Blackberry...Farm?

Last Friday, Megan & I packed up the kids and decided to try out the Blackberry Farm in Aurora. It was one of the places on our Summer 'To Do' list and with summer winding down we wanted to make sure we got it in.

I was excited to take McKenna and Benny. It's yet another place that has animals, but a lot closer than the Brookfield Zoo. Sadly, it didn't live up to our expectations.

First off, I would use the term "Farm" loosely. There were a couple of animals, a cow, some sheep and goats, some pigs, and chickens. But, mostly it's an outdoor Illinois pioneer history museum. I guess I should have looked closer on the website!

We had a really nice day, as you'll see by the pictures, but if your intention is going to see the animals, then it wouldn't be worth the admission fee.


McKenna didn't seem to mind the small amount of animals!






2 piggies in the tub!



Kenna is on the middle pony, Chip... first time she didn't need me :(


loves pony rides! yeee haw!


Brayden was too little to ride the ponies, but he still loved watching them!


Megan & Brayden riding the train


All Aboard the ChooChoo Train...the Baby Bjorn has been a lifesaver for me this summer!


Brayden loved Paco, the donkey. Kenna, wouldn't get any closer.


seriously...not any closer

SPLASH!

Our summer adventures continued today at the Ty Warner Splash Park in Westmont. Our friend, Beth, invited the whole play date crew out to the park for the afternoon. The crew included Beth, Olivia & Thomas, Beth's friend Kristin and her two daughters, Maeve & Fallon, Laura, Ella & Delilah, Megan & Brayden, GranMom, Kenna, Benny & I...WHEW! Nine kids didn't leave for much Mommy conversation, but we should get more of that at the Brookfield Zoo on Monday!

We had a blast! Thanks for inviting us Beth!






have you seen a sweeter shark???


Tom Tom celebrating Shark Week!


talking about the duckies with Olivia


Hey! Where'd the water go?





the water went off for about 30 min and McKenna actually liked it better! She was much more confident running around. Here she's trying to drink the dribbling water coming out of the sprayer.



waiting for the water with Brayden & Delilah


Ella stayed busy waiting for the water to turn back on




I love this picture...Kenna looking out to GranMom and Brayden (in the red rash guard) crawling his way through the water...so cute!

Cosley Zoo

Summer is coming to a close...only 14 more days left...

McKenna, Benny & I are working hard to squeeze in everything we want to do.

Today when we woke up the only plans we had was McKenna's blood draw appointment at 9:40am. Aunt Krissy came over to watch Benny.

McKenna & I made our way to Edwards Hospital Plainfield Campus to have her blood draw. After witnessing 4 blood draws when she was a infant, I was super nervous about this one. I wasn't quite sure how they were going to draw the blood out this time (as an infant they drew it out drip by drip from her heel - it was AWFUL). After hearing from my high school friend, Chrissy, whose daughter had to have the same blood draw, I felt much more relaxed. We waited for about 20 minutes before our name was called. Sweet Kenna stole the show in that waiting room...saying Hiii-eee to everyone who walked in. My baby girl is a big girl now and they took her blood just as they would an adult...from her arm. I held her in a bear hug, a nurse held her arm out, straight, and still and another nurse took her blood. Oh the scream. Oh the crying. Oh the tears. After 3 vials of blood and a sesame street bandaid we were out of there. The screaming stopped, the crying stopped...all that was left was tear stained cheekies. We made it out the door and off came the bandaid! She was done with that!




We needed to put some happy into our day, so I made a quick decision to take the kids up to Cosley Zoo in Wheaton. McKenna loves animals and this was the perfect place to cheer her up! Aunt Krissy came with us. Cosley Zoo is another small, local zoo that is absolutely perfect for littles. There weren't many people there and you can get close to the animals. McKenna practically walked the whole thing herself! What a big girl!




can't take her eyes off of the goats!


trying so hard to reach the sheep




Hiii-eee!


see the sign? see her arm? yikes!


she looovveeed the horsies!


there's Aunt Krissy and Benny!





we took a break and had lunch...Kenna preferred Aunt Krissy's push-up to her PB&J, of course!


Aunt Krissy rocking the double hold!



saying Hiii-eee! to one another


the baby goat came right over to Kenna and gave her a kiss on the hand!

What an awesome day we had. We will definitely be back to the Cosley Zoo!

A special THANKS to Aunt Krissy for coming with us! We love you!