
• Drive, R.E.M.
• Gardening At Night , R.E.M.
• Closing Time, Semisonic
• Tonight, Tonight, Smashing Pumpkins (I like this song but the one I meant to put on was "Today")
• Mysterious Ways, U2
• Can't Help Falling in Love [Triple Peaks Remix],  U2
• Pictures of Success, Rilo Kiley
• She's Happy, Martin Zellar and the Hardways
• The Beautiful People, Marilyn Manson
• Lucky, Bif Naked
• Already Met You, Superfine
• All the Small Things, Blink 182
• Then You May Take Me to the Fair, Camelot Original Broadway Cast
• Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen
• Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash
• Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash
• White Winter Hymnal, Fleet Foxes
• Color of Her Eyes, Gear Daddies
• Monopoly, Leo Kottke

State Fair: Day 3

We do it up right here in the Baker house at Fair time. The girls woke up this morning to Fair presents!



That is a silk-screening extravaganza right there. And here we all are in our matching shirts, ready to go to the Fair! (I know you can't see a single shirt, but at least we are all smiling. timer shots are HARD!)

Here you can see the shirts a little better. That's us heading out to the gate. Bella is already working on her scavenger hunt.

First stop, Little Farm Hands! Where we are very excited to see Uncle Dave!!

Hey we totally grew up with that same Tupperware colander in the kitchen. Weird! 

Mimi even said MMMMM to the cow. Moooo! Or maybe she meant MMMMM as in delicious. She is kind of a meat eater. 

After we had sold our harvest and purchased some Cheerios, we had worked up quite an appetite. I decided I would settle for nothing less than Cinnie Smiths cinnamon buns. So we trundle up to the booth, order a huge amount, plop down on the curb, and dig in with relish. YUM. Thoroughly enjoyed by all. 

Afterwards we discovered that the diaper wipes I brought were dried up. Uh oh. It reminded me of the book Curious George Makes Pancakes... "Do the napkins help? No! They make it worse!" 

Oh well, maybe the sticky cinnamon goo residue will help Bella not fall out of the Sky Glider.

She has been waiting for this moment all year!!

Mimi and I strollered along underneath them. She was none too happy to be missing out on the fun. 

Next up, family photo! And a little skee-ball while we wait. Bella managed to hurl one of her balls into someone else's lane. Nice! She got a tattoo. Then our photos were done. 

Time for lunch. We head over to the Turkey-to-go booth and get a Giant Turkey Sandwich (I LOVE THAT SANDWICH) and head over to the DNR stage for a picnic. 

We are well fortified for the GIANT SLIDE!! I didn't see Brent take any pictures, so I was surprised as all get out to find these on the camera. Yay Brent! 

He also took this picture, which makes me laugh every time I look at it. 

We went and checked out the alphabet fair booth. How cute is that?

And ran into The Backyardigans! 

Then we headed over to the prime parade watching area and ate a corndog while waiting for the parade to start. Mimi ran over to join the flash dance. It was hilarious.

The parade was pretty great--bands, flags, a unicorn! Mimi woofed and panted when the tiny horses went by. Tee hee. Bella and I decided not to rush out and give Fairborne and Fairchild their T-shirts when we saw they were seated up on fast-moving float. Darn! Hopefully we'll see them on foot sometime!!

Then we were all tuckered out. Time for a bottle, a beer, some Fairchild softie clutching, and a nap.

Ahhhhh a nap. We enjoyed some couple time walking to Heritage Square. Peaceful. 

Then we went to meet the cousins and the girls both woke up. Time to pass out some shirts!

And eat some fries! 

And here is where the kids melt down and we beat a hasty retreat, pausing only to inhale Dreamsicles on the way out.

Yes I know, who buys a Dreamsicle at the Fair? What can I say, my kids love Dreamsicles! And I aim to please at the Fair!

On the walk back to the van, we hit a huge bump in the sidewalk and flip the stroller over, which freaks out the girls pretty bad, seeing as they're sitting in it, as well as Brent and me. Yikes. 

Now here's where it gets crazy! We race home, have scrambled eggs for supper, throw the girls in the bath.... and go back to the Fair! Well, just me. BECAUSE I CAN'T STAY AWAY!

I meet Katri and we do grown-up stuff, like look at art--which was extra fun seeing as she is an art teacher! Here are some of my favorites from Fine Arts. 

A chicken!

Seville

Katri goes, "That would look so great over your toilet!" A true complement to the artist indeed!

We ate so much I'm not even going to talk about it. And we watched kids in these hamster balls. 

Very amusing. Especially when the kids crawl into the deflated ball and get sealed in--kind of disturbing watching them innocently climb into a ziploc bag. But it is quickly blown up and thrown on the water and fun is had by all.

We people-watched and stayed for the fireworks and then called it a night. 

Oh glorious day!

State Fair: Day 2

Today the girls and I went to the Fair for a quickie--only a few hours, just to say "Hi Fair!" We waited until after Mimi's nap and then headed out. First stop, SHEEP!



How cute are those guys? We tried to get Mimi to "Baah" but she was uncooperative. Then it was on to the bunnies!



I told Brent it was about a 50/50 chance I come home with a bunny. A barn full of bunnies does that to you.

Just look.



Can you stand it? GET IN MY PURSE.

