Don’t panic we played it safe and just went with corn dogs and a funnel cake, I’ve taken care of too many stroke patients to let anyone eat fried butter! So on Wednesday afternoon we put on our best plaid shirts, packed cans of food into a bag (I’ll explain in a min), loaded the kids up into the car and headed to the Texas state fair.  We couldn’t miss the fair for two reasons.  Firstly, we felt like my parents needed a lesson in American culture and secondly, we wanted to tell Henry that although he didn’t live in America for long he did however make it to the fair (ya know, something every Texan should do). Ok so the deal with the cans of food.  On this particular Wednesday if you took 3 cans of food each you could get in to the fair for $2 each as opposed to $16, a no-brainer right?  The cans were to be donated to the North Texas Food Bank.  It was either go on this Wednesday or go on a Thursday and get Mum and Dad in as senior citizens for  free…..but we worked out it was cheaper to go on the Wednesday 🙂

We had a blast!  There was an amazing petting zoo with all kinds of animals.  There was even a giant tortoise sitting amongst the miniature ponies, zebras, and donkeys.  Poppy enjoyed seeing the piglets, kids, and of course the 1 month old baby Llama.  I personally enjoyed the Ostrich and miniature ponies the most, I would totally have a miniature pony in my back garden if I could.

After spending alot of time in the petting zoo we decided to walk around and see what else was at the fair.  We walked past a mini circus tent where performers were putting on little shows for children.  We had to stop and take a couple of photos.

Then we spotted an auto show on the map and we wandered towards that.

At 5.30 we headed back towards the animals for a milking demonstration.  It didn’t really dawn on me until my Mum mentioned that Drew could probably give this demonstration himself having grown up visiting his Grandfather’s dairy farm.  But it was fun nonetheless.

From here we went on to get something to eat.  Drew had recommended corn dogs and seeing as we were giving my parents the authentic fair experience this seemed like a good choice.  I on the other hand am not a fan of corn dogs so I stuck with the trusty delicious funnel cake.

Finally there was one thing left to do.  We agreed that we couldn’t say we’d been to the fair and not gone on a single ride.

So Poppy and Drew volunteered for the white knuckle ride.  Well not exactly, although it was white knuckle for a certain little girl.  We walked around for ages finding the right ride.  Not too fast but not too slow that she’d find it boring.

We settled on a mermaid ride, there was a huge mermaid statue in the center of the ride and you rode in a whale.  It just went around and around with a few little ups and downs.  And there was a bubble machine too!  We thought she’d love it because shes always shouting “higher higher” when we push her on the swings in the park…haha not so much.  She was a little terrified at first.

But then got used to it.

However she was a little stunned when she came off and needed time to get used to being on solid ground again.

By this time it was getting late for the babies and time so say goodbye to the fair.

A successful trip to the Texas state fair.

Did I mention that thanks to Henry’s Aunty Hannah we were able to dress him up as a cowboy?  (Han Han it fit him perfectly!!)