Barn Festival

Madeline has been to our local Barn Festival every single year that she has been around. I think she likes it - I hope she likes it!
Last year we did all of the rides, including the wagon ride and she did the barrel train, which was a shockingly long ride. Mommy and Daddy, Grammy and Poppy both stood (somewhat nervously) on the sidelines as our little pint rode around... and around... and around... the track.

"Okay... bring her back now...."

"Any time now.... bring her back...."

The longest barrel ride EVER.

We plan on going again next year. And probably the year after that since it is pretty much a fall tradition. Nevermind the fact that I see umpteen people that I went to school with... and umpteen people that I have done stories on... I kinda just ignore it and try to have fun. It's fun for Madeline and it is a wholesome, quality festival that I kinda dig because she actually learns stuff each time she goes.

This year she learned how people washed clothes on a washboard and what it is like to pump water using an old-fashioned hand pump. That is pretty cool for a kid to see and do.

Checking out the animals in the big barn with daddy

She got to eat a hotdog in the hot, hot food barn. She got to see the petting zoo. And for the past couple years, she gets a book at the Osborn (or is it Uzborn?) book booth. They are overpriced, ridiculously overpriced, books that we can't pass up.

(More fascinated with a bale of straw)

Water works

And of course, we always find some sort of el-cheapo toy at the flea market to haul home. Nine out of 10 times I go there hoping to find some gem for myself and instead walk away with a bag of goodies for Madeline. It's a mild disappointment, but worth the trip to see her smile and meander through a barn that I passed every day on the school bus. I always took it for granted, but I guess it is pretty awesome.

A bin of wheat to play in