Our First County Fair In Virginia

I grew up in a small town in Connecticut. We had five thousand residences and two police cars. (so if you passed both of them you could speed home!) Our jail was a chair that you were handcuffed to (in case you miscount the police cars). Our high school was combined with the town next to us and even that only got us to 600 kids IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL.

But most importantly, every summer we had the Carnival. Giant cages spinning wildly in the Ferris Wheel of Death. The Bingo tent full of old people, trolls and me. Cotton candy for two dollars and goldfish brought home to die by the dozens.

So before my kids left for my birthday, we drove to our first southern version of the county fair.

We ate funnel cake. FOR LUNCH.

In our defense we also provided french fries and an Italian sausage slathered in onions and peppers to eat.

My son and his stomach of steel and I went on ride after ride after ride.

That helicopter has taken E to carnival heaven.	Welcome to the funhouse. Full of terrified smiles.
The only way to leave the funhouse. Only awesome for E.	What blog is posting the picture of the mom flashing the county fair?
Out of all the Fords and fire trucks that E could drive...	He picks the hippie lovebug. I think my work here is done.
This is our HAVING FUN face	I'm pretty sure E is screaming too.

Pretty standard fare. Until I tear my eyes away from the whirling lights and sounds and sugar.

And I’m being stared down.  By tattoos of eyeballs.  ONE ON EACH BOOB.  Spirited t-shirts encouraging me to Save a horse! Ride a cowboy! And belt buckets that say: Bad Mom. Which I’m pretty sure she means bad as in good. Or maybe bad as in good luck keeping these cutoff jean shorts from showing you the fun.

But most importantly, you will see Cinderella. Chatting with two vampires.

What do you think the Princess of Shoes discusses with the Princesses of the Night?

And then you will wander into the petting zoo.

The zebra tried to kicked that sheep's butt. Who knew zebras & sheep were mortal enemies?	Do NOT go to this guy's hairdresser.
Seriously the only meat the Queen will eat. I would not want to be in that herd even IF I got to meet Prince William	Not eaten. Yet.

But as you leave the lights and the dust and the missing teeth of the fair behind, you just might find your heart walking in front of you. Holding hands.

The first time they've ever held hands. Which may or may not mean this is one of three hundred pictures