Sunday afternoon we did the family thing and hit the Mid-South Fair. We were going to go earlier in the day, but as the Fair was opening at noon Connor was fading fast. We knew if we went to the Fair without getting Connor a nap that we would regret it ... and fast. Which meant that Katie's little face crumpled and we had to fight off her tears. She was able to spend time playing with Mia, so she muddled through somehow :) And then the Saints game was on, so we decided to stay until it was over at 3. I really enjoy the Fair more at night when the rides are lit up, so it was perfect for me. Katie wants to ride the rides, Connor wants to do what Katie wants, Daddy wants to spend family time, and Mommy .. Mommy wants to spend time with the family AND her camera.
We weren't sure how many rides Connor would be able to do, so we just got wristbands for Chip and Katie. After a quick walk down the midway we decided to get Connor a wristband as well. He had to ride most of the rides with Daddy, but there were a few kiddo rides he could do all by his lonesome. Katie was her usual fearless self. She hated waiting in the lines, but she LOVED the rides.
They only played two games. Katie was mostly concerned with winning a fish, so Daddy won her one, and the nice game worker let them pick two so Connor could have one. The all orange one is Blaze, and the orange and white is Fireball.
.... or should I say WAS. Apparently it is bad luck to name your aquatic animals after fire. The fishies went to the big toilet bowl in the sky last night. You would think that carnie fish would be more durable ...
But back to the Fair. It was freezing and Katie stole my jacket because her jacket was not warm enough. After winning the fish we convinced Katie we should go to Walmart to get fish supplies ... and because Mommy was freezing. Luckily we did not invest too much money in their care.
Another fabulous Mid-South Fair. We had a great time together, and we only had to sell a kidney to pay for it. We can't wait for next year.
Daddy had the wristband, and Mommy was on Connor duty. Connor was stuck in the stroller ... until he rebelled about 2 hours in and we had to start carrying him around. Katie rode most of the rides. There were several that she rode and wished she hadn't. They were a couple that Daddy wished they hadn't rode either. 
Katie also played several games, and she even won some prizes. I think we were just lucky to get some of the nicest people in charge of the games. The first game that Katie played was a Ball Toss. For $5 you got 5 balls, all you had to do was get two balls into these big tubs. Of course they would bounce out. The guy was trying to coach her through. 
He taught her how to throw underhanded, and he told her to throw it soft like she was throwing to her brother. Finally, he put his hand on the lip of the tub and told her to throw it softly to him. SHE FINALLY GOT TWO IN! He probably let her throw 15 times. So amazing! She won a "leopard skin rug", and she is SO proud!
He even gave Connor a stuffed monkey with banana pants. She played a few other games. The water gun one, and she did great, but she wasn't the first to fill her tube.
It was her first "loss" and she was very disappointed. She chose two rubber duckies and won a stuffed pig. 
We were there for over FOUR HOURS! And still Katie pouted when it was time to leave. Daddy tried to throw softballs and break beer bottles (sounds super safe, huh) but he only managed to break one. 
I had glanced at the "Strong Man" game. You know the one where you try to ring the bell by swinging the mallet? I was standing there looking at it, but I really didn't care about any of the prizes, and I didn't want to spend the money to play just to see. The guy must have been bored because he motioned us over. "$1 and I will let you swing" he said to Chip ... that is when Chip told him it was me that wanted to swing :) So, I swung.... DING! 
It was the women's one, and I was "ALL WOMAN", so he told me to try the men's one. I swung ... and it went to 1400 and STUCK ... it never came back down.
Sure wish I knew how high it would have gone. He had said that I would just get to swing for the $1, but he went ahead and gave us a blow up 3 foot long hammer. Katie and Connor LOVE it!
And you can't go to the fair without getting some fair food, right? Around here it is the Pronto Pup that really says you are having fun. Chip only bought two because Katie usually turns up her nose at corn dogs, and Connor hasn't been big on eating real food. Chip and I barely got a few bites. Connor was in Pronto Pup Heaven! 
Katie wouldn't turn it loose. I am still a little sad that I didn't get any cotton candy or even a funnel cake.
I didn't even mention the livestock. And I won't put more pics up. Katie was able to feed some animals and ride a horse. They had a "cow milking" thing set up, just tubes and such. Katie hunkered down and started milking right away. She was a pro. I think Katie's favorite was the baby pot-bellied pigs. She ended up choosing the stuffed pig after petting the real pig. Don't worry, we followed it up with LOTS of sanitizer. 
