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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Everyday Life, Fall, Shay ·

Life isn’t always Fair


The State Fair of Texas is a big deal.  I mean, really, really big deal.  I’m not one of those “everything is bigger and better in Texas” kind of Texans.  I rarely even acknowledge my roots here (and feel more at home in cities like Boston where they eat clam chowder and get actual foliage) BUT I will challenge you that our state fair totally trumps any state fair your state has.  It simply is bigger and better :).
If you’ve read this blog before, you know that my family (like all Texas families) plan their fall around a trip to the State Fair.  I’ve blogged before that for me personally, the Fair is a little marker in my life that has represented several really important things.  
For years and years, my Grandmother told the story of how she and my Granddaddy went to the Fair in early October 1956 when she was 9 months pregnant.  They sat down on a bench and looked at each other and thought, “Wow!  Next year, when we come, we’re going to have a baby at the Fair!”.  
The next October rolled around, they sat down on the same bench, looked at each other…and they had two babies.  My uncle (born October 1956) and my mom (born September 1957).  She said they just sat there in disbelief :).
Well…I have my own personal Fair story too.  In October 2007, I was standing in line at the fair getting my food when my cell phone rang and it was my fertility doctor informing me that my 4th IUI had failed.  Nothing like standing in line for onion rings when you hear that once again, you aren’t pregnant.  I ate my sorrows in fried food that night.
October 2008 rolled around and I had a beautiful little miracle baby who was just about 4 weeks old.
October 2009 rolled around and I had a 12 month old and was 7 months pregnant.
Every year, the Fair just keeps getting better.  My prayer is that October 2014 will roll around and we’ll be a family of five.
All of our trips to the Fair.  Click here for 2010, here for 2011 and here for 2012.

On Tuesday night, we continued our State Fair of Texas tradition and headed out…in the rain.  It was raining, it was cold, but it was the last week of the Fair and we had been promising the kids that was the day we were going…so we went.  And we had a BLAST!

We arrived at Big Tex ready for our fun evening!

First stop, the car show…because for some reason, looking at a bunch of cars at the Fair is just the fun thing to do.

Cars!

My loves 🙂

Time for dinner!

The kids insisted on eating at the counter :).

Smith took down his Fletcher’s Corny Dog!  Took it DOWN!
Jumping in puddles is so much fun!

I love my sweet girl 🙂

The petting zoo is always our favorite part!

Time for Round 2 of eating!  (Because when you’re at the Fair…eating is the priority!)

He seriously asked for another Corny Dog.  Seriously.  And Kensington asked for a Push Up Pop.  I was in line deciding on what I was going to eat for Round 2 when Smith said he just couldn’t finish his second corny dog…so, I ate the other half :).  Life is good.

That’s 3 fingers people!  Round 3!

 Sweet girl loves waffles and strawberries, so this choice was a given.  Smith went for the Popsicle this time :).

Love!

My Round 3…Fried Pumpkin Pie.  I repeat, Fried Pumpkin Pie!  It was unbelievably good!!  At the Fair, they fry everything from beer to spaghetti and meatballs to PB&J to red velvet cupcakes…EVERYTHING.  But this year, Fried Pumpkin Pie was new…and I devoured it!

We finished off our night on the Midway with games!

Their grand prizes!

And of course, we ended on the carousel.
 Six years later…I know now that life isn’t always fair…but God always works it out.  Perfectly. 

And because I love you and know what you’re about to ask me…I’m just going to tell you now…

Click here for my scarf 🙂
Click here for my Hunter Wellington Rain Boots (the best money EVER spent!)
Click here for Smith’s rain boots
Click here for Kensington’s Hunter Rain Boots
And my rain coat was from last season and no longer available…but here are some other cute options for you (because EVERYONE needs a good rain coat!)
Tweed Panel Trench, Oxblood Coat, Black Trench, Orange Jacket

And tomorrow…

It’s my Halloween edition!  My co-host knows how to make everything spooktacular!

And if you missed me this morning on Good Morning Texas, you can find all of the recipes I shared by clicking here.

Have a great Thursday!

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Comments

  1. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    LOVED this post! All of the pics were great, I think it's so much fun to hear about what you ate, but my favorite part was reading your "fair story" again. No matter how many times I hear it, it doesn't get old. And yes! Prayers that sweet Ashby will be taking a corny dog DOWN next year too!!!!

