While Greg and I transformed that photo full of raw ingredients into enough food to feed an army, Grandma decided to take the kids out to the Alaska State Fair and meet the cousins there. Grandma has made it a priority to create opportunities for the cousins to bond and have fun together, and this was another occasion. It's helpful that Evan and Christopher are so close in age, and that Ellianna and Cate are similarly close in age. Even though they each have their own personality, they have managed to grow up feeling very close to each other -- almost like siblings.

You can see that it wasn't the finest day for the fair. There is a joke around here that if the State Fair is in town, then it must be time for the rains. We've not gotten away from the rains much of this summer, but this particular day of rain made the rest of the summer's rain seem shockingly mild. It poured non-stop -- not a little plop-plop of rain, but buckets. You can see Cate covered in mud and Christopher trying to find a place to eat his popcorn that isn't in a puddle that goes up to his knees. And yet, despite the weather, the kids are all smiles. I must say that I love that. I guess that's a good thing about raising kids in Alaska -- their ability to have a good time is not dependent on weather. If it was, there would be a real dearth of good times to be had.

Now we just have to decide whether to go back this weekend. Greg, in particular, enjoys the fair. Of course, his favorite sections (the RV and four-wheeler sales areas, the places selling raffle tickets, the pavillions) are not exactly the kids' favorite spots. Going twice in one year would qualify as distinctly spoiled, though. We'll see. If the sun is out it might be hard to stop us.....