Chicago Weekend

I really wanted to get caught up on all my blogging before school started, but this last week has been pretty crazy with trying to get everything ready for school, cooking freezer meals, and getting caught up on housework.  So our fun Chicago weekend was really last weekend, but I'm just getting a minute to write now. :)
We try to go to a Cubs game every year.  It's a fun tradition and I have learned to ALWAYS bring a sweatshirt, no matter what the weather.  You'd think Aug. 11th would be a nice hot day...you'd be wrong!  But at least this time I was prepared! :)

We started the weekend by celebrating an 11 year anniversary with an awesome couple: Amos and Jess Frye.  Matt and Amos have been friends FOREVER and when Amos met Jess in college, she and I quickly became good friends.  We have been so blessed to share our lives with them and watch their 2 adorable children grow.  Because we were going to be in Chicago over their anniversary, they wanted to go to a nice restaurant and we were excited to experience something new.  We went to Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab Restaurant.  Long name, but a delicious, expensive restaurant!  After spending a bundle, it was nice that our hotel offered a cocktail hour with free drinks.  I decided to go out on a limb (since I wasn't buying them) and try some new drinks.  Bloody Mary and White Russian I would not recommend, but a Tequila Sunrise is pretty delicious! :)  Then we met up with Jared and Jenn and got some dessert. 

Saturday, the Cubs had a late afternoon game.  We got to walk around Wrigleyville and eat at the Cubby Bear after our continental breakfast at the hotel.  Even though the Cubs blew their lead in the 8th inning!!!, we had a fun time at the game.  Jared, a Reds fan, didn't even rub it in our faces that his team won! :)  Thanks everybody for a great weekend!

1st Dentist Apointment...All Smiles!

On August 8th, Landon and Emerson had their first check up with the dentist.  Prior to their appointment, we really hyped up the dentist and how fun/cool it is!  (They're little and don't need to know the real truth yet! :))  We read books about going to the dentist and brushed really good.  We talked about all of the equipment and the big chair that they could sit in.  We even counted down the days to their appointment.
And thankfully, all that excitement paid off.  Both kids did GREAT!!  No tears or even scared look in the eyes.  Matt and Landon went with one dental hygenist and Em and I were with another.  I was so proud of them for being brave and talking to the people in the dentist office.  They did exactly as they were asked and didn't make a fuss about anything.

Landon with Dr. Yoder

Em helping her hygenist

They couldn't take x-rays because the kids' mouths are pretty small and even the small film wouldn't stay in, but from what they could tell....no cavities.  Way to go Landon and Emmy!!

Sibling Visit to Southern Indiana

We spent a week between Evansvillle visiting Uncle Nate and Bloomington visiting Aunt Tina and Bo (Uncle Steven was still working in Washington, D.C.).  The kids absolutely LOVE staying with their Uncle and Aunt and did a great job on the 6 hour drive to Evansville.  I usually keep the truck packed with snacks, small new toys, bingo games, and coloring books.  I've also done "Travel Tickets" with them, where every half hour, they give me a ticket and when all the tickets are gone, we're there!  That seems to help with the "Are we there yet??" questions!

In Evansville, we spent time at the Children's Museum, which was perfect for our kids' age.  They had a whole room devoted to getting a child ready for Kindergarten.  It was set up like a K classroom and had a video on what to expect the first day of school.  They loved exploring everything and it was nice to be inside, escaping the hot weather.  We also went disc golfing at a course in Kentucky.  The kids lasted about half of the course and then we went to the playground while the men finished playing.  We also went out to eat (Bar Louie's was a fav!) and swam at the apartment's pool.  We spent Friday night through Monday morning in Evansville.  Uncle Nate was a great host and we had a wonderful time!

Building a house

Digging up dinosaurs

Putting bricks in the house

Drive-Thru banking

Playing with a baby in the classroom

Then on Monday, we drove to Bloomington to see Kristina's new apartment. We walked around the IU campus (which is very pretty, but we had to wear some PU gear for protection :)).  We also went to a children's museum in Bloomington.  And really the only thing that was the same was digging for fossils.  They loved playing in the water and we got smart this time and took our lunch so the kids could play a little longer.  We went to visit Kristina's school, which is an adorable little classroom off of the main church.  At this point, she's got a roster of 6 kids! 
Then we spent the day at the most awesome public pool I've ever seen.  It was $3 for adults to get in and then $2 to ride the water slides.  So it cost $11 (Matt got a wristband for the slides) and it was well worth it!  There was a huge kiddie pool with water pouring everywhere.  Then the big pool had to be Olympic sized!  It was huge with a waterslide pouring into the pool, another one ending right before the pool, and a 3rd drop off one into the deep end.  The only thing that was a little tough was the kids couldn't wear their floaties ( a pool rule) so it was a little tough keeping constant watch, but 1 was almost continually on the water slide with Daddy.  They LOVED the slides and Landon didn't even mind getting water in his face!  I wish I would've taken some pictures.
We went out to eat at the Upland Brewing Co.  They had a unique and yummy menu, not very big servings, but that gave us room for ice cream!  We had fun with Aunt Tina.  We are SOOO happy that she and Uncle Steven are closer for us to visit!

Checking out the pulley systems

Experimenting with water

AWWW!  Girls by the flowers after dinner. 
Also took a picture with Landon, but it wasn't quite blog worthy! :)

Fair Time

We had a great time at the fair, as usual.  Matt and I worked at the pork building with our Sunday School class, which meant we got free tickets.  So, after our shift was over, we went back, got the kids and took them over for the evening.  We went to see the animals and they each got to pick 3 rides (with $1.25 a ticket, you have to be choosy! :)).  Landon picked the train, which he went on last year and cried the whole way, a car, and the ferris wheel.  He did MUCH better this year.  No tears!  And he absolutely LOVED the ferris wheel.  Emmy picked the swings, car, and the ferris wheel.  She was the only one on the swings, so she got an extra long ride.  I was proud of her for doing it all by herself.  She LOVED the ferris wheel too!  We also met up with the Fryes and Grace and Tyler got to do some rides too.



Then on Tuesday, we went to see Josh Turner in concert.  Todd and Cathy had 2 extra tickets and I jumped at the chance to go to the concert! :)  We were in the back, but could still see pretty good.  And I'm sure Aunt Holly was glad we went because she got another chance to babysit!

I can't post about the fair without mentioning the food: pulled pork, sirloin tips, pretzel, taco salad, ice cream, mini donuts.  MMMM!