Granny & Pappy Visit! A day at the state fair

Keith and Justin just starting out on this one.

And this is the ride at it's tallest

Justin and I going up 85 feet

Reaching the top!

Kendall and Pappy chatting on the swings

This is Kendall and I on the kid version of the

one Justin and Keith rode

Justin and Kendall flying

The lovely swings

Ferris wheeling under the blue skies

My Dad and Nicci are visiting from Arizona. Justin wanted very much to visit the state fair as we haven't been since living in NC. I asked Granny and Pappy (somewhat timidly) if they were up for a day of fair-going and was a bit suprised by their willingness to spend a day at it. I didn't expect our visit to be five and a half hours long; there was so much to do! You couldn't ask for better weather; gorgeous blue skies, mid 60 temps...heavenly! Kendall talked Justin, Granny and her dad into the ferris wheel, where Keith and Justin spotted their next ride. I don't know the name of it, but will include a photo...you sit on a platform of seats facing forward and an arm swings you in a large circle, but all while facing forward. Immediately after that, and against my better judgement, I found myself beside Justin on a drop zone. They take you 85 feet up in the air, painstakingly slowly and then, without warning, drop you to the botton. I would have rather had the warning, a bit of time to prepare. Our next thrill was a kid version of the swinging platform thing the boys had gone on, and I rode that with Kendall. That one was more my speed!! After that, Kendall talked Pappy into the kiddie swing. We then headed inside to check out some student artwork, ranging from kindergarten level through high school age, some fantastic projects. Pappy bought some chamis and then we grabbed some much needed lunch.

After that, we went to see some livestock: cows, goats, pigs, donkeys, a horse or two and then some prize produce, followed by an arts and crafts building to peruse. It was then time to wrap it up with a few more rides for the kids, a flying ride that they both rode twice and then a swing ride that also was ridden twice. We then purchased our "junk treat" of the day- caramel apples for myself, Keith and Kendall, ice cream for Justin and Granny and Pappy. On our way out, a pig race was just minutes from starting, so we stopped to see that. We got to see three pig races and a duck race. As if that weren't enough, we then had to search high and low for my car since we couldn't easily identify the exact lot we had parked in but before long we were heading home.

After arriving home, I made a pot of lentil/spinach soup that was remarkably good along with a salad and some bread. We are now all scrubbed up and clean and perhaps a bit tired.

We sure are enjoying our time with our Arizona family! Here are some photos from today.