The Great MN Get Together

Sunday we went to the fair (last Sunday that is) and a great time was had by all. We have learned from experience, and Jesse would have been not only proud, but not annoyed in the slightest by our ways of partaking in the Fair experience.

FIRST LESSON: Use a park and ride close to home, not close to the Fair. Last year we had the unfortunate experience of thinking we were parking at a Park and Ride when actually we had joined up with some Saint's game fans. Then we went to three Park and Rides before finding one that wasn't full.

This year we parked near Broadway and Industrial Blvd. Not even 10 minutes later we were on a bus and shortly thereafter, at the Fair. It was smooth, like buttah.

Noah hanging at the Park and Ride in style, waiting for the bus.

We met up with friends right away and headed for the food building. We started with fries, gyros and cheese curds. All the Fair favorites were consumed that day, including cotton candy:

Noah, yet again in the stroller, getting a sugar rush. Note Daddy on the bench and the inflatable Scooby Doo we bought for him riding on top of the stroller.

Yes, that's right, we are on to LESSON NUMBER TWO: Have a Fair Agenda. Not only did we have an agenda, but we had a map (I can never get my bearings at the Fair or remember where things are). So we had a plan, and a route. This way we saw what we wanted to without all that nasty backtracking.

Besides the regular Fair merriment, Noah got to play with Avery, who he hadn't seen in awhile and missed very much. Outside of the DNR Building they got to run and chase each other around while we rested our tired old legs.

"I'm gonna get you!"

Then they proceeded to tie each other up in a very innocent, non-kinky fashion.

"Now that I have you, I will tie you up and keep you forever!"

The end of our Fair journey was flown solo. B felt ill, Wenda needed to get little Avery home early and Craig and Terrie voted for the Horticulture building over the Kidway. Noah went on a couple of rides and then asked me to ride with him on the Ferris Wheel and a scary looking ride called The Tugboat. Picture a scene from The Perfect Storm and you'll get the idea. It wasn't as bad as it looked though and Noah now has ammunition to use against me, "Ha, ha! You were scared!" He also asked for a picture next to a pirate ride.

"Grr! I'm a pirate!"

"No, really, it's just me, Noah!'

Seven hours and $100 later we went home. It's different going to the Fair now that we have to split our time between what Noah wants to do and what we want to do, but it was still fun. I didn't get to see all of the exhibits I wanted too, but I'll be damned if I spend more than one day a year at the Fair. After all, I have to start on my agenda for next year.