What's summer without a county fair... or two?

That's right - we've been to two county fairs in the last week. That's not spoiling her, right? They were both lovely little local fairs - just the right size for a three year old. I forgot the camera for the first one, but the first picture is from that day. She really wanted to get her face painted, and it was the last thing we spotted while heading out the gate on our way home. Other highlights from that fair were spinning and winning a flashlight from a radio station, adorable piglets, a grape shaved ice, and tons of rides courtesy of half-price unlimited ride bracelets. Gotta love those, because ticket prices are outrageous. Hazel rode the tame kiddie rides first - carousel, motorcycles, 4x4's, and little roller coaster. Then, with me, she braved the fun house (ran into two plexiglass walls and loved the distorting mirrors), the spinning dragons (like covered teacups), gondola style ferris wheel and the tiltawhirl. The last two made me uncharacteristically queasy, but she was laughing aloud and fully enjoyed them for both of us. Isn't this the sweetest expression?
On to the second fair with my Aunt Elaine. Perfect weather, thin crowds, but still ridiculously priced rides. They had a super model train display; one train had a miniature camera mounted on the front, and we watched it chug by us on a tv screen. The display had really fun details, including a park with the smallest model train I've ever seen giving rides to the teeny plastic children. Hazel's favorite part was the "candy car" that delivered a treat down a chute to her waiting hands. Another shaved ice and winning a blow-up hammer by catching a plastic fish made Hazel's day complete. Oh... and lots of rides of course. Rides without pictures were the ones on which I joined her - giant slide, spinning strawberries (covered teacups) and a regular ferris wheel (no queasies for me this time, thanks goodness).

She's an old pro at the ponies now... these even trotted a bit.
Waiting patiently for other kids to join her on this cute barrel train, pulled by a tractor. It was free and a long ride. When they got back from their tour of the fairgrounds, Hazel said "I was far away from you," but she didn't mind a bit.

Once again, first on the ride and waiting for other kidlets to join her. Can't complain about the minimal crowds though.

Don't all fish swim up and down around in circles? This ride was very cute and swam quite fast!

Ready to launch her rocket ship.

This is a funny photo to end on. Hazel has always enjoyed waving to everyone as she rides the carousel, but when there are mirrors in the middle workings of the ride, she's much more interested in getting a glimpse of herself. She also looked up a bit of the time and watched the axle go round and round while she went up and down.