.: All About the Rides

We went to the Santa Barbara County Fair July 17. The kids and I got there about 2, and Brian joined us at 3. These three were more than ready to take off as soon as we got through the gates. They held hands automatically, and were nicely trotting off to the sights, but of course noticed I wasn't right there, since I'd stopped to take a picture of them.

"C'mon mom!"

We checked out the rain forest animal exhibit, but they most wanted to go on the rides! We are at an interesting stage right now, as Julia is getting too tall for some of the kiddie rides, and Lauren isn't even tall enough for all of them. Julia's tall enough for all the 'big' carnival rides, Austin for some, and Lauren for none. We spent most of our time in the kiddie area, and it was nice, because there were NO lines! We got our money's worth for their ride bracelets probably in the first half hour they were doing rides!

Brian and I bought tickets so we could do a few rides with the kids. This one (Sizzler) is one of my favorites! Just before, Austin and Julia had gone on the Sea Dragon together--he was just at the height limit--just made it on the ride. Well, there's a reason. He was freaked out by it! He was crying, and Julia and the girls in the seat in front of them were yelling, "Stop the ride! Stop the ride!" But of course the ride operator can't stop it just like that. Or that's what he told Brian, anyway. Made me wonder what they'd do in a real emergency, but that's beside the point. Poor Austin lived to tell about it. ;) And wanted to do the Sizzler with Julia and me.

We took a break to eat our delicious ~~nutritious~~ dinner. Brian and I ordered pulled pork sandwiches that came with cole slaw and baked beans from Big Bubba's Bad Barbecue. The kids each got a corn dog. They were ready to go on more rides, but we went and looked in buildings instead. Here: two little kids in a big tractor! Austin got mad at Lauren for touching the levers. He told her she was going to start it up! Makes me laugh just thinking about it, that big tractor just starting up and taking off across the building.

We went to see the farm animals. There were 580 pigs! We saw goats, sheep, and cattle, too. Skipped the rabbits and small animals. In fact, their barn may have been closing when we went by.

We went to the kids free play area. The girls got their arms painted. Then we went in my favorite pavilion...

Then back to the rides! It's ALL about the rides!

I rode with Lauren on the merry-go-round, and it was a loooooong ride. Then Brian took Caroline on, her first carousel ride, and it was an even longer ride! It was at least 5 minutes, maybe 7-8. He said he was wondering to himself if he'd have to jump off to get the operator to stop it! Apparently she had some control over how long that ride was. I was laughing outside the fence, watching them go around and around. And around and around yet again. Hee hee. Caroline absolutely loved it!!

We stopped to get treats--I chose a huge cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting, and Brian got a funnel cake with strawberries. Then we alternated giving bites to the kids--and snuck in bites to our own mouths too. ;)

The Ferris Wheel was our last ride of the night, and we all went on together.