Our weekend!

We had a fun time over the weekend making happy memories together.

Friday after school and work we headed to Dallas. We stopped off for a yummy supper at Spring Creek BBQ. We were all hungry and really enjoyed our meal. The manager came by and saw all Caleb had eaten and gave him a dish of Blue Bell ice cream too.

Saturday we went to the birthday party for our niece (who turned one earlier this month) and her cousin (who will be one in a couple of weeks). It was fun to watch them open their presents. They both liked the ripping the tissue paper out of the bags and throwing it in the air to have it fall on their faces. My sister-in-law made the cakes, and the kids were cute eating them. A just touched hers and licked icing off her fingers, but T really got into it and made quite a mess.

After the party we headed to the State Fair. It is a tradition we have! When I found out the party was going to be on the 25th, I checked to see when the fair opened. I was glad we could do both on the same weekend (since in the coming weekends we'll be busy packing and moving).

We arrived to the park about 4. It had been rainy all morning, but it cleared up by afternoon and we didn't get rained on while at the fair this year. This was the first year we didn't take along the stroller. Caleb was really too big for it last year I know and maybe before that, but we took it anyway to give him a break from walking. Plus the bottom of it held our drinks, camera, and other junk. Caleb didn't complain about walking. At the very end he wanted Daddy to carry him. I was surprised he walked so much!

We watched the pig races and went to the petting zoo. The auto show is always a favorite for the boys, so we spend quite a bit of time there! I like to try out the new vehicles too. We did a test drive for a few vehicles. Caleb wanted to ride in one of the big trucks so we did that one too. We are going to buy a new mattress soon so we tested some out at the Mattress Firm booth and found one we really liked called Rhapsody by Tempur-pedic. I have no idea if we'll get this one but it gave us something to compare to when we try out others. Then the salesman let us try out a massage chair. I could easily imagine getting used to having one of those in my living room! It had slots where you could insert your feet for a massage too. We were all tired by the time we left at 10 but had a great time. Caleb was so big and had fun. He was glad he got his cotton candy!

We slept late Sunday and then came home. Fall is in the air! Hooray!

Have a day of blessings!

2009 State Fair trip!

Howdy folks!

For the past several years we have made a family trip to the State Fair of Texas. (Here is last year's post.) I remember the first year we went that right before we left for the day we went to the baby booth to change Caleb, and he peed all over his pants. Other memories are when Caleb was old enough to do "Little Hands on the Farm." Also he was so excited the first year he got to do the Pee Wee Stampede.

We were all looking forward to the trip. This year since we have a school boy we had to go on the weekend though instead of during the week like we've always done before.

Friday after school we loaded up. We made a couple of stops along the way. We stopped for me to pick up coupons for the Fair at McDonalds. Then we stopped for supper.

Then the boys wanted to stop here . . .

. . . to get one of these.

I found a room at La Quinta for $34 a night with the weekend special plus the discount we have through ACU! We've been pleased with LQ overall, and I was excited to find one so cheap compared to most others that were $70-$80 normally. We ended up going to bed late because when we turned the lights off we saw a flashing light in the smoke detector. It was enough to be annoying, so we switched rooms. It was like a camera flash, and it went off every 45 seconds to a minute. We were glad it wasn't beeping, but it was worrying Caleb and hard to ignore.

Saturday morning Caleb was awake very early, I think around 6. He went to the bathroom and said he was hungry. I gave him some graham crackers I'd stuffed in our snack bag. After 7 Daddy took him down to try the continental breakfast. He didn't eat much though--I think he was excited for our day!

Since it was the first Saturday of the month we found this . . .

. . . so Caleb could make this.

He's been to all the workshops this year, and this was his third workshop in a different city than where we live! I knew he'd want to do this month's project since it was a fire station. I just love the little bank. As you can see in the picture it has three slots for saving, spending, and sharing, which is what we've been doing with Caleb except in envelopes and a piggy bank. I like having it all in one place!

Next it was on to the fair. With the coupons we got Caleb's admission free and four dollars off one adult ticket. So we all three got in for $26. (Not that anyone cares, just for my own reference!!)

We went to the favorite petting zoo.

Then it was time for the 12:00 Pee Wee Stampede. Caleb got his number and hat. He was in both bare back riding and bull riding. He won a trophy in the bull riding! It was so fun!
We headed over to find some lunch.

Caleb and had corn dogs. (Lunch total was $16.) We walked around some of the booths, and the boys loved the auto show. We always get in the seats of several of the vehicles. This year they had a fishing booth. None of the fish were biting though. Caleb wanted to scoop one up with a net! He was very patient, and I wonder how long he would have stood there. It's probably time to go fishing with Gramma again! He really wanted to catch a fish.

We went over to hear the wonderful Marine Drum & Bugle Corps.

There is something stirring to stand in a very light drizzle singing the National Anthem with hundreds of others. After the performance we headed back across the park. Caleb wanted cotton candy. Of course the price is a bit ridiculous, but he always wants it and I always say no. But this time I said yes. :) Daddy and I had a funnel cake. I was debating on getting an ear of corn but didn't want to be too full for supper! I took Caleb to play in Big Tex sand box. He loved it. It was neat how all the kids were so content in the sand and none of them wanted to leave!

