Howdy Folks, I'm Big Tex!

 Not me, him ^^. Well, I am big and I am from Texas, but I digress.

He is awesome and we love making our annual trek to the Big D to visit him and all of the fried food fabulousness that abounds in his "home". Pretty much, if you can think it, they can fry it. More on that later. Since before we were married, Corey and I have been going to Dallas to The State Fair. We just love it. We don't go for the stupid games that the inbred carnies try to get you to play by telling you that "every kid wins" or "come on dad, your son would love this (stuffed piece of crap that you would have to haul around for the rest of the day)". We don't go for the rides, although I would move up a few notches on the "cool wife" scale if I could stomach them. We go for the ambiance, the corny dogs, the dog show, the farm animals, the trade shows where they try to sell you things like the Vita Mix (I waaaaaannnnttt one!!) & the rubber brooms (we got one years ago and still use it!). It's just fun. It better be to get us to drive to Dallas. I just don't think too many things are worth the stress of the traffic to get there. Last year we took the train and that was super awesome. This year we didn't bc we had to drop the baby off at my mom's and the train station was out of the way. Next year we will though! We had a great time and can't wait for next year when all three kids get to experience it!

No trip is complete without a picture in front of Big Tex.

That is Corey with the kids... in case you can't see the specks down there in front.

And that is moi.

We headed straight to the dog show. We enjoy it, since we are huge dog people, but I have to say that each year they seem to add more to it, but don't make it any longer. It seems so rushed and isn't as fun as it used to be. Oh, and you can NEVER ever understand the dude who mc's it. Sort of sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher. 

Best Friends (except when he hits her and pulls her hair...)

Frisbee catchin' dogs!

 I love this picture of him!

"Dock" jumping dogs. I had to include this picture even though you can't see the dog. This one was a three legged rescued Pit Bull named Hobbles (I think? His name had something to do with his lack of a limb). It was awesome that he did this and he loved it! He jumped pretty far too, 23' I believe. His competition, a four legged canine, jumped 28'.

This is such a cool exhibit. It's called Little Hands on The Farm.

Who doesn't love a good face cut out?!

They give each kid an apron and a bucket to take with them along the way. First you are given a baggie of dried corn.

Then you "water" the tree and take a peach off of it.

How sweet are they holding hands! 

 

They got to "milk" a cow.

 Plant some seeds in the dirt using a little shovel.

Harvest some veggies.

Hold hands with daddy while mommy walks behind and thinks "oooh how sweet, I must take a picture b/c that is too cute". *click*

This little tractor is so cool!

 

Feed the chickens.

Then, at the end, they put all of the things they have gathered and harvested into their respective bins at the "market".

They turn in their apron and basket and are "paid" for their work.

From there they get to spend their money in the little store. They are allowed to pick one item. Brooke got trail mix and Benjo got animal crackers.

Corey to the kids on the big Ferris wheel. 

LOL! (she is not about to barf, she was excited!)

So cute.. holding on to her little brother! <3

We had worked up an appetite, so I got this chicken taco thing. It was pretty good, and NOT fried! *gasp!*

Then we went to the bird show. It was awesome and we almost got tweeked in the head by bird feet.

This bird was SO close. I may or may not have screamed.

That is the big ferris wheel the kids and Corey were on. They also had a bird in one of the cars that they had fly out and was part of the bird show.

Fletcher's Corny Dogs = THE State Fair of Texas

They have some big football game here during the fair. It may be the ONLY time I root for the University of Texas.

She was tiiiired..

So we had to pep her up. We headed for the Fried Bubblegum!! Check out some of the other fried things at this years fair.

When I heard "Fried Bubblegum", I rolled my eyes. Really?! How the heck does that work? How can you eat it but not swallow it... Well friends, it's simple. It's not really gum. It's a fried marshmallow dipped in bubblegum flavored stuff. And, it is GOOOOOOD!

When you bit into it, it was soft, melty, sweet, and gooey. Perfect.

We stopped at the petting zoo on our way out! Look at the little baby in the pouch! Awww!

Here is the 2011 butter sculpture. Makes me want to get a big 'ole piece of bread.

Look, a sign for my husband....

We had an amazing time! On the way home I drove past this.. What in the free world?! At least its not a real person on that bucking bull! Only in Texas!