The Iowa State Fair (because Brian said we HAD to go)

I'm not really a huge fan of the Iowa State Fair (I don't really hate it; I just could do without it), but Brian insisted that we go and take Max with us. We went on a Tuesday evening and happened to get lucky because the weather was cool (I've been to many a state fair where the temperature was well over 100 degrees), and since it had rained all day the crowds were light. Max had fun people watching (although he had already been to the fair with Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Tom earlier in the week, so he was really a fair pro by this point) and, just as Brain predicted, Max LOVED the animal barns. Oh, and I was happy because this year I upgraded from a cup of cookies to a BUCKET of cookies. Yeah. That's right. And they were goooood.

His favorite thing was this particular pig. He thought the snorting noises were funny, and he really liked that the pig seemed to actually acknowledge his presence.


Taking a closer look at the pig.


The Pig. :)


Max, looking calm (and obviously cute) while waiting to be put back in the car on the way home. As always, my pictures are out of sequence.


Brian and Max getting ready to go down the big slide. (They're the ones standing next to the slide worker. Clearly they beat the crowd walking up the stairs!)


Going down the slide. Both Max and Brian were having neither a good or bad time at this point. Max was totally confused as to what was going on, and Brian was trying to stop from going the seemingly 497 miles per hour that he thought they were going.


Seconds after the first, big slide ride. Max is still confused. :)


We happened to see Heather's brother and sister-in-law right in front of the big slide, so we asked them to take a quick family picture for us. I'm impressed, because Max is actually sort of smiling. Usually he looks semi-distressed in our family pictures.


Brian disappeared to get food for several minutes, so I spent my time taking picture after picture of Max. This is one of those dozens. :)