Summer just wouldn't be right without visiting the Iowa State Fair. And while I'm not a big fan of walking around dusty, dirty fairgrounds while you're hot and sweaty, this year's weather proved to be much nicer than usual. It was a record-breaking year - over 1.1 million people attended (maybe because of my new least-favorite word - the staycation. I don't know why but I don't care for that word.)

Lotus and I shared a corn dog (amongst other treats) and we spent the day with Bo's family and our nieces and nephew from Chicago - it's their tradition to come to the state fair with us every year.

Here's Emma with a corn dog (a girl who loves fair food just as much as I do.)

Lilly with her trademark cheese pizza.

And cutie little Drew with an armful of temporary tattoos.

And we can't resist the things with the cut-outs for your face. (Notice poor Bo hoisting L's stroller up so she can get in the photo.)

We did not see the Shawn Johnson sculpture made of butter (but seeing a photo on the internet was fine with me.) If you're not from Iowa and have no idea what I'm talking about, there's a lady who carves a cow out of a huge block of butter each year at the fair, and this year she also carved a butter Shawn. (Google it if you think I'm making this up.)

We took L to 'Little Hands of the Farm' - super cute. You walk through the farm, pick vegetables, gather eggs and pretend to milk a cow - I think there was a rubber glove type thing hanging from the plastic cow's udder but we sorta skipped that part) and then harvest your crop for $1, which you can use to buy a treat at the 'store'...