Fair Time!

I know this post is late in coming, but I just had to share it!  My hometown fair is a big deal.  It was always one of my favorite times of year!  I still get giddy when I think about rounding the curve in the old highway and seeing the double ferris wheel for the first time!  Giddy, I tell you!!!  Since we moved to Germany in 2000, I have not been to our fair.  It has always begun on Labor Day weekend with the rides opening on that Monday night.  It was also the night of the pageants!!  I have always wanted to take Jemma, but schools in Michigan started on Tuesday after Labor Day so there was no way to go and do it.  This was our year though and we took off to the fair!

The fair is totally new and ran by another company.  The actual pictures of the fair rides and booths were taken by a very talented photographer named Denise Wherley from my hometown.  Since someone forgot to take the camera that night... (how do I even call myself a blogger when I forget the camera at the house?!?)  she generously shared her pictures with me!   There was no ferris wheel to greet me as we rounded the curve, but I did see some lights.  I hate to say it, but I needed that double ferris wheel!!!  We actually had to wear jackets!  It was nice and crisp outside so perfect fair weather.  We sat down at one of the local booths for  a burger and ran into a dear friend that I cheered with in high school who had her two little ones with her.  Her son is 6 and daughter is 4 so we buddied up and had the best time!  There wasn't a lot of people there so we bought the kids the "all you want to ride" bracelet and ride they did!  They would get off one ride and just walk around and get on it again.  The little girls hit it off and it was perfect!!!

Jennifer and me at our 20 year reunion

Our girls one year later!  Jemma is only two months older than Ellie!  I think Jem is going to get her height from her dad!

  

The next day, I got to reunite with three of my dearest friends.  Chris, who I ran the 5k with, and I have always known each other.  Our grandmothers were best friends.  Dreama was our other best friend in high school and I hadn't seen her in 7 or 8 years.  I can't even tell you all the scraps we got ourselves into!  Love them!!!

Me, Dreama and Chris

Then came Julie!!!  Julie and I lived behind each other growing up in Nashville.  All that separated our yards was a creek.  We went to the same private school, but didn't really get to be friends until 6th grade.  Then we were inseparable.  It was funny because we ran with different groups at our school, but after school we were always together!  She came to Tennessee Tech for a semester and we roomed together.  I must add that was one of the best semesters EVER!!!!   We  got ourselves into so much trouble had so much fun!!  I haven't seen Julie in 10 years and she came up with her 10 year old daughter  and 8 year old son.

Julie's sweet babies!

We all ate met up and the kids were going to ride rides, but Jemma was just tired and hot.  She was going to ride the bumper cars with Sydney, but the man wouldn't let her on without an adult.  I couldn't see any of this and the next thing I know there is a squalling child by me.  She was beside herself.  I think she completely got her feelings hurt and she was done.  We went to a picnic table under some shade and she fell asleep while I called Daddy for backup.

We then ate at a booth, saw my Fairest of the Fair picture in a big display case, and rode rides!  I was so happy to have all these dear people with me and couldn't have asked for more!

Here I am in all my Fair queen glory!!  The BHW always starts humming "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen when my pageant or cheering days come up!!! 

This is too funny!  I was only 14 in this picture!  This is actually my Fairest Princess picture in the Queen display case.  My parents thought this was the right one and sent it in.  I am now searching for the Queen picture so it can be displayed!!!
Just imagine bigger hair and same color dress covered in sequins!!!  

See the fish I won for Jemma?  Oh yeah, I can still shoot a squirt gun!!!

It was the perfect weekend!  If I never go to my hometown fair again, I am okay because it couldn't have been a better time!