Anticipation

Our annual trip to the Arkansas State Fair is this Saturday, October 18th. I've been anticipating it for months. Last year we did not attend because dad had a heart attack and was in the hospital at the time. I have attended the Arkansas State Fair since I was born....well, almost! I dug around and found these photos from the 1984 Arkansas State Fair....I was 3 1/2 and Stacy was 5. As you can see, we attend "rain or shine"!

Despite my young age, I do remember this particular trip. Mostly because of the red raincoats. That sticks out in my mind the most...they had wooden buttons. And of course the fun rides!

Story of my life...Stacy in the driver's seat!

Dad's always taken his FFA groups to the fair and rodeo. The night before the fair I couldn't sleep, I was too anxious for morning to come! In the wee hours of the morning we would ride over to the school with dad so he could load the kids on the bus. Most of the time we would pick mom up at the bank as we came through town headed for Little Rock. Oh the stories I could share, but I'll spare you! :)

One highlight of the trip was stopping at McDonald's in Cabot for breakfast on the way down. It was pretty much the only time we ever ate at McDonald's! I remember one time I caught a few girls smoking in the bathroom!!

Another treat was candy! Dad always brought a sack full of candy and would throw it to the kids...peanut butter logs, bubble gum, tootsie rolls...yummy!

And of course no fair trip is complete without a rodeo. I've seen many a country star at the State Fair Rodeo...Charlie Daniels, Tanya Tucker....pardon, I don't mean to name drop. ha!

I hope to carry this tradition on for Raegen. I'll definitely post pics of our trip and maybe I can dig up some more "past fair pics". :)