Minooka Summerfest

While it was fun to have the Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs at our booth, the boys also managed to have some fun apart from the dogs.

 It's a good thing these boys are cute because they are constantly stealing/mooching food.  I sure hope Pam wasn't planning on eating that melon.

 Kye wanted to smell the melon on Anders hand.  Anders was pleasantly surprised to be around a dog who wasn't trying to knock him over in order to take his food.

Maggie and Anders thought the bucket with ice and water was WAY more interesting than the dogs.  These two played in this bucket for about half an hour.

 I asked Gus to smile for me.  He was little preoccupied.

 So I asked him to look at me and smile and this is what I got.  Then he asked me if he could be done.  Oh well.

 Members handing out water on a hot, muggy day.

 I was taking pictures of the Comfort Dogs when I spotted Hans and Diane having a funny conversation.

 It must have been pretty funny.  The day was filled with lots of wonderful moments.

 Sophie and the boys found the big bouncy slide.

 My not so dare-devilish child was VERY upset last year when he couldn't go down the slide.  This year he was old enough and really wanted to go.  I thought he would get to the top and realize it was too high and refuse to come down.  Or slide down once and never try it again.  But he surprised me and slid down over and over again.

 When John saw this picture he asked me if I had any more.  I told him that this was the only picture I took of him sliding.  Then he said, "Well maybe next time you should take more just in case.  Because this one isn't good.  I look a little scared.  The picture should capture how I really felt."  Yes folks, that's right, my son did say capture how I really felt. 

John also felt that I should add a picture to show just how big the slide was.  And to let you all know again that he was not scared.  As if anyone thought he would be.

Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs

Every year the village of Minooka hosts "Summerfest."  There are booths for all kinds of non-profits and for-profits, food vendors, carnival games, bouncy houses and a stage set up with various types of entertainment.  Our church has had a booth there for years.  Last year we started what I hope will be a long tradition of having the Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs.  Despite the fact that we hand out free water to all those walking by, we are infinitely more popular when the dogs are present.

 This is Darlin.

 Darlin attracted a lot of attention.

 Even though the boys are convinced that we have our own "comfort dog," the boys were very happy to pet a dog who actually stayed calm the whole time.

 Our friend, Lise, and her daughter, Maggie, stopped by to see the dogs.  Darlin wanted to shake hands.  It was very sweet.

 Goldens are soft, but these goldens seem to be extra soft.  I'm sure it is because they are groomed so often.

 Kye came a little after Darlin.

 Old friends had to get reacquainted.

 This was a rare moment when no one was petting the dogs.

 Anders always has to give dogs a hug.

 These dogs are excellent with the young and the old.

 When people would see the working vests they assumed they couldn't pet the dogs.  This is true of other types of working dogs, but not the Comfort Dogs.   You can only see a bit of the gold bone to the right, but Kye was one of the dogs featured on Good Morning America.  The bone says "Good Morning American Hero".

It was an honor and a pleasure to have these dogs at our booth.  These precious dogs have done wonderful things for so many people.  They quickly respond to disaster areas such as the shootings in Newtown, CT, the tornadoes in Moore, OK, the Boston bombing, and most recently there are several dogs in AZ providing comfort to those affected by the tradgedy of the 19 firefighter lives lost.

To find out more or to support the Comfort Dogs click here.

Make-A-Messterpiece

Debbie and Pam discovered a fun, new place where they could take the boys.  Make-A-Messterpiece is awesome!  It's artsy and creative and, best of all, it lets the kids make a mess and the adults don't have to clean it up!  If it weren't so far from our house I would be tempted to get a job there.

This is the Bubbleology station.  The boys always come home with several pieces of bubble art.

 Getting ready to make a treat in the 'Creative Kitchen'.

 John's rice krispie treat was a whole lot smaller when he came home.  I'm surprised it made it home at all.

 On this visit they made dinosaur cookies.  Forget the cookie part, Gus was all in the second he saw cinnamon and sugar.

 After the kids rolled out the dough they made dinosaur tracks.

Then the staff took the cookies and baked them.  They were all set to go in bags with their names on them a few minutes later.  

 There was also a center where the kids could make dinosaur tracks.  This also a cute idea.  The museum attached tracks to the bottom of flip-flops.  The kids were able to paint the bottom of the flip-flop and then make tracks.

The also have things to climb on and a slide.

 Learning about volcano eruptions.

 Baking soda, vinegar, food coloring and a little water is all you need.

 Anders didn't think it was necessary to use eye protection.

 Love John's face.

 He loved it so much he had to do it again.  Then he roped his dad into doing it again a couple of days later at home.

 These boys look like they could be on an episode of Breaking Bad.

Make-A-Messterpiece also has a room with barrel drums topped with colored water.  It makes a fantastic mess, hence all the gear.

 The boys LOVED it.

I'm not sure Anders wanted to leave.  I'm actually surprised he hasn't tried to replicate this situation at home.