Iowa State Fair 2010

Dave, Arabella, and I went to the Iowa State Fair yesterday. Arabella was so excited. We did the "park and ride" because it was cheaper than parking close to the fair. Arabella was so excited that she got to ride on a bus. As we got off the bus, Bella told me the bus was her favorite part of the fair (we hadn't even gotten in the gates yet)!

Dave and Arabella at the Iowa State Fair

This is my very favorite part of the Iowa State Fair... Monkey Tails! They are a frozen banana on a stick dipped in chocolate - so delicious! I finally got to share this love with Arabella... she enjoyed it, but later told me she only liked the chocolate part.

Our friend's daughter Caitlynn was working at the fair and she hooked Bella up with a free ride on the Giant Slide.


Bella LOVED it!

We went to the Baby Animal Exhibit. Bella loved seeing all the tiny baby farm animals. She even got to pet the calves and goats. She thought the pigs were cute, "but really stinky!"
Then, we were walking by a big cow pen and realized that the cow was giving birth, right then and there! So we stayed and watched. Bella (and Dave and I) were amazed! It was so cool. Definitely a learning experience for us all. Arabella still hasn't stopped talking about it.

WARNING: These pictures are graphic!

The calf's hooves were sticking out as we walked by. The vet had to come into the pen and help pull the cow out. In order to do this, he had to reach his arm in ("he put his arm in the cow's bum, Mommy!") and hook a rope onto the hooves and pull the calf out.

Here's the calf right after birth. "He's all yucky Mommy! Ewww!"

The mama cow cleaning off her baby. "The mommy cow is telling her baby a story!"