Evergreen State Fair 2008

For the fifth straight year the Henderson family realized the official end of summer by taking in all the Evergreen State Fair had to offer on Friday. Avery and Neil started the day by taking their rocker photo just inside the entrance. While it may look like the fair is just rides and food by our photos, our day was filled with a variety of exhibits and activities. We started the day a little after 10:00 by visiting the animal barns. We saw pigs, goats, cows, zebras(yes zebras???), chickens, pigeons, rabbits, ducks, and much more. By 11:00 it was time for rides. Avery washed her hands(can't be too careful), got her ride bracelet, and off we went.

Avery's first and favorite ride from years past...
The Shrek play house.
Climb the rope ladder,
down the bouncy slide, up the stairs,
across the suspension bridges, down the slide, repeat.








Avery went from ride to ride making good use of her unlimited ride bracelet. By 12:30 the next ride she wanted to go on was the food ride. With all of the fair food to choose from it was a difficult choice. We had already enjoyed a fair scone when we arrived. What would be for lunch?








The answer...CHICKEN NUGGETS!!! While Neil and Shelly enjoyed BBQ Beef Sandwiches from the Shriner's Booth, Avery found the Everything Chicken Booth and could not resist her old standby. She top it off with a Mango Lemonade and was ready to move on. We were suckered by an empty kiosk to put in fair rewards card. One of the many coupons it gives you is an entry for $500 in groceries if you buy a $5 lottery scratch ticket. We bought one. We did not win the groceries but we won $50 on the ticket!



What does Avery like more than rides at any fair? FACE PAINTING!!!!! Avery had to get this rainbow heart before she would agree to look at all the junk the fair had for sale. Windows, siding, shammys, socks, knives, cook sets, glasses, jewelry, clothing, cleaners...You name it, they were selling it. After passing through the first junk area under the grandstands we made our way to the horse barns. Avery loves the horses. After seeing the Clydesdales we were relieved to not have to answer the question..."Why do some of the horses look like they have a third hind leg?"

We stopped for a pony ride on the way to the second junk area. What a racket. Pay $6 and ride in a circle for a couple minutes. The kids just love it. After the ride Avery got a mint chip ice cream cone and we ventured through the second junk area.. 4H barns were our last stop. Dogs, Cats, crafts, pictures, clothing, food, and flower exhibits. There was still more to see but with an hour left we had promised Avery that we would end the day the way we started....RIDES!




Avery hit all of her favorite rides a couple more times and ended the day with several solo trips down the big slide.