Field Trip at the County Fair

On Wednesday, Punky had her final field trip of the year to the county fair.  My mom took her on the first one, she backed out of the second one because my parents were in town, and I was finally able to get the day off to take her on this third one. 

Let me just start by saying that after spending the day with these people, I can't believe I actually let them watch my child.  Talk about unorganized.  We we supposed to leave at 9:15; it was 9:50 till we actually got on the road.  Once we arrived at the fair, we stood in the parking lot for almost forty minutes while the daycare director searched for her cell phone and finally figured out she left it at the school.  I was the only one that had supplies on me like diapers and wipes.  When it was finally time to leave, one of the vans was completely dead which lead to even more time hanging out in the parking lot and I ended up having to use my car to jump it and get it started. 

Anyway, it was family day at the fair so they had special activities for the kids.  Punky got to make a bracelet, take a pony ride, and she got fitted for a free bike helmet by the state police.  We spent a lot of time in the animal barns and my allergies were insane.  Sneeze after sneeze after sneeze.  It was the first time Punky saw many of those animals up close in real life and she loved it.  A dairy cow looked right at her and gave her a long, loud "Mooooooo!"  She thought it was the greatest thing ever.  A real cow talked to her!

The kids got a free lunch on the fair for family day and we also got to watch a reptile show.  I was fine with the lizards, but once they started pulling out snakes and carrying them around the audience for everyone to see, I got a bit panicked.  Punky, true to her nature, had no fear whatsoever.  When a guy stopped to show us a red, slithery, evil-looking snake, Punky didn't hesitate a bit.  She reached right out to touch it... on the head of all places.  I just about had a heart attack when I saw her reach for it.  After that episode, I quickly talked her into going to see the cows again.  I'll take sneezing my ass off over snakes any day.

Punky was really disappointed because the daycare wouldn't allow the kids on any of the rides at the fair.  Some parents wouldn't give permission and I understand their thoughts completely.  It wouldn't be fair to let some of the kids ride and others not, so none of them were allowed to do it.  Of course, it's the one thing that all the kids kept asking to do.  Over and over and over.  Punky included.  But she handled it fairly well, no temper tantrums or anything.  

She fell asleep in the car on the way home and continued to sleep when I carried her in and put her on the couch.  I took a little nap on the recliner and Punky's dad woke us up when he came in from work an hour later.  After hearing her disappointment over the whole ride situation, we decided to head back to the fair for dinner.  And to let her on some rides, of course.

Wheeeee!

She rode, and rode, and rode while her dad and I munched all that good fair food.  Yeah, I think I created a monster this summer.  She's definitely taking after me in the ride department.  She rode the kiddie rides herself, and I took her on a couple bigger things, but I drew the line at the giant slide.  Waiting in line on steps high in the air just isn't for me.  It was her dad's turn to step up to the plate and take her on the slide.  And he did, over and over again.  I think it was her favorite thing at the fair.  We never got home until almost ten o'clock and I was exhausted.  And stuffed.  What is it about fair food that makes it seem so incredibly delicious?  

I'm glad I got to go with her on at least one field trip this year, and I'm glad there won't be any more to worry about until next summer.