2015 Plano Balloon Festival

We were going to go to the Balloon Festival in the morning this year and see all the balloons launch.  (I was not looking forward to how early we would need to get up!)  But, it was raining so the launch was cancelled.  (I wasn't totally devastated.)

Max and I went to the library instead and then hit up the farmer's market for the first time this year.  He was really excited to be able to use his umbrella.

As a treat, we also brought home doughnuts.

The weather cleared up so we went to the festival that night.  I was happy to go at night since we would be able to see the "glow".

Unfortunately the wind was strong so only a couple balloons launched.  Maybe one of these years we will actually see a bunch of balloons in the sky versus on the ground.

Watching the balloon in the sky while they inflated a balloon on the ground.

I think it's super cool to see the balloons inflate

Ahhhhh the joys of having a pestering little sister

Wandering around because of course she wants to walk by herself

She loved the corn dog

It was warm but not crazy unbearable

Maxwell had a lot more fun with the crafts this year.  He enjoyed coloring...

popping bubble wrap (what a cool idea for a kids activity - it was a hit!)

While Max did the activities, Emmalyn was happily entertained watching the kittens from the pet adoption place

Coloring his own hot air balloon

The field of balloons during the glow

Family pic - we love the glow, especially the twinkle burn

Maxwell sharing his ice cream

Emmalyn's dress was perfect for the event because there were hot air balloons on it

Getting every last drop

Corn dogs...ice cream... what else do you need?  a funnel cake!

Max said he wanted to, so we stayed for the fireworks

It's a horrible picture but you can see how incredibly happy Maxwell is with the fireworks on the far right side of the pic

He's like a new kid - - he loved it!  I think we may have finally turned the corner on the "scared of fireworks" phase!

Why do we go to the State Fair?

This past week (as I mentioned on the previous blog) , Peter and I had tickets to the last show of the season for musicals at the Fair Park.  It was West Side Story and I was so excited to see it.  I love West Side Story!  Well, one of the benefits for seeing the musical that happens during the Texas State Fair is that you get admission to the fair with your ticket. 

Peter and I aren't big on riding the rides or playing the games, so we spend our time walking around and eating the food.  We only had a little more than a half hour until we wanted to head into our seats at the musical so we didn't spend much time walking around. 

We tried the food that won the award for best taste - "Buffalo Chicken Wrapped in a Flapjack".  It was a buffalo chicken strip, dipped in pancake batter, then rolled in jalapeno bread crumbs, deep fried, and served with a side of syrup.  I know it sounds scary but I actually thought it might be good.  It was not.  We did get to see a little of the parade while we were eating though, so that was good.

Peter trying the chicken strip

 After that we had some corn on the cob - it was okay but not as good as the corn on the cob at Lagoon in Pioneer Village by the Log Ride.  That is my very favorite corn!

 I forgot to take a picture of it, but I wanted something sweet so we tried "chocolate covered strawberry waffle balls".  They were pretty good.  But my standards were pretty low at this point.  Peter wrapped up our time at the fair with an ice cream treat. 

 So I have decided (and hopefully will remember this next year) that going to the fair is really not worth our time and money.  We don't do rides, we don't do the games, none of the car shows/ other displays interest me, and the food really is not worth it (the air just stinks of fried food).  That doesn't leave much left. 

This is how excited Peter was to see the musical.  :)

I really enjoy West Side Story.  It was one of the musicals that I participated in during high school.  This was not the greatest version ever.  It dragged, the Sharks spoke/sang in Spanish nearly the entire time so some of the really great lines were missed.  "Maria" was a little weak, and I didn't like how they ended the show after Tony gets shot.  In fact, after the show, Peter said that he would have rather have been home holding Max and I agreed. 

Regardless, I must say "Thank You" to Peter for one of the best Christmas presents I can remember getting from him. I have loved having season tickets to the Dallas Summer Musicals for 2011.  He was really generous with this present and got us good seats.  I know that musicals are more my thing than his thing so it's awesome that he gave me a present that meant he would have to sit through 5 musicals this year.  They were great dates - Love you, Peter!