State Fair 2015

We actually decided to give the State Fair a try again this year. The State Fair was always a favorite time for my dad. He loved (and I do mean LOVED) getting all the freebies he could get his hands on. Once upon a time, he would come home with so many bags of stuff that it was nearly impossible to hold by day’s end. It would take him endless hours to go through it all. I remember him coming out of his room with handfuls of treasures (pencils, pens and the like). It’s always been a great time filled with wonderful memories. In 2013, we had our last State Fair with Dad. If I’d only  known, I’d have taken more pictures and more video. I look back at that day and wish I could live it again. Where is my dang time machine?

Fast forward to 2014 – we didn’t go. I just couldn’t bear the idea of going without Dad. It broke my heart to even try and think of it. The kids wanted to go but I couldn’t do it. I would have spent the entirety of the day crying. This year, however, the kids asked yet again. Mom said she was ready to go and I said I was too. I lied. I wasn’t ready. But sometimes, you just have to force yourself to move on. So we went. Yes, we had fun. I did, really. But Dad’s lack of presence was hard to miss. Every time I went into a building, my heart hurt a little. But I pushed past it. Alex had a lot of memories resurface. I think he was okay though. I’m glad to say that I forced myself to go. But we ended up skipping a few places that only Dad liked. The Fish and Game building was near impossible to visit, as it was his favorite. It’s been two years, and I still cry at times like this.

The State Fair…memories and more memories. Wish I could share them all with you, but then I’d be writing a book. As for this year, the kids had a blast. It was our first year without the wagon or stroller. Evie held her own just fine and no one got lost. The kids even got to make their own hula hoops at the energy expo building out of Flecks pipe. We ended with a nice traditional meal at McDonalds and a long drive home with sleepy kids. Miraculously, Evie stayed awake the whole time. Not sure how that happened. It was a good day. A hard day…but a good one.