Box Elder County Fair

If you've never been to the Box Elder County Fair you probably don't know what a BIG deal it is around here. It is the thing that EVERYONE looks forward to around here. I guess it is because we live in a rural community. Growing up I didn't even know that Davis County had a fair! Almost every kid around here has something they are putting in the fair whether it is an animal, a cake, a dress, a lego sculpture, a painting, you name it, it goes in the fair. I love going to see all of the exhibits and the creativity that goes into it. The fair is a whole week event and marks the last week of summer. In Box Elder school district they actually hold off starting school until it is over. It is THAT big of a deal. 

We have really come to love it and enjoy being part of the community (even if we do kind of feel out of place without our cowboy boots and wranglers.) This year Haken and Shad entered paintings into the fair. Shad has entered a painting every year since we have lived here and every year he gets the "Judge's choice" award in the Semi-professional category. This year he decided he wanted to put his painting into the Professional category (since he has sold a few paintings this year) and see what happens. Well, he ended up with 1st place in the Professional category, which isn't as good as Judge's choice or the Sweepstakes award but I think it is still great. He complains that it wasn't that big of a deal because it was only out of 2 paintings in his category since the others got judges choice and sweepstakes. Although, the guy in charge said that if he was the judge he would have picked his instead for the sweepstakes. Haken got a participation ribbon, but I think he should have placed. His little acrylic painting was pretty good for his age. I don't think he knows the difference though, a ribbon is a ribbon to a 5-yr-old.

Shad's painting of the Brigham temple and tabernacle

Haken's painting titled "powerline"

He copied this painting and I thought he did a pretty good job for a 5-yr-old and the limited acrylic paints he had available to him.

On Wednesday night we go to the parade that goes down Tremont street. It isn't a huge parade (and Shad isn't a huge fan), it mainly consisting of lots of tractors, emergency vehicles, high school bands, horses, and advertisements for every place around here. However, people line the streets with chairs and blankets 3 days in advance to make sure that they can get a place. We prefer just to walk there 10 minutes before and always find a front row seat anyway. This year Haken was freaked out about the noise. I think he had his ears covered the whole time. Not sure what his deal is with that lately. There was a semi truck driver that I wanted to kill though. He was stopped right in front of us for a while and kept honking his super loud train-like horn over and over. It was so loud that he had all three of our kids screaming and crying at one point. Really bugged about that one. I think Haken put up with the noise because he got TONS and TONS of candy. That is all the kids really care about anyway right? We like the parade to refill our candy reward jar every year. I think the candy from last year was getting pretty hard.

This is how we get him to smile lately...

Then sometime during the week we head to the fair to check out the animals and exhibits, eat some food, and ride the rides (if Grandma is with us). I think Haken really liked seeing all of the animals and exhibits this year. He made sure we didn't miss anything. 

Standing by the cows.

My sweetheart Jack

This was Jack's reaction to the sheep sticking it's head through
the bars and talking to him. He wasn't a fan of sheep at all.
He is even cute when he is terrified. Love him!

However, Haken liked the sheep.

Petting the bunny

Jack and aunt Jenni

This time Grandma came with us so the boys got to go on rides. This was the boy's favorite part, but you wouldn't know it from some of the pictures. Jack cried when he had to get off a ride. Not sure why they have creeped out faces as they ride the rides. The night we went was perfect! Because it was a Thursday night, there was hardly anyone there waiting in line. The boys got extra long rides because no one was there.

Riding the train. Can you tell how excited they are?!

Jack rode this one all by himself because
Haken wanted to go on something else.

Oh their faces just kill me!