But it was a huge disappointment. They charged really high prices for everything and I was bummed out that Annabelle was too small to participate in any of the kids activities except for one: panning for gold. Panning for gold is such a dumb kid activity, especially when there isn't any actual learning going on, just a couple pans in a bucket full of dirt and brown water.
On our way out I walked by the "parent relief" booth and they offered me a free stroller for the remainder of my time there at the fair. Annabelle had already climbed into the stroller before I could tell the woman that we were about to leave, so I took the opportunity to walk around the vendor section. Though I use the term "vendor" loosely... the pro-lifers, church organizations, and a guy with a sign that said, "Are you going to heaven? A two question test!" were in one corner of the building while the other corner held Planned Parenthood, a gay rights booth registering people as Democrats, and some baby chicks that had just hatched that were surrounded by educational signs about raising chickens on a farm. Wedged in between were the Avon lady, Mary Kay, the DMV, a pots and pans roadshow and people selling subscriptions to the local paper. However, waaaay in the back was a cardboard jungle scene, so we headed in that direction. Once there I realized that we had nearly missed the very coolest thing at the fair: a small zoo-like exhibit of semi-exotic animals.
They started out pretty big, with an American Alligator in a big tub right when you walk in. I pulled the stroller up to it and Annabelle signed "big!" while making a surprised face with her mouth wide open. Then the Alligator moved a little bit and she realized it was real and quickly shouted, "DONE!" while signing at the same time (which she sometimes does for emphasis.) So we moved pass the giant Tortoise, Monitors, Porcupine, Bobcat, and over to the snakes. In the corner was a little booth, and well, the picture speaks for itself...
I only wish the photographer had waited to catch the pure excitement and surprise that Annabelle was showing, instead of distracting her for the picture. Just two seconds earlier or later and you would have seen a face that said, "MOM! Can you believe this?!" while saying "Sssssssssss....... WOW!" Instead you get the "What does this woman want?" face. Oh well. Still it's pretty cool, and I know Annabelle really enjoyed it.
I also know a few people who will freak out when they see this picture. All I can say is that when they offered me a choice between a Tarantula and an Albino Python, just the thought of a spider made my skin crawl and I was relieved that they had snakes to hold instead of something really crazy.
