We took the kids to the fair on Wednesday and had a ball. It was Military Appreciation day, so we received entrance to the fair AND rodeo for free! YAY! I had also found a sweet deal at Burger king the day before....I could buy all day unlimited wrist bands for $17.00!! (At the fair they were $22.00, so I saved five bucks a band!). Mark and I didn't buy wristbands as we get sick just WATCHING the rides now! hahaha..old age, isn't it grand!

Sam took off on his own for a bit to the 'big kid' rides, while we took the little ones around the smaller rides. Then Sam found us and we all went to look at the 'big rides' as Paige was DYING to go on some. She is so brave (or crazy, not sure which!) and she went with Sam on the Octopus (twice!) and the Gravitron! For those of you unfamiliar with fair rides, this is the big circular room that you go inside of, and it spins so fast that cyntrifical force holds you against the sides...yah..Paige went on that...came out and said 'Mama, you can FLOAT in there!'.....I can see her when she's older...she'll be our adventurous one and give me heart attacks every other week or so! Lovely!

We grabbed a 'fair' dinner...which means everyone got what they wanted! Paige had a HUGE serving of Chili fries with cheese...Ben had a corn dog (as illustrated above!) and Mark and I each had a Gyro...yummers...Sam went off to find his own food and devoured it before he got back to us! hahaha...

The Rodeo was also fun. We only stayed for an hour, but were able to see some great riding and roping! Once the 'Rodeo Royalty' rode out (Miss Kitsap etc) Ben said he wanted to learn how to ride a horse.....he takes after Mark doesn't he?!!

After Rodeo, we went BACK to the rides and midway and stayed until well after dark....and came out stuffed, dizzy and tired......
Nothing like a fair to end the summer....as Templeton said "A fair is a veritable smorgasbord, oragasboard, long after the lights go out..."

And with the closing of summer, our 'regular' routine kicks in...I take Sam to 'maze day' at the high school today. He gets his schedule, locker assignment and lock. Pictures taken and friends caught up with. School clothes shopping for him as well this weekend...supplies are all bought and waiting to be packed off to school.

The days are starting off much cooler, and ending chilly. The sun is still warm during the day, but like Mark said as he left for work the other morning "It smells like hunting season out here". Summer is fun, but fall is still my favorite time of year. It is warm enough for you to remember the hot days of summer, but the air carries with it a hint of things to come. The leaves start to change colour, and our routine picks up in pace. Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner. And before we know it, Christmas will be here, with all the excitement of 'chwistmas swecrets' as Ben calls them. Lots of baking and wrapping and visiting with all our friends...then we settle into the 'soup and stew' months, those long,lazy, chilly days before spring comes around again....
Isn't life grand?

Hugs to you all..
Mark,Jaye and Gang