HOT Fair & Rodeo: A Fall Time Tradition

One of the many great things about living in Waco is the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo that comes to town every fall.  Most years it is still pretty warm outside but the fair is a good reminder that fall weather (my favorite season!) is soon to follow.  This year we have been blessed with cooler temperatures, making the fair experience even more enjoyable.

Since moving to Waco, we have tried to make the HOT Fair & Rodeo a fall time tradition.  We like it because it can be either a really cheap family outing or a wallet buster (depends on how frugal we are feeling that year)!  We like making the parade (see above pic) and although it is usually just a bit lame (think lots of poorly decorated cars and trucks driving by), the boys like trying to catch candy from the parade participants.  I like teasing the boys that I need to test their candy first to make sure it is safe and not poisoned.  I learned that trick from my dad.  I didn’t really believe him as a little girl, and I ‘m not so sure my boys are falling for it either.

Petting zoo: a fun fair freebie!

More fun freebies!  Riding on tractors.  My boys want to do this EVERY year.  Apparently, this doesn’t get old…at least no for little boys.

Family ride on the Ferris Wheel.  I love riding the Ferris Wheel…it always makes think of riding it with Jody at the Texas State Fair when we were “just friends” in that strange “I like you and am pretty sure you like me” stage but hadn’t had a first date yet.  We had gone to the State Fair with friends but they all conveniently didn’t want to ride with us. =)

Fair rides for the boys!

The joy that they experience on these rides is hilarious.  It is a full body experience of joy. 

Cowboy Up!  We never just go to the fair.  The rodeo is a must for our family.

Yes, we are THAT family that kept our little ones out until 11pm…

on a school night.  And fed them too much candy.  Tsk. Tsk.

The night was capped off with a funnel cake.  Those are some sleepy-eyed boys who of course feel fast asleep on the ride back home.  We carried them inside and dumped them into bed.  We were exhausted but it comes once a year and it was worth it….made extra special because we didn’t think we would be here at this time of year to attend the fair.  We tried to just enjoy the  cool night instead of being disappointed that we were still in Texas instead of Haiti.