This week, we’ve finally been squeezing in a Seattle summer. I say this a bit tongue and cheek. We’ve been all around Washington. We have spent little weekend time actually in Seattle. After being away in the Bay Area last week, this week has been a slow process of becoming reintegrated into my life. School occurred for 3 days and then I left. I’m still figuring out some crackes and crevices of that process. My parents finally leave next week after a summer of rich experiences, powered in many ways by their presence. Today was the Puyallup. We had originally thought Thursday after school. We quickly realized, that would be difficult given how long it takes to get there along with the concept of the girls getting to bed on time.
So we shot for today. The last Saturday of the fair and amazingly beautiful, hot day (at the end of September!) I talked to Wayne how each Fair is different with it’s own highlights and memories.
We started early with haircuts as a family at 8:15am. We got to my parents by 9:10am to pick them up. Of course, the girls couldn’t stay in the car. They had to go in to visit. I love how they are so comfortable in my parent’s house. The drive was long and Fair traffic picked up. We ended up near the Gold Gate and got parking for $12. More expensive than last year. As we were walking in, a couple gave us 2 free tickets. That was a gift! We didn’t get in until 10:30am.
We walked in at the same time as our friends, Dan and Darcy.
The kids immediately coupled up with the young girls being inseparable.
Carousel first. Mom got to ride for free!
I got a kick out of this sign. It doesn’t really apply to Mom. Except maybe the knee brace 
Then off to animals. We toured the sheep barn.
The cows had cleared out. I guess the sheep can carry a virus deadly to cows so they keep them separate.
We saw a sheep being sheared with manual shears. Very cool.
The kids got the giggles when a sheep peed in front of them. The girls leading the sheep looked confused until she probably thought to herself, “City kids.” (Stealing Darcy’s line) We picked up kettle corn immediately (first fair tradition). The kids watched a wood carver using a chain saw.
The adults found nirvana in Fischer scones (second fair tradition). We got our girls cotton candy (their desert for the day) and moved onto rides.
The big ride was the Big Slide. Our family went down it at the same time, paired. That was fun. The kids loved the obstacle course.
The girls rode a boat. The adults insisted on our ride later on- the merry go ride swing (my name for it) (third fair tradition).
Wayne didn’t feel it was as good since it wasn’t a washing machine (meaning we didn’t ride it in the rain as we often do). The girls are both tall enough to go on. Neither was interested.
We ate quickly corn dogs, curly fries, and hamburgers for lunch between rides. Wayne had funnel cake with chocolate sauce for desert. Not my favorite.
We tried to take in the draft horse show. The kids were excited by the concept of horses, but not the execution. They were tired and bored. We only got 20 min in. Dad steered us toward photography before we left. The ride home was watching Tarzan since we have the second Tarzan to watch tomorrow. We didn’t get home till 6pm. Oh my. Sara was sad she didn’t get time to play at home. Oh well.
I did fulfill a wish and had an evening of reading. The library books got read. I read to the girls on the porch in the evening night. I liked the Princess Knight and Crickwing. We got to the Nativity story on Tomi De Paolo’s Bible tonight. A little before Advent.