Bad Food, Bad Smells and Good Times: Your Local 4H Fair!

Dear Henry,

Of course Daddy and Mommy took you to the local 4H county fair this summer! We were so excited about going you went 3 times. Mama and Papa took you on the opening day. The rides weren't going yet but we didn't notice. You're too wee for the rides but you were still peepin ' around at everything eyes as open as a hoot owl. We spent over 3 hours there! We enjoyed taking you around the barns to see all of the animals. You seemed most interested in the sheep. You put out your hand and allowed them to lick at your little fingers.

On opening day the smell is minimal and all of the 4H families are out getting their animals settled in. It was our dream for the longest time to be at the fair with our baby boy! Here we were walking through the booths, lookin' at animals, and eating bad fair food with our very own son. You seemed to enjoy the attention you attracted, as did Papa who would not let anyone else hold you including Mama. I pushed the stroller around both visits but Papa wants to put his arms around you every chance he can get. You flirted and smiled at just about anyone and plenty of people flirted and smiled back at you!

Daddy made sure as we rolled through the business booths to get you two balloons, one for each arm; while Mama searched out one of the cool bright yellow construction hats that we saw so many kids wearing. You looked cute, although two of your heads could fit into one hat. Mama and Papa had to sit down for a hot dog and lemon shake up. We sat for a long time watching people and giving you a bottle. Then we walked around again and ended up at the ice cream stand to get Mommy a pineapple twist and Daddy a chocolate vanilla twist. They were delicious and you wouldn't let us get by without giving you at least a taste. Papa put some on his finger and let you licked it off. You really liked it and smacked your bitty lips.

The second time we went to the fair we went with our old friend Ollie and his new lady friend. We had a great time and made it our mission to eat as much crap food as we could. Daddy's list included: hot dog with chili and cheese, fried pickle, funnel cake, lemon shake up, cotton candy, and a fried twinkie! Mommy had two corn dogs, lemon shake up, some vegetable tempura,

funnel cake, a bite of fried twinkie , cotton candy, and a couple of mints while sitting at the Aurora Alternative High School booth for thirty minutes. That is quite a long list of junk and we don't advise you to do that ever. We felt hung over from all that grease the next day!

Daddy took you through the animals again and made sure to get you two new balloons. This time you really enjoyed using them as a punching bag. We walked through the midway once to see the carnies and rides. There was one ride we stopped to watch that you didn't care for at all. It made a loudhhasssssssssssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh noise as it pulled four cars high into the air and the cars spun and pulsed up and down to loud music and bright flashing lights. I looked over at you in the carrier on Daddy's chest and the corners of your mouth were turned down and the fear tears were on their way. Papa high tailed it away from that ride as fast as possible to keep ya from a melt down but the ride had one last hiss in it that set you over the

edge. Poor Buster Boo. You're always so calm and composed but when you hear uber loud sharp noises it cracks your cool as ice demeanor until you're far away from the offending cacophony.

After the loud ride we decided it was time to go home and get to sleep. We really can't wait until next summer when you'll be a little bigger and more excited about the things you see. This year you were drinking it all in with your big eyes but didn't have any real connection to what you were seeing.

Since Daddy and Mommy have been together the fair was always a special summer time tradition for us. We are so excited to have our sweet baby boy to share it with now.

The third time you went with cousin Johnny, Grandma P and Mommy. I already wrote a little about that...but I think I forgot to say we met President Obama there and took a quick photo with him.

PS to please Cousin Wendy I promise you will never have to eat a hot dog and drink a red pop and ride the Gravatron on a 100 degree day. She did this when she and Mama were as young girls with the most disastrous results!

Love, Mama