  2. Carmen says

    love, love how much fun you had despite the rain!! your fair story is a beautiful testimony! 🙂

  3. Julie C. says

    I absolutely loved this post!! I loved hearing not only your fair story, but your family's too. Your family sure likes to have babies back to back, huh 😉 And of course I also loved hearing about the foods you ate!!! That fried pumpkin pie sounds delicious & right up my alley!!!!

  4. Anonymous says

    Hi Shay,
    Love your blog and the pictures of your sweet family! I've lived in Texas my whole life (and I'm a grandma!)and I've never been to the fair and don't know any of my friends or family who have ever gone. I'm from the Houston area and I think the fair is mostly popular if you live around the Dallas area. I didn't even realize Texas had a state fair till I was a teenager cause I'd never heard about it! Looks like fun though!

  5. Narci D says

    I am so impressed by your 3 rounds of food! And, I love that you love the fair! Such a sweet tradition! Praying that sweet Ashby is here to celebrate it with you next year! 🙂

  8. Kim says

    I don't live in Texas and have access to the Good Morning Texas show. Is there a way to watch your segment on a video clip? I have tried both times and been unable to find it.

    Thanks.

    Kim

  9. Katie says

    Great post! I also pray you have a family of five next year. But what I really want to know…what did your husband eat?! 🙂

  10. Liz/happymommy says

    I love that you know your readers so well and know what they are going to ask about, especially when it comes to your outfits!!!
    The fair looks like fun and seriously that picture of Andrew and Smith in the car is the best picture….daddy's and their kiddos just melt my heart!!!

  12. klmoore23 says

    Loved this post-looks just like our annual Calgary Stampede. This year the big eat was deep-fried butter. Couldn't bring myself to try it, but deep fried pumpkin pie would've been tasty! If you ever get the chance bring your family up here to Calgary-it'll be just like the Texas State fair with a Canadian twist. Enjoy your day! 🙂

  14. Diana says

    2 quick questions – what color are you boots? I'm finally buying a pair. And second do you think the boots are travel friendly? I'm traveling to Turkey and am debating whether the boots would be good walking boots. Appreciate your help.

  16. Tammy Nelson says

    Love all the photos from your trip to the FAIR !!!! What a fun time you all had 🙂
    Love your jacket and scarf !! The kids are always dressed adorable.

  17. Aubrey says

    I've called several states "home," and I think all fairs are are totally awesome in their own way. I wonder if the State Fair of Texas will be considered our "home" fair when we eventually cross the Atlantic for keeps??

  18. Mix and Match Mama says

    I have lots of answers to your questions! First, my Hunter boots are High Gloss Black and High Gloss Wisteria. I have traveled with them before and they're GREAT walking shoes!! Wear them on the flight so that they don't weigh down your suitcase! We bought our peppermint oil at Sprouts but places like Whole Foods sells it too.

  21. Lauren says

    Love your fair stories!! I didn't realize that Kensington and Smith were so close! I have a 3 year old, an 11 month old and am 5 months pregnant….we are thrilled but I am a bit nervous. My 3 year old girl is really helpful, so its just the two CLOSE babies that I am really nervous about! Knowing that you and your grandmother have both survived back to back babies helps remind me that I will be just fine!! Send tips…and sanity pills 🙂

  23. Anonymous says

    Kensington's Wellies are so cute and I could definitely afford them for myself (a fully grown adult who isn't growing anymore), but wondering how often you buy "spendier" items for your kids who you know will outgrow them in no time? How many sizes up do you buy in anticipation?

  26. Maryellen says

    I just returned from the Fair. My Hubby treated me to a birthday trip and I said I want to go to the Texas State Fair.
    It was such fun and YES without a doubt the BIGGEST. I'm from New Jersey and ours is so much smaller. We had a great time and you folks from Texas are gracious and kind . . .

  27. Courtney says

    Hey Shay,

    Loved your GMT clips. Just wondering if you had the chance to talk to Melissa Rycroft behind the scenes. I loved her on the Bachelor & DWTS. So cool that she came out to see you during your segment! Good job on the show! You seemed so comfortable on camera.