Well it's been a while since I last posted, so I'm going to try and catch up with the blog posts in the next week or so! :)
8/16-We headed down to the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday. Tuesdays are Erik's day off, so it worked out well for us to head down on that day. Also, the weather wasn't supposed to be super hot, so we thought this would be a good day to go. As we left we heard that there was rain down in Des Moines, but it was supposed to end, and we were hoping that by the time we got down there it would do just that! We left in the morning and got down there just before lunch time. It had pretty much stopped raining and was just kind of cloudy when we got there. We decided to eat lunch first, so we headed over to the Iowa Pork Producers Tent. They always serve a great meal for a good price! After lunch we went to check out the Family Birthing Building. It is always so fun to see all of the baby animals in this building.
Here's Kyler checking out a baby cow!
Checking out more babies!
After the birthing center, we headed over to see the butter cow in the Ag building. The line was really long, so we just kind of snuck up behind just enough so Kyler could see it. :) Then we went over to all of the animal barns to see the pigs, cows, horses, etc. We of course had to see the BIG bull and BIG boar (or as Kyler has called it BIG board) :). Kyler loved looking at all the animals, especially the horses, they were his favorite. He kept asking to go "see another one". :) Kyler was not too fond of the sheep though...one came up right next to the cage while he was looking at them and said "BAAAAA" really loud right in his face....a combination of no nap yet, and being tired caused for a bit of a scare.
Checking out the BIG bull
Horses with Dad
Looking at the sheep...
Oooops, too close.....
After the animals, we headed over to the Varied Industries building to walk through all the booths and check out what was in there. Next, we walked to the DNR building to see the fish. While we were walking, we got a text from Lauren, saying she was on her way over to see us! We finished at the DNR building and then headed over to the Grandstand to see the State Patrol, The Family Leader, etc. and wait for Lauren. As soon as Lauren got there, it was time for Norah to eat, so Erik decided to take Kyler through the "Little Hands on the Farm" exhibit while I fed Norah and talked to Lauren.
Picking some produce
Heading to the grain bin to get some corn and soybeans
Proud farmer! :)
After little hands on the farm, it was way past nap time, so we thought we would walk over to the 4H building in hopes that Kyler and Norah would take a little snooze. At the 4H building, Kyler and Norah didn't fall asleep, but we were able to see one of Erik's workers' 4H projects! Hannah had made a place setting and a quilt that were both on display, so we got to see both of them and they looked great! It was cool to see something that someone we knew made.
Following the 4H building we headed up to where they have all the pictures displayed (I can't remember what the building is called). They also have a big sand sculpture in here too. This year it was of the butter cow. While we were walking through here, Kyler and Norah FINALLY fell asleep! :)
After all the pictures, we decided it was about time to get some dinner. Lauren wanted some cheese curds, so we stopped by that booth and then headed over to the Cattlemen's Beef Quarters for dinner. I had to have a Hot Beef Sunday. :) After we ate dinner we walked back through the fair, said goodbye to Lauren and headed home! It was a great day at the fair and was fun to watch Kyler see everything. He is really starting to get to the age where he can enjoy things like this and remember them after we get home. He still talks about going to the State Fair and if you ask him what he saw he says "butter cow", and "big bull, big board, big boar hiding behind wall, hiding behind fence." It was also fun that Lauren could come and hang out with us for the afternoon. We don't get to see her as often right now since she's in DM, so we were glad it worked out that she could meet up with us! Kyler already wants to go back to the State Fair, so I'm sure this will definitely be in our plans for next summer!
