After our visit with Heather the OB/GYN, we were off to experience the local culture in Berlin, Ohio.  There wasn’t really a whole lot in this little town except for some farmers and the occasional Amish cart and horse. But we needed a place to rest our heads, and they had a Wal-mart with a parking lot.

In our planning for the trip, we found out that the Holmes County fair just happened to be going on down the street.  I really couldn’t think of a better way to see the people of Berlin than to do some people watching at the local county fair.  And let me just tell you, it didn’t disappoint.

As we drove in, Ken was feeling really gutsy and actually drove the RV (with the Saturn in tow) into the field right up to the fair.  Even the parking attendants were impressed.  Edie was beside herself as she spotted the ferris wheel in the distance, and Roark was oblivious to all the exciting, blinking lights that awaited his staring eyes.

Roark waiting on his sister to finish riding the merry go round

Roark watching the lights & waiting on his sister to finish riding the merry go round

As we walked up Edie must have asked me ten times how long we were going to stay at this wonderful place.

“A long, long time, Mommy?”

“Long enough to do everything we want to do, I promise.”

“Are we going to sleep here?”

The Holmes County fair must have consulted the people of Disney on how to separate people with their money because they had a knack.  We bought Edie the unlimited wristband under the guise that she could ride any ride, only to find out that half the rides required actual money at their entrance.  Those sneaky bastards.  Most of these rides we would tell her that she was too little to get on and that explanation seemed to suffice, but not the pony rides.

Waiting for the ride to start

Waiting for the ride to start

Earlier when she had asked what we were going to do at a fair, I told her the two things we were definitely going to do was see a blue ribbon pig and ride a pony.  I’d never been to county fair, but I felt sure that those were things you did there.  So we paid extra for the pony ride, and she amused us by waving every time she went by with a huge smile.

We did, in fact, see that blue ribbon pig, along with every other farm animal imaginable including a random camel.  Edie got to get close enough to touch Wilbur, and he really was “some pig.”  We even saw a cow getting his hair dried at what I can only assume was a cow salon.   And my favorite part was when we stumbled upon the alpacas.  You might not know this about me, but I LOVE alpacas.  I think their very existence is proof that God has a sense of humor, and they are even crazier looking up close.

I witnessed my first tractor pull competition.  The most exciting part was when this toothless, overweight woman with a bandana on her head yelled at Ken for standing in the way of her view of the tractors.  I felt pretty sure he could take her, but like a gentleman, he walked away.  Both Jesus and Rhett Butler would have been proud.

No county fair would be complete without eating a funnel cake for dinner.  On a side note, French donuts and funnel cakes are NOT the same thing even though they look similar.  One is doughy, deep-fried goodness, while the other tastes like butt.  This lesson cost me $7 to learn the difference, and I am passing it on to you for free.  This just further proves my point that the carnies are sneaky when it comes to swindling you, and next time, I will be better prepared.

Our evening ended with everyone exhausted and falling into bed.  As Edie was getting tucked in, she told me over and over again that I was the best mommy in the whole world.  I hope she remembers that when we get home and I don’t let her eat funnel cakes for dinner.