The Brooklyn Fair is the oldest agricultural fair in the country. But don’t worry, besides the adorable little fair museum building everything else was the true country fair experience. I don’t really mean that as a compliment, but it still makes me happy. People watching and deep fried stuff are two of my guiltiest guilty pleasures.

Linc was a champ, hanging out on my back almost the whole time. The kids liked the animals and teh food but they mostly wanted to go on rides. Since I am the meanest mother in the world I only bought a book of tickets, not wristbands, so they each got to go on a few things. As far as carnival rides go, everything seemed really sturdy – sturdy enough that I actually went on one of the high swinging things with Evan. No one died!

The Brooklyn Fair was the warm up for September, which will be absolutely full of fairs, food and long fun days with a baby on my back.

The boys at pizza and nachos…

The girls (and the baby) had clam strips.

We don’t know that girl. Evan just asked her to pour corn on his head. Of course she said yes.

Caroline was really good at milking the fake cow.

Those are apparently the biggest whoopie pies in the state. Country? World? I just remember they were very proud of them.

She would have watched the horses all night.

I love love love this picture. I’m going to enter it in next year’s fair’s photography category.

The big kids wanted to go on the “roller coaster”. Caroline was technically too short to go without a responsible person, but Evan was good enough for the guy working the gate.

She did NOT love the roller coaster. Poor child.

New York City twice in one week! Which means on the non-busy days we were extremely non-busy.

Sunday:

Still not sure about this car wash thing.

1 kid + 1 pair of scissors = 30 minutes of silence for me

Unimpressed with Brooklyn

Monday:

It turns out the only reason my fridge looked full was all the expired stuff.

I have no idea who this is, but she looks SO uncomfortable.

Still recovering from Sunday

Tuesday:

6:22 am and a full bed

Millions of peaches, peaches for me

Also still tired from Sunday.

Wednesday:

Hello New York

Gary works for Disney, so he was REALLY enthusiastic, even at 8 am.

Caroline always reads the menu, even though she ALWAYS orders a cheeseburger.

Thursday:

I don’t even know HOW the cereal ends up all the way over here when she sits on the OTHER side of the bowl.

Twinsssssss

Perfect park day

Friday:

Helping me get the oil changed on the van

I tried to talk the kids into this one, but they picked Peter Pan. Again.

Writing my last Arrested Development review for TVFanatic while the kids watch Justice League.

Saturday:

Holding hands

I swear I didn’t spike his sandwich with sleeping pills

Happy Girl

  This week is vacaaaaaaation! And so is next week!  There’s going to be so much beaching and swimming and laking and eating and sleeping. I’m doing it on my own with the kids again, but we’ll have a large assortment of fake aunts and uncles plus a real aunt and uncle plus my parents at various points to help keep Evan and Caroline alive, so hopefully I can manage. Expect the blog to be 90% photos until we get back.

The kids and I trekked down to Brooklyn on Sunday for the A Child Grows in Brooklyn Baby Expo and had a really great time. I was invited as a blogger, which meant I got a cool “Press” badge and a chance to hang out in the media lounge while the kids made crafts and Caroline got a sparkle tattoo. The gingers did GREAT for a couple of preschoolers in a very hot, very crowded, slightly boring-for-kids event. Well, besides all the times Caroline disappeared. At least the place was totally full of moms and moms-to-be who were happy to point her back in my direction.

Since I was visiting from out of town, not everything at the Expo applied to me (Although it did make me super jealous of how much stuff is in/close to Brooklyn – why aren’t there any rock & roll toddler party locations in Connecticut?!)  but I still got to check out some super cool brands, learn some new stuff and came home with a sweet swag bag. Caroline ate more than her share of Ella’s Kitchen pouches and Sabra hummus and cried because she only got two samples of Happy Baby crisps. In case you couldn’t tell, the food was her favorite part.

Thanks so much to Melissa for inviting me and the ladies at A Child Grows in Brooklyn for putting such a fantastic day together! If you’re a parent in the NYC area I’d recommend signing up for their newsletter so you don’t miss next year’s event – besides the great information, I saw probably a hundred people leave with awesome strollers, playpens, bikes, high chairs and more. Seriously, the raffles and giveaways were bananas.

The expo was in the International School of Brooklyn. I’m suffering from a severe case of school envy.

Food by Fairway. Another thing I wish we had in Connecticut.

Sparkle tattoo courtesy of Dazzle Divaz, who were so sweet with her.

Caroline’s new friend is from Yellow Sneaker Productions. Like I’ve said, she’s not afraid of anything, from the balloon-animal making clowns to hand puppets.

I spy with my little eye…a book I already love!

The guy from Dapple Baby really knew his stuff, and I’m excited to start washing Evan’s disgusting milk cups in their Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid.

How adorable are these personalized prints from StrangeBirdy Studios?? The cutest.

Kidville had a great child play area with sitters available so I could attend the photography seminar without any little people climbing on me.

Sensory tubs: not for the faint of heart.  THE MESS, MY GOD, THE MESS.

After the expo we met up with my friend Sara, who showed us around. We walked doooown Park Slope to a very busy playground, found some Italian Ice and then walked back uuuuup Park Slope. The gingers walked the whole thing (besides a few short piggy back rides) and slept in the car the whole way home. They both went to be at 6 pm on Monday too. Good job Brooklyn!

Disclosure: I was given free passes & the media swag bag as a thank you for attending, but wasn’t required to post/share anything. I just had a really great time!