I say this every single year, but the State Fair of Texas is a big deal not only around our area, but in our family. It’s personally a big deal for us because my grandparents have been going since the early 1950s. YES! That’s a long time to keep up the tradition, right? I’ve told this story a million times, but it’s one of my faves. My grandmother said that one year, she and my grandfather sat on a bench at the fair and talked about how weird and crazy it would be to go back the very next year with a baby (she was pregnant at the time). Twelve months later, they went back to the fair and sat on the same bench. With two babies. She said they just kind of looked at each other like “what in the world happened?!?”. Hahahaha! #irishtwins My mom and her brother are less than 11 months a part.
Needless to say, we always mark our calendar and pick a date to head to the fair. This year, all sorts of crazy good stuff aligned because…1. we had the first cool day in North Texas of the season (it was like 62 degrees!!) and 2. NO ONE WAS THERE! It was the least crowded I’ve ever in my life seen the fair. That my friends, was a crazy good combination!
We always like to head to the fair in the late afternoon and stay until nighttime. Here we are! We arrived right around 2:45 ready to go!
Us with Big Tex. It’s so hard to take a pic with the bright sun 😉 .
We always love to visit the car shows and check them all out.
Love this girl so much!! Look at me, wearing that same sweater again 😉 . It’s so cozy!!
I see my future here 😉 .
This boy! He’s so sweet to his mama!!
(Psssst: my super comfy booties are HERE.)
I caught Madeley dancing to the live music!
Here is one food stand…I just wanted you to see some of the amazing “fried” options…
…Fried Lemonade, anyone? 😉
Every year, we walk through the log house.
Here we are checking out more live music!
Inside the little petting zoo with my crew!
We looked at the horses too!
And it wouldn’t be the State Fair of Texas without a Fletcher’s Corny Dog!
Andrew and I each had BBQ instead. This is my chopped brisket sandwich plate. IT WAS DELICIOUS!
She loved her corny dog! All four kiddos picked that for their dinner. And then…
…the girls wanted cotton candy while this guy wanted…
…a nutty bar!
This year, my kids were really interested in spending the bulk of our time riding rides and playing games. First stop on the midway…
…a fun house!
Love these three!
These three in line to ride this “tornado”.
See them?
Madeley couldn’t stand to watch 😉 .
Around they went!
Look at Ashby able to ride the slide by herself!!
She had the BEST time! She rode all the rides this year!!
The Shull Six 🙂 .
Smith won her a big pink unicorn 🙂 .
I was impressed!
He won so many prizes…
…for his sisters 🙂 .
#winning
The boys wanted to ride go carts!
Friends, we played so many games! Ha!
After allllll the games, we decided to ride the BIG Ferris wheel.
Here we are inside our little cart about to go around.
It’s huge! Look at the pretty view of downtown Dallas!
We pretty much always end our night walking through the reptile show. Clearly, we brought home the loot this year!
We had a FAIR-y good day!
Traditions are a big part of our family and this is one of our very favorites! xo
To see my previous Fair posts click below…
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Happy Monday!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I think it’s so lovely how you’re carrying on your family’s tradition of visiting the state fair! It looks really fun! 🙂
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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taylor says
I love your Louis Vuitton!!
Alexis deZayas says
What a fun tradition!! You can’t beat good weather and the fair!
Amy Heinl says
What great fun and how sweet of Smith to win his sister’s prizes. That unicorn is almost as big as Ashby
Erika Slaughtwr says
Eeeekkkk!!! One of my very favorite places! Loved all your fair pictures!
Kassy says
My family & I love going to our state fair too! You had perfect weather to enjoy the day with your loved ones. Have a great week.
Sheaffer Sims says
Perfect weather AND NOT CROWDED? Sounds like I should have gone to the fair with y’all! I might have enjoyed it!
Karleigh says
Where are your shoes from? You may have linked them before but I can’t tell if they’re wedges or booties with a heel!
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re the booties without the heels!
JulieL says
My family has Irish triplets…I was born in February and my brother and sister who are twins were born in December of the same year!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Your mama is my new hero 😉 .
Narci says
Well, that looks like a ton of fun!!! Games, rides, and delicious food: the perfect fair day!
Elspeth Mizner says
Love reading all your fair posts! What a fun day!
