Lake County Fair

On July 26th we attended the Lake County Fair.  We go early because there aren't too many people there and it's cooler in the day!  We started by going to the animal barns.  The first one was the goat barn.  They were doing goat judging and we sat and watched for at least 10 minutes.  N2 were quite enthralled!  They weren't as excited to look into the pens as they had been in previous years but we watched goat, sheep and cow judging!  Noah did get to pet a rabbit-the rabbit that was the inspiration for the Velveteen Rabbit because it's the softest rabbit out there (and it really was!).

In one of the barns, one of the 4H clubs was doing free face painting.  Both N2 were very willing to get their hands painted.  Noah chose a bunny and Natalie chose a rainbow.  Unfortunately I didn't get a good picture of Noah's bunny-it kind of ran together.  Natalie's rainbow never really dried and it smeared on my dress and on Brian's leg.  When she washed her hand it started running so we just had to wash it off.  They weren't using face paint paint.

We then went to an event that we missed last year because we had no idea what it was.  But then we researched it at home last year after the fair and were so disappointed that we missed it!  Want to know what it is?  It's the Banana Derby-monkey jockeys riding dogs!  What's better than that?

I'm not sure how impressed N2 were because it was very hot and sunny.  Noah just wanted to go inside.  I thought it was pretty amusing.  We headed inside to cool down a bit.  They had an agriculture display for kids this year.  Each kid got a bucket and had to be a farmer.  They had to pick one of each produce, collect one egg, milk a cow and then separate each crop.  They had fun being farmers.  They also had a mini John Deere tractor that they could pedal!  They loved that tractor.

We then grabbed some lunch and watched a magic show.  Then we went back to see the tractors and walked through the ride section.  That was a mistake because N2 are now showing interest in riding on rides.  We decided to let them try one since I could buy individual tickets.  They LOVED their ride and wanted to ride on more.  I guess I need to take them to Pirate's Cove or Santa's Village.

Before:

During (they could love the bar in front of them towards or away from them to make their bee go up and down):

After:

They wanted to ride on more!  It was time to go as Brian had to go to marching band.  But we ended up heading back in the evening (you just get your hand stamped and can re-enter later!) for Motorcross.  N2 were so enthralled by that!  It was really entertaining to watch the various bikes.  The smallest/least powerful bike race was funny because everyone was at a different point in the course at different times so you could never tell who the leader was!  When the more powerful bikes were racing, there was more of a pack with a couple leaders and a couple stragglers.  Natalie and I went to the bathroom right before intermission (we didn't know it was going to be intermission) so we missed the last race and she wanted to see more!  Intermission was a half hour and it was already close to 8:00 so we had to leave. 

Water Table and Pool

Once upon a time this summer we used the water table.  Instead of playing while standing around it, they played IN it.

And once upon a time we could use our swimming pool.  Although sadly our pool popped.  We wonder if it got too hot for the pool!

I took these two pictures of Noah the same day and I love them!  I totally see Dan in the second picture.

New hats

For some reason N2 thought their chair covers would be good hats!

Downtown-part 4

Now to the final pictures from our trip downtown with Aunt Marcie, Amelia and Megan.  We ended our trip by sliding down the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza.

There were lots of kids there sliding down when we went over so Amelia, Natalie and Noah ran right up and started sliding down.  One of the older kids was helpful in giving advice on how to slide down faster and would help the younger kids.  Megan had a great time chasing pigeons again.  I know the picture doesn't show birds but she really was chasing birds.

Megan did join in the fun of sliding down the Picasso statue after a while.  She had fun with that too!

That was the end of our fun (well, minus the train ride home!)

Downtown-part 3

After playing in the Crown Fountain we decided to explore more of Millennium Park.  All the kids thought that the great lawn (right by the Pavilion) was great fun to run across.  The just started running.  They even wrestled and laid on top of each other but I didn't get good pictures of that.  They actually ran quite far away from us and we had to yell at them to come back.  Here is the great lawn race.

 I love the look on Amelia's face in that last picture.  Poor Megan was last in the race but I don't think she cared.

After the great lawn race we walked over part of the bridge and then walked through the garden.  Everyone was getting hungry so we found a McDonalds for the kids and a Mediterranean restaurant for the adults.  We were fairly close to the building that when you stand against it and look up the building looks like it is going to fall over on you.  Not sure of the name but you know what I mean!  I don't think any of the kids were really impressed with standing against the building but there was a fountain in courtyard area.  I remember that fountain as a kid but I don't think anyone else remembered it.  The kids had fun putting their hands and feet against the wall of this fountain.

 Again, my only picture of Natalie playing in the fountain.  She did have fun so I'm not sure why I didn't get pictures of her.  I love the one of Megan because it shows how wet she got!

 Amelia must be practicing her ballet stretches here!

Megan LOVED chasing the pigeons.  Just look at the look on her face!

Stay tuned for the last segment-sliding down the Picasso statue!

Downtown-part 2

Although it was a coolish day (certainly beats the 90s and 100s we've been having), we decided we'd play in the Crown Fountain.  Amelia, Noah and Megan went off very willingly and splashed through the fountains.  Noah and Amelia would go back and forth, back and forth splashing while running.  They also loved chasing each other.  Megan was happy just to wander and kick water up with her feet as she wandered.  She was also intrigued by what Noah and Amelia were doing.  Natalie on the other hand sat sullenly on the side with me.  She did go out in the fountain for a brief period of time but not for long.  There was no convincing her that the fountain was a fun place to play.  I think she was cold.  Here are some shots of the kids playing in the fountain.

 Here are Amelia and Noah playing chase.

 Noah is contemplating running through the spray.

Amelia and Noah decided to lay down in the water and blow bubbles.  Not sure how clean the water is, but hey, why not?

I am including this picture because it shows that Natalie was actually there and did go in the fountain.  Hey, she's even smiling!

And here's Natalie sitting on the sideline looking forlorn.

Stay tuned for downtown part 3.  I'll have pictures of the race through the great lawn and more fountain pictures!  See, I told you I had a million photos!  There will still be another day of sliding down the Picasso statue!