state fair::2009

What else signals the end of summer like the Minnesota State Fair?!

(I realize this blog is a little over-due.)

Thompsons on a stick:

A big highlight was the "Miracle of Birth" Barn, a barn filled with expecting livestock mommas and recently born babies. Nathan especially enjoyed the baby chicks and ducks. He even got to watch a chick hatch out of an egg! Our animal lover Ella liked all the animals in the barn and couldn't get enough of the little babies. Here she is with a piglet that is 1-day old.

We walked through some 4-H barns later that day, but Nathan decisively declared: "Mom, you only need to look at one sheep." I guess if you've seen one, you've seen them all!

Of the buildings and booths we walked through, one favorite was that of the MN Twins. Nathan and Ella both got to throw a few pitches and catch a glimplse of hall-of-famer, Tony Oliva. They are such good little Twin's fans! (Nathan can name 4 players: Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, Justin Morneau, and Denard Span).

And of course, what fun would the fair be without a stop at Kidway. Nathan chose a whale ride to go on that went around in circles and up and down like a whale swimming in the water. Ella even got to ride, though she just barely made the height requirement. Once on, I was a little nervous that she was too little, but my fears were alleviated once it started and I saw how much fun she was having. Ella would shriek in delight like we've never heard before as she rode around in circles. Matt and I couldn't help but laugh out loud as we watched them ride-it was definitely worth the ticket price!

Can you tell they liked it?!

Nathan, being the big boy he is, also got to ride on the motorcyles. This was primarily enjoyable because they had a horn!

We had a lovely day at the "Great Minnesota Get-Together"!

For Ella, it also had the perfect end.