OH HAPPY DAY

The "cutest" darn cow ever!

I can't say she didn't predict it.

I WILL win something.

As we drove up to the State Fair on Sunday, we saw someone walking away with an insanely large stuffed animal they won on the Midway...and that's where it began.

We dutifully explained to her how the games on the Midway were fixed. They are designed to take your money. All of it. The games look so easy and always have some trick to them designed to make it impossible for you to win.

"I don't care. I want that money pillow." she kept saying.

"I don't want to play. It's a racket. I'll do the bumper cars though!" added Ben.

Boys and bumper cars. It never gets old.

After Ben's bumper cars we continued through the Midway. We saw the tacky looking money pillow on our way in. Of all the "cute" stuffed animals you could win, this had to be the...well...tackiest.

"I want it." she kept saying.

Ughhhh.

After walking through the entire Midway to see something else she may want to win, it all came full-circle (imagine that) back to the *($%#*# money pillow game.

"There it is! Let's go!"

She sat down behind her water gun (that supposedly blows up a balloon 'til it pops). She lost.

"One more time?" she pleaded.

"Okay. But that's all the money left on the card. It's your last chance."

The lady behind the counter beckoning everyone to play hears me explaining to Shelby again how it's designed to take her money and not to be too disappointed if she doesn't win. The lady looks at Belle. Belle smiles at her really big. The lady looks away to walk off...then I see it.

She switched some switch under Belle's balloon.

I immediately tell D. You know...just to document what I saw in case it's true.

The bell goes off. They start shooting. Belle has yet to hit the target and the balloon keeps expanding 'til ... BOOM!


Sooooooo serious.

She drops her gun. Looks at me and points and says, "Told ya'..." then tells the lady behind the counter what she wants.


Look how proud her big brother is...

You have to approach the State Fair like you do Vegas. Go there expecting to spend a specific amount of money and come away with nothing more than a stomach ache. And sometimes a tacky money pillow.

They had fun and I always enjoy watching them experience things either for the first time or through their eyes.

Gotta love the exit of the Fun House!

Wanting to run on the field at the Cotton Bowl.

So the love may be a little one-sided right now.

Love. Love. Love 'em!

Thank you State Fair for a fun day plenty of memories.

Except for the money pillow...ughhhh. Although I will definitely remember it.