grant's farm

Grant's Farm was on our summer bucket list but I really didn't think we would make it over there before school started, however....last week Quinn's mom, Jess, asked the boys to join Quinn at Splash City, and then the Fergie's changed that game plan to Grant's Farm, and a day of fun was on the books!  There was a super long line to get on the tram, but the absolutely perfect weather made it tolerable.  I guess the park is spread out enough, because once inside, it didn't seem crowded at all.

This was Quinn's first trip to Grant's Farm.  Can you believe that?  What a sheltered child.  (even though he is currently in Italy on a 3 week vacay, but whatever. Priorities...hmph) 

 

Nathan, Quinn, Brady and Cate
 

tram ride!



Thank you Quinn for smiling.  Brady and Nathan need to get their head in the game


The goat pens kinda gross me out and for some reason Scott got to hang out on the good side of the fence and I was stuck keeping the smelly animals from eating Cate.

goosed by a goat!

 

 

 We saw the animal show, rode the carousel, and ate funnel cakes, homemade chips, snow cones  and kettle corn.  Good stuff!

 The parakeet house is new this year and I couldn't wait to go through it.  I love parakeets and have always wanted a cage filled with pretty birds singing beautiful songs, but I've heard they crap a lot and we've got enough of that going on around here.



they loved her pony tail holder!



telling Brady secrets



 




post blue snow cone (obviously)

 Super fun day!  Ready to plan our next fieldtrip!

urban garden and food trucks

We ended up at a Stray Rescue/Urban Garden block party one Saturday morning...not sure how I convinced Scott, but the kids were excited :)  Somehow Jack ended up in the car and the promise of lunch from a food truck was incentive enough for Ben to want to join us too!

"Excuse me Miss, where is the Queen Bee?" Cate is obsessed with the life of a bee.

 

Lots of bee boxes in the urban garden!

 

Love that they plopped this big ole garden down in the middle of the city...

 

 

Eating lunch while listening to some music...food trucks were a success!

 I love the kids enthusiasm for gardening and listening to them compare "their" garden to other community gardens.  My dads love of farming will forever live on through his grandkids!

3v3

June-August is off-season for Brady's soccer team but instead of enjoying the down time, his 3v3 team kicks it into high-gear. This past weekend they played in St. Charles and it was hot. Miserably hot.  Feel like you're melting hot. Stupid hot. Africa hot. Can't breathe hot. Get it?

 

Bennett had a baseball tournament in Jacksonville, so I was on my own for 8 hours of soccer. FUN.

 

 

A couple of super cool kids.  Or something.

Only some of the stuff that is supposed to fit in the wagon actually fits after Cate gets settled in.  Her own little collapsible chariot :-)

Brady's team played six games.  And won, six games.  They are really good.

She loves her new Girls on the Run headband. 

 

 This is what six games in the scorching sun feels like

 Championship game celebration.  Just kidding.  Our team does not celebrate.  No elaborate happy dances.  No parent tunnels for the kids to run through. And definitely no accepting of finisher medals for anything below second place.  Not everyone is a winner, deal with it!  This is kinda what I like best about our team :)

 

I also love that our coach is so laid back.  You will not see him running up and down the field acting like a fool.  He teaches them at practice and lets them play the games. There are A LOT of lunatic coaches out there and I'm happy ours is not one of them!

 

 

 

go birds!

We've been to two Cardinals games this summer which is pretty good for us...Scott and I both prefer watching the game from the comfort of our own home, but if we happen upon really good seats, we'll make an exception :) We had four tickets for the first game. Carter decided he did not want to go, but Cate did, so we bought her a standing-room-only cheap ticket and thankfully the seats next to us were open and she didn't have to sit on my lap. We chose to eat at The Precinct Bar & Grill before the game and take their free shuttle to the game...worked out great!

"I'd rather be #1 than #2".  Um, that's a 'peace sign' Cate

Upstairs from the grill....Space 15, aka our class reunion site in August

During the 7th inning, Cate spotted Fredbird by the field and jumped out of her seat to run down and give him a hug.  She then dragged him back up to our seats to have him sign a baseball for Brady.  Along the way, she pulled him into a handrail and he fell to the ground.  She thought it was hilarious!

 

 

 

He signed a ball for Brady and then the camera man showed up along with the Cardinal Girls and presented her with a hot Papa John's pizza and coupons for free pizza for everyone in our row!

Jumbo-tron debut!

 My phone immediately blew up with texts from people who saw Cate on the jumbo-tron and when we left the stadium, people at Ballpark Village waved and mentioned seeing her on the big screens!  It was too funny! 

 Our 2nd game was a day game last weekend.  Cate opted out of this one, which was a good thing because she probably expects that Fredbird nonsense to happen at every game :)  Carter had to work so I got to tag along again!

 Our seats were awesome and we had access to the air-conditioned Redbird Club (which I reealllly appreciated). 

Brady and I had build-your-own nachos.  Delish!

Back-to-back homeruns meant lots of fireworks that we couldn't see because it was a sunny day game

Hanging out in the A/C!

 Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost both games we attended, but what's important is that we had a good time!