Training Camp

We can't afford to take the whole family to a Blackhawks game right now, but I wanted them to experience the Blackhawks magic, so I purchased tickets to their pre-season Family Training Camp. At only five dollars a ticket, it was a super affordable way to get the whole gang in for a little hockey scrimmage fun. Unfortunately, the camp fell on the same day and time as one of Wyatt's soccer games and since Nick was the coach and had already missed the first game, we decided to split up. Nick and Wyatt stayed behind and I convinced my brother to join us at the Madhouse. It was such a beautiful day and there were lots of fun activities outside. Noah tried his hand at some mini-golf and bags.

I got some great mid-air shots of his blue beanbags

Little Miss was not so sure about this place

We watched most of the game and they were pretty well behaved. I'm thankful that Kurt did show up so that I could go purchase some kid's meals while they stayed behind in the seats. And by the way, kid's meals are a super great value for future reference (you just have to deal with drinking apple juice at a hockey game).

 We had a really good time; Wyatt would have loved it. We'll have to go back next year.

HH Festival

The second weekend in September is always my "single parent weekend" when Nick is out of town for his golf outing, so one of the things I always do is take the kids to the Homer Harvest Festival. I kept Charlotte in a stroller again this year to keep it manageable, but next year when she's three I doubt that will work. Here we are watching the boys run in and out of the corn maze. I just had to hope that they would both eventually come back out.

We love their free pony rides. Charlotte was finally not afraid and rode a pony for the first time.

Only Noah was brave enough to go into the petting zoo. Charlotte wanted nothing to do with it and Wyatt only wanted to see the animals from the other side of the fence.

They don't let you go into the llama enclosure.

Then we took a spin on the cow train. Wyatt knew that they were going to be firing the cannon again soon, so he took the necessary precautions.

S'fest

With the start of school comes everyone's favorite festival up north. As usual, it was hot and we spent a ridiculous amount of money on rides.

 

As night fell, Charlotte and Noah were too pooped to venture back out, so they opted (well Noah opted - Charlotte had no choice) to stay home with Grandpa and Cheryl while Wyatt joined us for a night on the festival. First stop was meeting Uncle Kurt at the games so he could try and win him a Pokemon toy.

While he didn't win the big one, he did win this cute little Charmander for Wyatt, a little Picachu for Noah, and a large unicorn for Charlotte. What a nice uncle!

Afterwards, we joined Laura and her girls at the concert and enjoyed a funnel cake (Wyatt now loves funnel cakes). And then it was time for fireworks!

The next morning was the annual parade. The kids had their bags and were ready to grab some candy. It was pretty mild (read: only low 80s) for the parade, so it didn't feel too bad out there.

We joined Laura and her girls and Laura's brother-in-law and his kids in the usual spot.

 Wyatt found a solution so he didn't have to hold his bag

The kids started pooping out one by one and by the end, only the eldest two, Violet and Noah, were still standing.