Our group of eleven ventured in the side gate, jacketed and talking about how chilly it was. The first words out of K’s mouth were “I want to go see the HORSES!!”
Tim went to buy coupons and the boys went off to ride the “Crazy Mouse” (with Tim).
I quickly spotted the carousel so those were the first horses K was able to see. But she didn’t seem to mind.
Then we made our way into the midway. The kids were ready to tackle it. Can’t you tell?
After that we found our way into the line for the Texas Star (BIG ferris wheel). G didn’t want to ride, he was scared. He looks terrified here, doesn’t he? 
Once we got off I could no longer take her pleas so my parents and K and I made our way to the animals.
We took the long way round and found this guy first.
And thankfully he was NOT in flames like last year. So good to see a non-burning Big Tex!
We found the horses in their stalls first. She was all “swoony” over them, running from one stall to the next and asking their names. It was so stinkin’ cute!
Then we had Fletcher’s corn dogs for lunch. THE BEST.
The gypsy horse show started at 1 p.m. Pretty sure she wanted to go in the corral with them….
We spent some time in the petting zoo where a goat stole K’s cup of food right out of her hand and then she lectured it. See that pointer finger? Yeah, he got schooled on not stealing food. Chump. And I have no pics of the actual theft because I was too busy laughing!
And omg, aren’t those baby goats cute?!?!
Turns out I did spend more time with the girl this go ’round. What? The boys wanted to ride rides that she could not AND hang out in the midway and win giant Minions so…
Fair Park has some really cool historical buildings and Art Ddeco architecture. I could have spent time just on a photo walk…
But Tim wanted to check out the “family” cars at the auto show. Even Minions can ride!
We ended the day with a few last rides…. (note to self, NEVER get on the Crazy Mouse ever again!)
…and then a quick trip through the butterfly garden, that K did NOT want to leave (even though everyone else was exhausted at this point).
But we found some pretties so… it was okay with me.
We enjoyed a great day of fun and food and family (three of my favorite “f” words) and then the kids sacked out on the way back to our friends’ house.
Success!
So glad my parents were able to join us and that Big Tex was still standing when we left… 
FUN FACT: We used to live in the Dallas area and ran into NO one we know. My parents live in a completely different city, 3 hours away, and ran into two sets of friends. Crazy!
*K’s name for the State Fair
Elaine, I just love your pictures. So awesome!
And the way your daughter stands there in the second picture, ready to tackle the midway? Priceless.
Looks like a fun time! I often take photos of everything and it also acts as a sort of shield for me that I don’t have to go on rides. I don’t like rides much. Well last time we went I thought it would be fun to ditch the camera and just enjoy the day and my kid tried to drag me on so many spinny rides! I resisted, but barely.
That looks like such a fun day. That is pretty funny your parents ran into people they know. That black and white butterfly is so pretty!!
What great pictures!
I don’t like rides. I would be eating and taking pictures.
Oh, my GOSH!!! That looks like the most fun day EVER!! I ADORE your pictures. (and the goat lecture picture is fantastic. It made me literally LOL!! You tell him!) It looked glorious! Big Tex for the win!! –Lisa
Love the pictures of your sweet family at the fair. Exactly what I needed to see this morning.
Adorable kids. Looks like you really had a great time.;)
Family cars eh? That’s like my husband telling me that Hooters is a family restaurant. Men.
His dimples run for miles. I think I might have said this before but you make beautiful babies.
And take gorgeous pictures. I love that you have an eye for things that would go unnoticed.
Thank you SO much, Kimberly! Those dimples are a hit with everyone and your last sentence in this comment made my day. Seriously!
Please tell them that they must stop growing! It’s insanity. K is like no baby left!
and, glad to see that they re-did Tex. I wondered what they were going to do about him after his firey demise last year.
Love that last one of your whole family. Kids look like they’re having so much fun. I mean, I would too!
All baby things are cute. The problem is that they grow into adult animals
The pictures are stunning as usual.
Oh my gosh, Elaine – your photos are gorgeous! It looks like such a fun day! Nothing like a fair!
Looks like so much fun, and your kids dimples are too cute!
I have never been to a State Fair! So maybe I will take the kids someday
And isn’t it funny how you can randomly run into people when you are in random places but if you are somewhere close to where you have been or lived you don’t see anyone? Crazy!