Marcela Klassen says
I love this! I remember from previous posts how at the state fair you you got the call several years ago that you weren’t pregnant and how awful that was for you. God has brought your little family such a long way! So happy for you Shay! Xo
Bec says
When I see the unicorn, all I think of is that girl from despicable me: ‘it’s so fluffly, I am gonna die!!!’ 🙂
Amy says
Awww so many great pictures but the thing that stuck with me the most was Smith’s little heart. That picture of Ashby and her pink unicorn with her big brother is my favorite. That and the food….can’t beat fair food!!
Neera says
We went to the fair for the first time yesterday and had a blast! Love all your pics!! ?
Julie says
It is heart-melting that Smith won prizes for his sisters-what a sweetheart! I grew up going to the Minnesota State Fair. So much fun!
Jennie Miller says
Reading your blog makes me happy 🙂
Jenna says
Look how much fun you all had! So many great memories for your family. I love this time of year and how many traditions and special times we have as a family. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Keisha Dawson says
It looks like such a fun day! I hope to make it down to the fair one of these years before my boys are grown!
Deena says
I think we went the same day but earlier. It looks like you had a great time! Did you go to the birthing barn? We saw a newborn goat, chicks hatching, and a piglet being born. So sweet of Smith to give his prizes to his sisters.
Mix and Match Mama says
We did!!! Those little piglets were so cute!!! And the chicks 🙂 .
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says
The kids always look like they have so much fun. It seems like an epic state fair! Happy you had some cooler weather to wear that cute sweater again!
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
Jill Koch says
I always love reading about your traditions. As a new mom it makes me want to make sure I’m creating some for my family as well. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
https://jillcomesclean.com/
Rebecca Jo says
Smith winning for his sisters is the cutest thing I’ve seen! He is looking SO GROWN lately.
lilly says
loveee sweet ashby!!! does she ” all i want for christmas is my two front teeth”?? haha!
Lauren says
We took our crew to a pumpkin patch this weekend and my husband and I had a moment like your grandparents. Last time we went we had one kid and were in the adoption process. This year we had 4 kiddos total. We adopted twins and found out I was pregnant on the trip home, so they are 7 months apart!
Mix and Match Mama says
No way?! Congratulations!! That is so wonderful!!!
Cheryl (angelbug56) says
Such a great day for all of you! That unicorn is almost as big as she it…lol. God has blessed all of you and all of us with you! Thank you
Carly says
Is Smith THE BEST AND SWEETEST big brother ever? Yes, I think so. Glad the Shulls had the best time!
Leanne Gilchrist says
SMITH!!! What a sweetie he is. We always go to our County Fair every year, from the time our three oldest could walk. The past three years, we’ve gone to see our daughter, who is almost 20, show her horses in dressage, and that’s an added bonus. State fairs are awesome and wonderful and amazing.
Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says
Sweet Smith! What a great big brother!!
That Inspired Chick
Liz Thorson says
What a fun afternoon/evening! Everyone looks so happy! Aww, Smith! What a kind, generous, athletic brother!❤️
Melissa says
I just noticed that Rachel Hollis follows you. Have you thought about recording a call with her for your next girlfriend call? You both have so much to share about adoption and waiting to hear from God.
Francesca says
How sweet of Smith to share his prizes with his sisters!!
Amanda Wilson says
Smith has grown up so much the past few months!! He just seems so much older lately!!! Love the pics I might have to put the fair on my bucket list!!
Constance says
Ashby is so brave!!!
JOCIE says
SMITH IS THE SWEETEST BOY IN THE WORLD
Kacy Mah says
It was so sweet of Smith to win all those prizes for his sisters!!!
Shan Rocha says
Looks like so much fun!! Love your family traditions, I hope they carry on even when your kids are in their twenties… thirties… maybe with a couple of their own kiddos then ? they grow so quick don’t they ? Smith is so sweet to his sisters ❤️ Can’t wait to see what they chose for Halloween costumes this year (so random lol)
Angela Ellingson says
So much fun! That last picture is incredible!
cassie // hi sugarplum says
Such an amazing day!!! We’re trying to get our Fair fix in…if it will ever stop raining!!
Amanda says
I missed seeing your parents and Sean and Catherine (and kids) in this year’s Oktoberfest and State Fair pics!
Mix and Match Mama says
We’ve all been traveling so much! Good grief! We cannot stay put!