Hot Summer Nights

Originally posted on 7/25/08…

  We had a great week as the fair came back to town.  We kicked things off again this year with the fair parade down Park Road, parking the pickup in WTRE’s front yard.  Lola joined us this year and was really good.  It was really cute:  Matt grabbed her harness and she immediately began leaping in the air and then ran to the front door!  J  Sitting in the back of the pick-up again turned out to be a prime spot for candy collection as the kids walked away with a shopping bag full of loot! Lola even scored two dog treats!  That was really cool!! We then headed out to the fair, where Matt helped Gigi with the WTRE-sponsored Celebrity Donkey Race at the grandstands.  Gigi backed-out of the second heat after witnessing the chaos of the first heat, where all but one contestant was bucked-off numerous times on the course. 

  Throughout the week, we enjoyed all the rides, especially on family night when rides were only one ticket.  The other days, the rides were 3 and 4 tickets each.  That was the one thing we were disappointed with at this year’s fair – everything had increased in price from last year.  Parking was raised from one to two bucks, games were raised from one to two or two to three dollars and several rides also saw increases (most increased last year, actually).  Food was also up, especially the fair-owned vendors (a corn dog was $6.50!). 

  We also enjoyed a couple of the events in the grandstands this year, such as the ¾ midget races and of course the demolition derby.  The midgets were especially cool.  Tony Stewart sponsored the #20 car and the main event was won by the only local entrant!  Luke was so much more aware of things this year.  He loved the derby and really enjoyed being able to ride most of the rides that the big kids were allowed to ride!  We also ran into Chad & Gracie on several occasions and Luke even got to go out with them one night by himself (the other kids were beside themselves!).  Chad was a very brave man that night!  We also got to see Baili Ewing (Ann’s friend Amy’s daughter) show one of several animals that she raised for this year’s fair.  She won several Grand Champion awards! Abby enjoyed riding a few rides with both her one night and her other best friend, Megan on a couple other nights.  Matt also got to run around with a couple of his buddies a few times and even Lucas got to spend time with his best friend Alex and our friends Christi & Terry. 

  This was the first year we didn’t win a goldfish in several years, which is just as well, since we have donated the last three years’ fish to Danny & Curtis’ pond…and we haven’t even seen those boys since last year’s fair!  The kids each won a couple of games:  Matt won two giant, stuffed animals at the Skeeball game (I guess that the Wii Carnival Games practice is paying off!), Abby won 2 hammers at the Strength Tester (“ring the bell with the mallet??? game) and Whack-a-mole and Luke was thrilled to win two dart guns at the Pluck-a-Duck game (both of which I think we’ve lost – including the 10 darts AND the two guns – Ann may have thrown away the two whistles…)! 

  But, overall, it was a fun week with lots of memories.  Mom & Dad are glad it only comes once a year.  …oh, and all the kids are going to bed early each night this week…