One Ben’s last day of summer, we signed up for a cupcake decorating class at Sweet Mandy B’s.

“Walking” to the cupcake place

This class was animal themed.

I think some of them are eating more frosting then they are decorating with…

With our sitter Cami there to help, we managed to decorate 4 different kinds of animals – Lion, Monkey, Panda and Elephant.

And the results…

Jack, Ben, Sam then Aaron’s

It was a super cute afternoon activity, perfect for this rainy afternoon.

For the past few years Lara and Mom have been coming to Chicago to help out at the end of August.

It is rapidly becoming one of my favorite times of year.

In 3 days I get 3 very different, but all equally important connections satisfied in my life.

First Mom and Lara send me off with my husband for a good night’s sleep at a hotel.

Adam used out Hilton points for a fantastic stay at the Waldorf Astoria.

View from our balcony

We rested, relaxed, and reconnected. We also managed to run on the lake both days.

First run to Buckingham Fountain.

Second Run, Adam gets new shoes and suddenly gets faster.

In the evening, we walked down to the newly renovated riverwalk. We stopped for drinks at Bridge House Tavern and a Cheese and Charcuterie board that was so big we had to cancel our dinner reservations after eating it.

Bridge House’s Cheese and Charcuterie Board

It was really nice to catch a glimpse of the city without the kids for once.

We saw a massive group of bikers pass by our hotel balcony Friday night, throngs of people out on Michigan Avenue, the Riverwalk, and in River North (where we stopped for a late night doughnut from Firecakes.)

Second, I got to see both of my families bond with each other, forming their own special relationships.

Dim Sum at Ming Hin

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

Lara spent hours playing with the kids. 

She also fixed drawers and sewed old sheets. 

Mom kept me out of the laundry room the entire time she was here.

Third I got to spend special time with just Mom and Lara. While Adam watched the kids we went for a reflexology massage at fit foot. 

Then headed to Chinatown (yes, twice in one visit! Hey, we are Chinese! What do you expect?) and ate at Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings. 

At the end of the evening, a very exotic, half Philippine, half French waiter prepared our check from a hand held computer at our table.

When it was prepared he handed it to Mom. Lara and I screamed and grabbed the check. We were celebrating Mom’s birthday and she was not going to pay!

The waiter looked shocked and said, “She was touching my leg.”

Lara and I looked at him and both said, deadpan, “That had nothing to do with the check.”

The poor waiter was bright red!

We headed over to Legend Tasty House afterwards so they could try the thai rolled ice cream.

This morning I dropped them at the ‘L’. It was very sad, and once again, for the millionth time, I wished my family lived closer.

We celebrated out 2017 Block Party yesterday with my sister and mother who are in town visiting.

The block party followed the same format it does every year. The older kids are starting to remember the sequence and anticipate with joy.

First the bouncy houses are inflated. Two of them, one for older kids and one for younger kids.

Next the cotton candy comes out.

While this is going on, the other food is getting set up. Summer Houses Santa Monica and the Oyster Bar had stalls this year.

Summer House had a huge taco bar spread, during the day. Later they brought out pizzas. Still later, cookies larger than your head.

Oyster Bar fed us fantastic lobster rolls, fried chicken and more!

Our neighbors volunteered to cook up hot dogs and hamburgers on grills people had rolled out on the street. Behind them tubs of non alcoholic drinks for adults and kids.

The kegs were tapped right next to the band. Along with an assortment of other alcoholic drinks.

Our neighbor Jane’s ‘decorate a birdhouse or box’ table was out again this year for the kids.

A firetruck came to visit the kids.

Walgreens volunteered their time to paint kids faces. 

Soon the magician arrived. 

Ben volunteered and got picked.

Sam the ice cream man showed up with the ice cream truck. The ice creams are free, also part of the block party’s budget.

Finally it got dark and the glow stuff was opened. 

Great party! Thanks to the organizers and volunteers who make it all happen!

At the beginning of the summer, my friend Nicole (also Jack’s buddy’s mother) suggested the boys get season passes for Six Flags Great America.

She had seen a special online, for the price of one day entry you could get a pass for the season.

And so, just like that, Jack graduated up to the next level of fun. Great America is a playground for older kids!

This week they had a buddy pass. Bring a friend for free with your season pass. Jack invited another friend and I invited Ben. Camila watched the twins for the day until Adam got off work and relieved her.

I was a bit worried about Ben. Last time he refused to do any of the rides, even the simplest ones designed for kids even younger than he was.

