my famille and i got together during the holiday weekend to get into some festive fun. we were able to check off another fun summer activity: going to a carnival!!

there were so many fests going on but we decided on the lisle summer fest, eyes in the sky. they had a lot of fun stuff going on there – kitschy shopping, greasy food, cheesy kid fun, & a carnival! we parked at benet academy and we were bussed in…it is so much easier than driving to the festival to find parking, it was a quick bus ride there!

once we got there, food was in order! actually beer was our first go to…unfortunately, the beer selection was subpar. hello?! where was the craft beer section?! after getting our libations, we trekked over to the food section. of course hc and the bro in law insisted on walking the entire area and then decide on what to eat. they had to assess all the options…oh goodness. once we walked the food section, we all split up and bought our entree of choice. holy cow! it was so freakin’ expensive! that’s a festival for y’all. a monopoly of vendors that hike up their prices for a quick, lucrative profit. hmph.

[god bless america]

[i don’t want milk…i want my toesies]

[italian ice]

[this picture cracks me up…it was so bright, they couldn’t keep their eyes open! bennett screamed, “i can’t see!!!!”.]

[i so didn’t want a miller lite]

[shopping around the food section]

[decisions, decisions, decisions…gyros? fried rice? crab cakes?]

[grace and daddy]

[the ridiculously expensive gyro]

[my funny, funny nephew…what a ham]

while we were eating our food in the picnic area {funnel cake anyone? yes, please}, tommy the hawk flew by in a golf cart. the kids went nuts! a slew of kids started running after him. it was hilarious. reagan and bennett went running towards him too. tommy the hawk started to throw out rolled towels! the kids went crazy, running back and forth so they could catch a towel! i ran out with the boys to encourage and help them. as tommy the hawk directed the kids to where he was going to throw the towel, he spotted me standing there…i knew he was going to throw the towel towards me! he had the kids run across the grass again to where i was standing, he threw the towel directly at me! it totally bounced off my hands and some dude totally swiped it from me when it bounced onto the grass! darn it!

they also handed out stickers and eventually, reagan caught a towel! woo! i’m so glad he did! reagan soooo wanted a picture with him so i got them to stand next to him and i snapped a photo! bennett was so nervous! he wasn’t completely scared but completely questioned the large, furry, human sized animal in front of him! that is why his eyes are closed. he didn’t want to directly look at him! lol.

[bennett was a bit afraid…but he did well…except for fearfully closing his eyes]

as we hung out at the fest, they started to blow up the hot air balloons! it was so cool to see. only at lisle fest is the only time i ever see hot air balloons…even as a kid! it never gets old.

after the eating, drinking, shopping, watching kiddie entertainment, we finally dragged ourselves into the carnival area. this festival was a money pit! oh em gee…everything was so expensive! i bought tickets so grace could possibly go on rides. we walked through the gaming area, the boys totally loved this part. they participated in how fast you can throw a ball and won blow up baseball bats…of course they chose the cubs!

grace played the game where you throw the balls and try to win a gold fish. wha wha. no goldfish but the girl definitely went on some crazy looking rides! she loves roller coasters and such. um, not me nor hc! we won’t go on such contraptions!

[auntie thuy always doting on olive]

[grace excited and ready to ride this scary machine]

[olive and daddy]

[bye bye carnival]

after a lot of fun, and it was really a lot of fun, we were spent {literally} and ready to go. it was a great time outside in the beautiful weather, i loved eating the greasy festival food, we had such fun with the famille, i enjoyed watching the kids having a wonderful time, and i am absolutely loving summer.

here’s to more summer memories to create!

xoxo