Boulder County Fair

The fair is in town this week, which James has literally been looking forward to ever since it left town last August. Since we live so close to the fair grounds, we went two different times this week. Kelly and I headed over with the kids earlier this week to check out the animals, and we went back tonight with the dads to do the games, rides and rodeo portion of the fair. 

Making friends with a goat.

Last year at the fair, James won a teddy bear that he named Kelly (he is quick to tell you that it is a BOY bear) that is still one of his very favorite stuffed animals. He has been so excited to try to win something else at the fair this year. He checked out all the games and decided that the fishing for rubber duckies was the way to go this year.

 His beloved prize this year: a red race car. He is currently asleep clutching it.

To a 3 (almost 4) year old, getting to ride two carnie rides with 2 of your best friends is pretty much heaven. Check out his expressions in these!

Kelly and I headed home with the babies after the rides and left the dads and big boys to go to the rodeo.

 Checking out the bull riding and mutton bustin (James and Colin both claim they want to do it next year)

It was so much fun to see James come home tonight so excited about the fair. He already told me he can't wait to go back next year.

(This is a double post because I am too lazy to do it in two seperate posts.

James' other best buddy, Alec, has been in town and he has been dying to have him over to our house to play. Alec has lived in Chicago for a year and a half now, and James still talks about him on a regular basis and reconnects with him immediately when they do see each other. They play so well together and pick up right where they left off from the last time they saw each other. This was the first visit where we got to meet Alec's baby brother Charlie who is an absolute doll. He might have Macky beat for World's happiest baby. How cute are these brothers?!

After tipping over. It isn't so easy to hold up those chubby baby brothers!

After an awesome dinner of make your own grilled pizzas, Tim loaded up the big boys for a bike ride to Dairy Queen.

James was sad to say goodbye to Alec when they left, but we will hopefully see them again soon! He kept asking me, "Is Alec back in Chicago yet? When can we see him again?" the rest of this week. What a lucky kiddo to have such wonderful friends at such a young age!