We went over for Daddy to test drive a Traverse. Caleb and I rode along. Then Caleb got to go to the kids' area and drive around a kids' sized Escalade. By this time it was a steady drizzle. Caleb said he wanted to do the Ferris wheel. I told him it was kind of expensive, and he got to do the cars this year. Plus I was thinking how we needed to leave soon and I didn't want to walk over there or stand in line. We had a full day and Caleb was okay with not riding it this year.

We all got pretty wet walking to the car. Caleb fell asleep while we drove to eat.

We all slept well and headed home Sunday morning. It was a great trip and I'm happy we have this tradition!

Have a day of blessings!

State Fair

We had a wonderful time! I'm trying to catch up on my emails and blog reading.

We arrived Sunday afternoon to our hotel. It was one we had never stayed at before, but we (my husband, I had nothing to do with finding it!) found it okay. We unloaded and went to visit my brother-in-law and his wife and see their new home. After that we went to have supper at a BBQ place. We got way too much food! Caleb and I should have shared. I wanted a BBQ sandwich and wasn't sure he'd eat it. I should have just shared a kid's plate with him; I couldn't believe the meat portion they gave on a kid's plate! It did work out nicely though because we had some leftovers that we put into a plastic bag in our ice chest for another time. After we ate we waited for my friend to come over. She was my college roommate, and we like to get together if we can. She brought Caleb a set of (toy) fire fighter equipment set, and he was thrilled! The set even had a whistle, crow bar, and fire extinguisher. He's never had those so he was excited to play fireman! Caleb took this picture of wood while we were sitting outside. He thought the stacked up wood was so neat!


My husband and I didn't sleep much that night. It was too hot, then the fan went off, then his CPAP wasn't working. I heard Caleb at 6:30 so I went to his bed and he told me he was "shivering cold." A few minutes later he whispered, "Mom, the sun's up." I went and showed him it wasn't the sun, it was actually a light shining outside. I told him he could come lay by me and rest some more. He didn't go back to sleep though! It was raining outside too! We had breakfast and headed to the fair ground. We arrived before 9:30.

We loaded up the stroller and headed to the gate. On our way we stopped at McDonald's and I found two trays sitting on an empty table. I asked the people at the next table if they belonged to them; they did not so I took both of the tray liners for the coupons. I was glad I didn't have to buy anything to get the coupons! So we got in for $22 again this year with the coupons.

We were disappointed not to get to see Caleb in the Pee Wee Stampede this year that he loved so much last year. The arena was nice and muddy! He didn't know why he couldn't just have it in the mud! He did get to be in the Backyard Circus though. We were walking by and realized it was going to start in about 10 minutes. Caleb surprised me by marching up to the front on his own and sitting with the other group of kids on the green carpet. I went up and told him the man might ask for volunteers. If he wanted to help he could but he didn't have to. So he raised his hand right then and a girl beside him told him not yet! The Backyard Circus is a little show for the kids to use their imaginations. They put an orange shirt on him that said TIGERS. He was looking at me like I don't want to do this so I went up and told him what was going to happen while the girl did the tight rope act. When it was his turn, he was ready to go. He was the last one of the group to jump through the "ring of fire."

We went to see a cow milking demonstration, toured the barnyard petting zoo, watched a dog show (Caleb made me laugh there as he was clapping and cheering with such enthusiasm!), checked out the vendors, and listened to the amazing US Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. We all loved this show! We got there right as they were starting and found three empty chairs on the front row. It was very moving to hear them play. They played "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as a tribute to veterans and those currently serving our country. During one song the drummers came up to the front. I noticed the one on the end staring directly at me. At the end he reached in and gave Caleb five and shook his hand. Caleb was so excited!

We enjoyed some "fair food" too. Caleb and I shared my chicken sandwich and his corn dog. We had a funnel cake in the afternoon. In the Food & Fiber Pavilion they were handing out ice cream cones. The past couple of years they passed out yummy little rolls. We couldn't figure out why everyone in the place had ice cream until we got up to that booth, expecting rolls and getting ice cream instead! We also had roasted corn as we were leaving the park. I had been wanting one so we finished up our tickets on that.

We rode the Ferris wheel together also. I asked Caleb as we were walking if he was sure he wanted to do it. I told him it was really tall and much taller than the other Ferris wheel he'd ridden. He loved it and was excited the whole time!

We all slept that night, and after doing some shopping and having lunch, we came home Tuesday afternoon. It was a fun trip, and I look forward to going each year! I'm glad we have this tradition. I've put together a slideshow. I hope it comes out okay. I've never used Picture Trail. Let me know if you have trouble viewing the pictures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

State Fair here we come!

We have a tradition now to visit the State Fair each year. We are all looking forward to going again this week. My husband took off work for a couple of days. When my friend emailed me the pictures from their visit, it made me more excited. I'm posting them today (with her permission!) for you to see too!

I read what I wrote last year about the trip and am glad I did! I forgot about those McDonald's coupons. I don't know if those are available this year but we can stop on the way to find out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2