This time, I got the older boys to accompany him on the ‘Little Dipper’ ride. It is approved for kids height 36″ of taller. (The twins can ride it.)

The Little Dipper

Ben tried it, which I praised him for greatly. Sadly he came off the ride saying he never wants to do a roller coaster again.

Jack hits the Whirligig while his friends brave the Batman ride.

Now I was worried Ben’s day would be ruined when he figured out he couldn’t do any of the roller coasters that the older boys enjoyed, yet he was too big for the kiddie rides. Luckily one of Jack’s friends brought money for everyone to win prizes with.

It was the kind of thing I would never offer to my own kids, but it saved the day.

They played a few games and when Ben’s money was almost out, he let Jack have his last turn with the claw game. You know the one where you try to pick up prizes by moving a big claw around to the right spot and pressing a button to pick up?

Jack picked up this mini-ironman for him in one turn. Ben was ecstatic! (Jack won this pokeman toy for himself).

These toys saved the day later. When the older boys did the big roller coasters, Ben busied himself with make believe games.

He also enjoyed a few other rides with the older boys, like the ‘4D Justice League: Battle for Metropolis’. It had screens that full of stuff to shoot at, and with the 3D glasses it was so realistic he was screaming a bit. I put my arm around him and told him it was okay, I would keep him safe. But that didn’t help, apparently I’m no match for a bunch of super villians!

Next I told him to look away from the screen to see it wasn’t real. After he looked to the side and saw the end of the screen he was able to relax and enjoy it.

Funnel Cake, my weakness…

And the Buccaneer Battle! Fun for all! The people sitting the boat can also be shot by cannons on land, and the boat people can shoot the land people. It’s a very clever set up.

At first I was upset they were in different boats.

But then this happened…

Turning around and realizing they are about to face off.

They got to battle each other!

Why do boys play like this?

Ben also sat in Jack’s car for bumper cars.The boys spent most of their time in a three way triangle. They would all ram each other, then try to get out of it only to find themselves in the same position minutes later.

‘Logger’s Run’ was so much fun it was worth two visits… Some roller coasters were too scary for Jack to try also. His two buddies went on the X-Flight. They ran right into the line. Jack hesitated, then started walking after them, then stopped and came out.

I told him he didn’t have to do it but if he wanted to I’m sure his buddies would go again. When they returned, Jack walked into the line and they cheered and laughed and ran after him. Shortly after the gate closed on the ride, they got the last ride of the day.

Can you spot them? They are in the top row, Jack is the inside seat, three rows in.

Afterwards I asked Jack if it was as horrible as he thought it was going to be. He said, “Worse.”

I asked him if he would do it again. He said, “Yes.”

Ben enjoyed one last play date with his BFF before school starts for him next week.

The forecast was for rain so we booked Sky High Trampoline Park. 

When the day finally arrived, it was sunny and beautiful out, but it was probably for the best because the place was not over crowded.

Dodgeball Arena

I wrongly envisioned a relaxing sit on one of the couches with Ben’s BFF’s mom.

Turns out, under 6 and over 6 are in two different areas so I spent most of my time running from one place to the next.

Still, it was really cool to see the kids all jumping with youthful delight. Trampolines are often used in therapy for kids on the spectrum so this was perfect for Ben.

The twins were surprisingly physical with each other. I spent a huge amount of time telling them to keep their hands to themselves. Chasing, then tackling – this seems to be an innate, testosterone type activity.

I also diverted them to the foam pits.

I got a groupon for this activity. With the groupon, 2 hours of jump time was $14 instead of $22.

It was with a heavy heart that I said good-bye to my father this afternoon.

Grandpa Arrives!

I know I’m not the only one in the house that felt it either.

They all gravitate to him.

He cleaned dishes, washed and folded clothes, cleaned the house, and spent many hours babysitting the kids for me. He put our families needs in front of his own every single moment of the day.

Jack won’t even hold my hand anymore!

He connected with each kid at their own level, creating a special relationship with each one of them.

Jack almost didn’t leave for his playdate this morning for fear of missing every last moment of time with Grandpa.

Chess with Ben

Ben bought that chessboard with his birthday money specifically for Grandpa’s visit.

Playing dinosaurs with Sam

Aaron took to him the most, following him around like his little minion. Each night Grandpa told his ‘bloody finger’ stories to the kids. Stories that he made up in his head. I have no idea how he came up with so many different plots! Often I would hear fits of laughter coming from the bedroom at night.