Then Bella decided she was "allergic to animals," which I think clinically translates into "ready for some ice cream," so we headed over to the butterhead building and got the most delicious strawberry malt. We ate it while watching the butter carving. Bella very astutely pointed out that if we were inside the butter carving gazebo, our ice cream wouldn't be melting so fast. Isn't she smart!



Right as we are leaving, we run into Princess Kay! Yes THE Princess Kay of the Milky Way! How great is that!



I unbuckle Mimi for the picture and she runs over to Princess Kay with her chubby arms in the air, "up?" We all just melted. I mean the whole butterhead building went, Awwwwww! Seriously. It was great.

Then we decide it's time to see the big pumpkin. I'm so glad the girls are entertained by the vegetables. I love those. There's a squash that is as big as a pool noodle! And cute little muffin-y pumpkins!







Then we go to find my friend Cynthia's scarecrow and look at the crop art.





Bella spots this particular crop art from across the room. She is very impressed. So am I!



Mimi then starts pointing at all the corn and soybeans and making the eat sign. Hmmm, must be time for a snack!



We head over to have a picnic under the Space Tower. There is a band playing and Mimi cuts a rug. Hilarious. Strangers stop to tell me how cute she is. And she is!



Then we decide it is time for our annual Sky Ride! Except, what's this? High winds have closed the Sky Ride? Oh tragedy. We console ourselves with the Space Tower. Where the ticket guy looks at the kids and goes, "Both under 3 right?" And I'm thinking, he's being nice right? He can totally tell that kid is not under three? She is almost 5 for crying out loud. But hey, I'll take $3 fair charity where I can get it, so I'm all like, "YUP!" and there you go. I'm not saying I'm proud, but that was one heck of a deal--all three of us for $3! I was downright giddy.

What's next? Bella decides. SPIN-A-PAINT! Excellent choice.



Even Mimi makes one. She likes pushing the spin button. Mommy does the paint. We all manage to get paint on our shirts. They turned out nice, see?



Then it's time to head home, since I don't want to wear everyone out right before our big Saturday at the Fair. Which I think I kind of did. Oops. I'm sure they'll still have fun! They better!!

State Fair: Day 1

OK so if I could order up Fair weather, today would have been exactly where I would have set the thermostat. WAS IT NOT THE PERFECT DAY FOR FAIR? I was almost passing out shouting that at everyone I met. With a pronto pup hat on my head. And a homemade Fairwear shirt. Singing the new Fairol. Maybe you saw me.

I arrived in the morning after a fitful night. Couldn't sleep. Fair in the morning. Fair. Fair. I dropped the girls off at preschool, drove to work, and practically skipped down to the Fair. I then sauntered around with my State Fair blend coffee and what was going to be a crepe until I saw the humongous line and switched to getting a chocolate chunk scone (which was amazing) at French Meadows. I did a nice loop, admiring new stuff like the freshly painted Horticulture building.



The new pickle booth.



Some meat.



I stopped and asked if I could take that picture and the meat booth guy was so excited he grabbed my shoulders and lined me up, "There's YOUR SHOT! TAKE IT!" The first morning is intoxicating to all I think.

Some last minute additions to Spamville. You only had all year to attach the "Spam Boulevard" sign, why not wait until opening morning? BECAUSE I WOULD TOTALLY STEAL IT IF YOU DID IT EARLIER. You know I would.

I had to laugh at this mob waiting to see my knitting. Patience, people, you will all get a chance to see!



I bustled inside behind the crowd and was surprised to see Emily's jumper hanging up in a place of honor... backwards! Ha! And no ribbon. Darn.



And then a bit later I look up.



Oh HELLO Mr. Blue Ribbon!! I clapped. For myself. By myself. With a pronto pup on my head.

THE FAIR IS SO GREAT!

I also submitted my beaded shawl, which I totally can't find. I think this is it?? There is one that looks almost just like it in the showcase with a big premium ribbon on it. But I can assure you it is not it. I about had a a heart attack, but no, it is not it.

Then I saw this:



I came home and described it to Brent and told him I thought it would make our house a home and I (he) would pay any price for it. I fully expect a large square package under the tree this year.

And this isn't my sweater. But I think it is so cute. I just love looking at all the knits and getting inspired by what geniuses people are.



Then I had to head to work, and I was cutting it super close, since I have no will-power at the Fair. On the way out I encountered two girls with their illicit pet/baby dog.



A Fair staff person walked up and I was hoping for a big tearful dog impounding scene with lots of drama (I had my camera out) but then she laughed at a dog in a stroller and kept walking. WHA?

After work I had to be a mom and take the girls to swimming lessons and feed them and blah blah blah. Then Brent came home and I was off again! I played loud music and squealed my (mini-van) tires and overall acted like an intoxicated driver as I raced back to the Fair.

Bunnies! Rootbeer! Skeeball! Fireworks!



I stayed too late and then got home and was all hopped up so kept Brent awake telling him about how I got a free tootsie roll for hitting the 100K hole in skeeball and it DIDN'T RECORD and how we had a beer with an insider in the Sweet Martha booth and how we got to rock out to the BoDeans' music drifting over the Fairgrounds.

Today (Friday) I'm taking the girls just for late afternoon and dinnertime. Bella is super excited! I'm sure Emily is too, she just doesn't know it yet.

See you at the Fair!