Oprah and the State Fair of Texas

We had no idea what to expect for our visit with the triplets to the State Fair of Texas. Here are Keith and the kids in front of the famous ferris wheel as we arrived before the crowds. We knew it would be an unpredictable and memorable experience, but we had no idea that our visit would include talking to Oprah!

After a full morning of fair fun (more on that below), someone told us that Oprah was going to be playing a water gun game at a nearby game stand. Of course, we had to check it out. Sure enough, there were half a dozen Harpo staff members lingering nearby. After several hours of waiting (yes, WITH the babies!), Oprah finally arrived. Check out the crowd!

Eventually a flurry of activity began and Keith and I were asked to participate in the game with Oprah. We, of course, said "yes" and explained that we had to be in separate rounds as one of us had to stay with the babies. Keith is in the red at seat #1 waiting to challenge Oprah.

We had been waiting the longest along with a few others, so we had front row seats behind the barricades. The kids did awesome hanging out in and around the stroller for the first few hours, but then they started to express their desire to go home and sleep! A large pretzel bought us some time but not as much as we needed.

Oprah and her Friday Live team - Nate, Ali and BFF Gayle - sat 5 or 6 seats down from Keith.

Here's a better shot of Nate for you Nate fans. They played three rounds and Keith won two of them! No prizes, just fun. I love a man who is good with a water gun.

On her way to the make-shift stage (her team spent the better half of two hours building stairs out of random wood crates and old metal steps before her arrival), she stop right in front of me to sign an autograph. She then looked at the babies and told me several times, "Oh, they are so cute!" Wish I could have captured it on video but it's rude, of course, to film someone when you're talking to them. The before and after pictures and video will have to do.

Oprah announced that she would be calling (aka announcing) the next game and that the prize was much larger than winning a teddy bear! Keith came in a close second and almost won us a trip to Vegas with hotel and Cirque du Soleil tickets included but the prize instead went to someone much more likely to have the time and ability to take such a trip!

I participated in the second round and didn't come home with a big prize either. Such losers!

Here is Oprah in her cowboy hat and boots. What a fun surprise this was! The kids (and Keith) were such troopers and I was amazed at how well they did during the long wait.

Watch the video below for a few clips of Oprah and her Friday Live team. That's poor Hayden in the background with the cry that sounds like an infant.

And now to the fair part of the fair!

Here is Madison being measured for the rides. She came in at 32 inches with her shoes on, just enough to be approved to ride the kiddie rides with a 30 inch requirement.

Pops and Nunie treated their grandkids to their first Funnel Cake - a State Fair of Texas tradition and the first food vendor you see when you walk in the gates!

Here is Hayden giving Pops a look of appreciation as he helps her eat the sweet treat. Nunie even fed the kids powdered sugar chunks when the Funnel Cake was all gone. Grandparents are too funny when it comes to spoiling their grandkids!

Pops held Payson for his first ferris wheel ride. The kids did great despite its 212-foot height!

Pops and Nunie treated the kids to their first fair game: "fishing" for ducks!

I love this picture of Keith and Payson on the safari train ride. It was relatively fast for them and they still liked it!

We ran into our good friends Robin and Andy several times and got a picture of sweet Charlotte with the kids. Love that girl!

Hayden thanks Nunie for her froggie! Payson and Madison would later be treated with a stuffed dog and bear.

Here are Pops and I eating a fried Honey Bun and fried Snickers. Naughty!

The kids loved the marionette show, especially Hayden. She and Payson sat perfectly still for the entire 20 minute show! And the girls were brave enough to get close to the closing act puppet for a memorable picture.

Surprise, surprise, Hayden loved the dog show! Madison slept in Keith's arms and Payson watched a dog trick or two in between stuffing his face with fair food. On the menu between the seven of us was a funnel cake, five corn dogs, two sausages on sticks, a turkey leg, a bag cotton candy, a pretzel, three soft serve ice cream cones, a fried Honey Bun, and a fried Snickers bar. Wow, we won't have to eat for a week!

Keith and I had so much fun as did the kids and the grandparents. I think Keith finally understands why the State Fair of Texas is a tradition you can't resist!