A Day at the Fair!

Every year since I can remember, we've always gone to the Del Mar Fair (well actually it's now called the "San Diego County Fair" in Del Mar but.... This year was no exception but for the first time since I can ever remember - it RAINED! Now not that much but it was definitely raining. The sun came out a bit later but it was pretty overcast most of the day.

Instead of battling the crowds, we park at Torrey Pines High School and then take a school bus over to the fairgrounds. We highly recommend it! The bus gets favored treatment when entering the fairgrounds and puts you right at the opening gate.

This year's theme was "Music Mania". The fair had a display of different music genres, though it would have been nice to see Contemporary Christian Music represented. We did hear a Christian song playing when we entered, so that was cool. There were also several Christian bands playing during the fair's run, including Switchfoot, Issac Houghton and a big Gospel Praise Night. David Archuleta, David Cook and Kelly Clarkson, KC and the Sunshine Band and Smokey Robinson were also on the schedule.

The exhibit offered autographed guitars that were for sale/auction, including Sugarland, which Sarah likes.



The one thing you can say for the fair - the food is always interesting! Up and down the midway, you can have almost any form of BBQ and junk food that your heart desires, though one would argue that your heart really does NOT desire the artery blocking food, so I should say that anything one's taste buds desire! One place has fried EVERYTHING - frog legs, Twinkies, avocados, Reeses, Oreos, Zucchini and yes, a chicken patty sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies OR a chicken patty between a Krispy Kreme doughnut!! UGH....but yes there was indeed a line!


We went to see the animals first.

I absolutely ADORE this picture of Benjamin and the cow! She's looking at him as if to say "What the heck is he doing here?"

Benjamin clucking with a few new friends!

We went and saw a milk demonstration. Sarah got to milk the cow but she was waaay too fast and I didn't get a good picture. Sigh... you'd think after all these years and all these pictures that she'd recognize a Kodak moment when she sees it!

The Chevy folks had a line up of their new cars.

This is what Ryan will look like when Sarah drives!





Since neither Ryan nor I can sit in the passenger seat with Sarah in the driver's seat without getting the shakes, Benjamin obliged.

He's looking cool in his shades.




Here he helps her back out safely.



The folks at Burt's Bees had a big tent to showcase their products and their 25th anniversary. I was treated to a lovely hand massage and we all received lip balm and shower gel. Benjamin just liked the honey smell!


We decided to have some lunch. Sarah and Ryan feasted on corn dogs on a stick and fresh lemonade. I finally found a place that sells veggie burgers. Of course it took twice as long for my order (folks, you barely even have to cook them!) I also bought a "Cone O' Curly Fries" to share with Sarah and Ryan, and of course Benjamin too! It was bigger than him!




While we were eating in the garden display, I got one of my most favorite pictures of me and Sarah ever!


This is going to be our Christmas card picture for 2009. Sigh....my husband is a nut!


Benjamin enjoyed reading about things being "bearable" and hanging out in the flower display.



Each year, the Union-Tribune has the "Press Room At The Fair". One of my favorite pictures to look at is the last day that the San Diego Tribune was published as a stand-alone paper. It was our local afternoon paper and The San Diego Union was the morning paper. The day after this picture was taken, they merged and became the San Diego Union Tribune Newspaper. My daddy worked for them for about 35 years. He is in this picture (albeit quite small) but I was able to get a little bit of a close shot. He's the one in the middle with the salt and pepper hair and beard with the glasses. He's been gone for six years now and I still miss him. He had a stroke and Alzheimers so he was taken away from us long before that, sadly.




I liked this quote!



Sarah's high school (gads it is still weird for me to say that!), Christian High won first place for their yearbook! Go Patriots!



One of the vendors in the exhibit hall makes FABULOUS mini-donuts so we got some for a snack! Their "hot and fresh" sign is on all the time!



Way back when, Ryan worked for Farrells Ice Cream Shop. There is only one left in San Diego (sorta kinda) and it's here at the fair. We even got to see his former boss, Mr. Ortmann, who owned all of the Farrells in San Diego. A dear, sweet, older man, he told us that they may be coming back to San Diego!



Ryan and Sarah shared a banana split. Benjamin checked it out but.....



...he was much more interested in my dessert - hot, fresh chocolate chip cookies!! I bring them home (well most of them!) and I have cookies for the next day!



Ryan and Sarah met up with a new friend who strangely enough, wanted to sell us insurance. Hmmm...



One thing we wanted to buy Ryan was a sign for his train room/shed. The good folks here helped us out!

Now it's official! This is no longer the garden shed but "Ryan's Railroad, Est. 2009"!