I’m sure I’m forgetting the hundred other ways he helped, like patiently helping Jack with his homework. Or talking to Ben for hours gently, sneakily so Ben wouldn’t be offended, about ways to improve his behavior. (He even based a few ‘bloody finger’ stories on it!)

Such a great, great person. We will miss him dearly.

We spent yesterday afternoon in The Glen Town Center, an enclave for pleasure seekers in Glenview.

I’ve been wanting to check out the new climbing zone, Funtopia, for a while now.

But first, we met up with Bubbie and Bill for lunch at the Yard House.

The kids menu kept the kids pretty busy. The adults too. Bubbie and Sam got a few games of ‘tic-tac-toe’ in, while Grandpa Devensky played against Ben in the ‘make a square’ game.

Then the Calisoff train was off to Funtopia!

There are a bunch of different sections to explore but for today, we just did the ‘fun walls’ section.

Jack and Ben took to it right away.

At first the twins were a bit nervous with the harness. But eventually they warmed up.

There were some really great moments.

Like watching Aaron play with Grandpa.

Or when Ben couldn’t complete one of the harder courses and Jack went back to help him.

One time Ben was cut in line and when I told the boy Ben was next, Ben said, “It’s okay, his time is almost up, he can go before me.”

We paid for a 2 hour session, which was $22 per kid, just enough time for Jack to complete every thing in the area. You can book for less time and less money, though. There are 1 hour and 1.5 hour sessions as well.

I highly recommend booking in advance!

Our lucky kids are getting showered with Grandparent love right now.

Last night, Bubbie and Grandpa Bill joined with my father for an enjoyable evening at our house. For once the adults outnumbered the kids!

And today, we met up again, this time at the extended stay hotel that Bubbie and Bill are staying in.

It was a great place to host the kids. The minute we arrived the kids got so excited that they jumped into the pool before they could hear what the plan was!

Then, Bubbie brought her dog Zoe out for the kids to play with. Besides Ben, they are all a bit spooked by pets. I was glad for the opportunity to expose them – slowly the kids are getting more comfortable around dogs. 

Afterwards, a failed attempt at kite flying.

Which turned into a playground visit.

Finally, Bubbie and Bill treated us to dinner at Max and Benny’s, Northshore’s best deli.

The kids ate so much that they didn’t even bother with dessert. That never happens when I feed them…

Today was Ben’s turn for a playdate.

This time we headed out to the suburbs to pick up his BFF, then continued on to a playground in Glen Ellyn, Maryknoll.

It was one of the many great parks we have seen when we hit the suburbs. It had two playgrounds, a zip line, a splash pad, clean bathrooms, a clubhouse that sold food and ice cream, mini golf, frisbee golf, shuffleboard, and plenty of green open spaces left for where ever your imagination might take you.

All the kids were the right age for all of it!

Climbing…

Here they picked up a game of tag with some of the other kids.

Zip lining…

Splashing in the water…

Even Grandpa gives the splash pad a whirl!

And of course, ice cream!

People often say that things get easier when the kids get older. Each summer is a chance to reflect on this, to look back and see how things have changed since last summer.

Yesterday Jack had two of his buddies over for a playdate. We headed over to Maggie Daley & Millennium Park for the day. Six kids, Two adults in a huge, open area park with lots of places to lose kids. It was a task that would have been too daunting a year ago.

This year was different. This year, Maggie Daley seemed like just about the only park in Chicago big enough for a bunch of 10 year olds to play at without getting bored. Or without getting dirty looks from parents of younger kids.

Jack and his buddies along with Ben played an epic game of tag. I barely got any pictures of them because I would just catch glimpse of them running.

Or hiding. 

Sometimes they would just pop up over ridges out of nowhere.

Yet they somehow managed to find each other because every time I asked, someone else was ‘it’.

Luckily the twins still needed my company all the time. And I was able to snap away at them enjoying all the park has to offer.

My Dad is here helping out so even if the twins split up we still had complete coverage.

We stopped for an ice cream break after 3 hours of non stop running.

Then across the Serpentine Bridge to Millennium Park to play in the Crown fountain.

After hours of hot sweaty play, it was a welcome change.

When we got back to the house, I expected the boys to zone out on electronics, but instead they played another tag game for hours in the house. The amount of energy exerted was incredible. If only I could bottle it and sell it, I’d be worth millions!