Iowa State Fair 2014: Zip-Line-a-Doo-Dah Edition

Sunday was the last day of this year's Iowa State Fair, and Char was really excited to go back. We started the day with an egg on-a-stick. It's a healthy breakfast.

And we stuck our heads in things (again).

The girls also took their annual ride on the Sky Glider.

We went into the Varied Industries Building to see if the Rain Barrel people were running a sale, but the gals got distracted by the Heartland Greyhound Adoption's booth. If school wasn't just about to start, I think we might have fallen in love with more than just the corn dogs. This guy knew how to lean into you when you were petting him (very effective).

We also got to see the biggest rabbit, and although he wasn't up for adoption, he looked like he weighed more than the greyhound.

But the rabbit wasn't the biggest animals we saw. The Budweiser Clydesdales were also on the fairgrounds. While we were watching the horses, Daphne and I started reminiscing about the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials that run during the Super Bowl. We love those, but when I brought up the 9/11 tribute commercial we both started to tear up, so I quickly switched the topic, like I'm going to do now.

Topic switch: When you buy your fair ticket pack in advance you get tickets to rides you'd normally just walk by. Tickets to the Zipline were included in our ticket pack, and both Daphne and I thought the ride looked like fun. I didn't say Charlotte thought the ride looked like fun.

It wasn't until my turn on the Zipline was over that I learned that Char was really mad that I was going to ride something that she couldn't (the Zipline doesn't have age requirements; it has weight requirements that Char couldn't meet.) So, Char wouldn't look at me as I was being strapped in. As you can see, I don't look too sure of this harness and where it's going.

And Char wouldn't wave back when I posed for the camera.

When I walked passed the girls, Daphne held up the camera and hollered, "You better blog about this!" I think she was having fun being the one behind the camera for a change. I had to wait in line before I could climb the 28-foot tower, and standing in that harness is a lot like enduring a huge wedgie for eight minutes.

Charlotte pulled the cover of her stroller over her head when it was my turn to fly across the field, so I'm posting a video to taunt her with later.

Then it was Daphne's turn on the Zipline while I hung out with Charlotte. Now instead of being jealous of her mom, Char was scared for her. Wow, did Char ever wail. It didn't matter how sweetly Mom called and waved, Char would not settle down.

In one minute Mom was back down from the heavens and giving Char a big hug. I later asked Char if she was that scared for me when I was up there, and she replied, "No, Dad. I was only scared for Mom." I try not to read too much into that.

Then it was time for Char to ride something, but she was too angry at us to let herself have any more fun. She wouldn't even smile during her camel ride.

She also refused to play in the water fountain, even though we brought a change of clothes for her. In all honesty, she wasn't being naughty as much as she was exhausted. She had her 4th birthday party the day before, and Char was just worn out.

This is what she looked like on the way home.

Sigh. I guess summer really is over. School started on Monday, and Charlotte went back to day care and preschool for her last year. Time marches on.

And it was time to eat the last bite of corn dog on the last day of the fair. That's not tragic, but it does make me feel a little sad. And I'm not alone. Look, a little mustard tear.

 And look, you can cry, too: link