Fried avocadoes and tractor rides

It’s the county fair, L.A. style. Lots of sunshine and fried foods, plus Jessica Simpson on the stage. We had fun just wandering around, looking at the oversized farm animals, eating barbecue, and checking out landscaping and green-home displays. Jack loved the miniature John Deere tractors, though he still doesn’t seem to get the concept of pedaling. The best time to go with kids is right when it opens at 10; by the time we left at 3, the place was packed and it would have been hard to let him run free.

Disneyland Day Trip

It really is the Happiest Place on Earth in early September. Most kids are back in school and you can practically walk on most of the rides without waiting. Jack’s getting bossier and more opinionated now about where we go. He wanted to go on the “boat ride” (Storybookland), Casey Jr., and Peter Pan when we first got there, in that order. We also hit Autopia (a very bumpy ride, with him at the wheel) and Buzz Lightyear, then zoomed over to California Adventure to try out Toy Story Mania, the park’s newest ride. That was hands down his favorite – it’s interactive so he could try to knock down ducks and other targets by pulling a string attached to our car.

I got him a pair of Mickey ears and he insisted on wearing them everywhere for the next few days, around the house, to bed, at Trader Joe’s. All in all, an A-plus trip.