and finally, it wouldn't be summer without a trip to...

...the state fair!!!  This was our 5th annual trip - we have been going since G was one.  And we love it.

Since we have been going a number of years, there are certain things that we cannot leave the fair without doing and/or eating:

• ice cream from the Dairy Goodness Bar (not the Dairy Bar - believe me there is a difference between the ice cream!)
• wild rice cheeseburger and wild rice corn dog from Wild Rice Specialties
• scones from French Meadow Bakery 
• Miracle of Birth barn (always a favorite with the kids)
• all the animal barns of course
• Little Farm Hands

And since we have been going a number of years we also decided to do some things we haven't done before:

• missed Little Farm Hands (this was not intentional, and G was especially not happy about this, but we didn't realize it closed at 7!)
• saw the afternoon parade (other years we seem to have been in the wrong place or came to late and have always missed it)
• watched English horse jumping competition (this was really fun!  and the kids loved it!)
• rode the sky ride gondola

We ended up staying much longer than we were thinking, but only because we were having a good time and the kids were doing so well.  And we had great weather too! 

lots of animals were petted

watching the parade (U of M marching band had just passed!)

the horse jumping competition

why yes, we did eat french fries for supper

Momma and kids on the sky ride

G especially not happy that we missed Little Farm Hands (no photo by the chicken height chart this year!)...

...but a piggy back from Dadda to go get ice cream before heading home changed her mood!