Back on the weekend of October 13th and 14th, we took a trip to Dallas to visit the Texas State Fair. Sean and I have lived in this crazy state for a double-digit number of years, and this is the first time we’ve gone. Having adventures with the kids is a good motivator.

Bigger in Texas, I guess

Our plan had been to drive up on Saturday, play all afternoon and evening at the fair (which is immense), stay the night in a hotel, and then drive back down to Austin Sunday. The fair runs for several weeks, but there was only one weekend that didn’t conflict with some other event in our schedules. We noticed there was rain in the forecast, but we figured we’d make the most of it rain or shine and bought the kids raincoats.

Alas, the weather had other plans. By the time we rolled into Dallas (after a stop off in West, Texas for kolaches), it was flat pouring. We could barely see to drive. Making the most of that day would involve not going to the fair. Luckily, the Perot Museum of Science and Nature was in the same general area as the fair and our hotel, so we just drove there instead.

They were zero interested in having their photo taken

Our kids were maybe a wee bit ornery after the long drive that ended in NOT going to the fair, but the museum was great. Dinosaur skeletons, interactive exhibits, an on-site restaurant, an area of smaller children to run out their energy on the basement floor were welcome features. It kept all of us occupied through the whole afternoon.

The rain had died down by the time we left, so the kids played outside in the water area for a little while and then we headed back to our hotel. Throughout the evening it sprinkled a bit and the sky always looked like it was on the verge of dumping more rain. Still, the thought of getting in the car again was off-putting to say the least. Instead we made use of our raincoats again and walked to the Twisted Trompo restaurant, which 75% of us loved. Maya will still not eat food cooked on fire and the trompos and the flames were right where we could ogle them as we ordered our tacos.

Maya and Ian, riding parent-less

The next morning, after hotel breakfast, we headed over to the Texas State Fair. The weather on Sunday was much more agreeable, maybe even borderline hot in the afternoon. We rode a some rides, including a few kiddie roller coasters, which was a first for Maya and Ian. They loved them. At the end of our visit, Maya and Ian even rode a motorcycle ride together but without any grown ups.

We watched pig races, petted some bunnies, took photos with Big Tex (who is honestly kind of creepy), ate some fried foods (including fried butter – no joke), and walked ourselves silly all over those giant fairgrounds. We even went home with a state fair cookbook. Of course, it was filled with last year’s recipes, so Sean says we’ll have to go back to get the recipe for the Hoppin’ John Cakes with Jackpot Sauce that he loved so much.

We can’t help ourselves

The kids had a great time. When we quizzed them about what they liked the best, they agreed that the rides were their favorite. They tell us they wish we had just ridden the rides the whole time. Sounds like an amusement park visit may be in our future. Maybe once they’re a little better at waiting in lines.

We had a good time at the fair, especially the kids, but as I write about it now, my heart’s just not in it. This past week, my very young cousin Katie died. She was 32. She’s survived by a husband and 5 year old son, a sister, her parents, our grandmother. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and after a long, hard journey, it finally took her. I’ve been away from home a long time, and she was 10 years younger than me, so we weren’t close, but the sadness has been overwhelming. My heart aches for her, her parents, her sister, her husband and son. My love, no matter how far removed, no matter how “other,” goes out to all of them.

Initial photos are just of some random hijinks that have been fun but maybe not blog-worthy between first day of kindergarten and now.