Sundays In My City: Kids Park

 I haven't done one of these blogs in a few months. No particular reason, but I need a break from the deep stuff, and we've been a busy family squeezing in lots of fun before summer break ended. I took way more pics than anyone could ever need form a small park...so I might as well put them to use!

There is a little park at McFarland and Banta on the south side of Indy at the Southport Baptist Church (2901 E. Banta Rd., Indianapolis, IN). We drive by twice a day on our way to and from cross country practice. My 4 y/o begs me to stop so he can play every time. 5 days a week. On the 1st day of school we had to run musical instruments to the older kids schools and of course had to pass this park. I had planned to take my toddler to the central library today, but he begged to see that park once again and so on our way home we stopped.

It was super hot so we only lasted about 35 minutes, but he had an awesome time! This little park is quite the undiscovered gem. I rarely see anyone using it, and if ever maybe just a mom and a small child or two. It's really quite nice to enjoy some quiet time while Aiden plays without worry about kidnapping, or fighting, etc.

As you can see from the photos...he can cover a lot of ground in 30 minutes, and I can take a ton of photos!

A night out w/the heathens

Tonight was our monthly MNO. We had dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory and went to Crackers Comedy Club, and ended our hop at Taps and Dolls!

The service at OSF was horrible, the comedian was lame, but the night is always a fun one when us heathens get together!

Feel Good Friday Fragments {8.13.10}

It's Friday the 13th. Agghhh!?!? Are you scared? I'm scared that this week will never end! I have had a super busy week and a good meme or two is just the kind of blog I need for today! It's simple, and easy. Just make a list. You can list fragments of your week and/or List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things.

Visit Mrs. 4444 and The Girl Next Door to join the fun! 

 Onto the 5 fragments of my week that made me happy! 

1. Deep fried tenderloin sami at the Indiana State Fair!

2. Seeing my daughters BFF's eyes light up at her very 1st concert at Verizon with the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lavado, and the Camp Rock 2 crew!

3. Seein my Daughter dance and sing at the Justin Beiber concert!

4. Taking a bunch of kids to the Incredible Pizza Company for unlimited rides and food!

5. Taking a trip to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari for the 1st time.

We are heading back to the fair tonight, and tomorrow night is dinner and a show at the Comedy club, and Sunday is yet another fair trip and the Selena Gomez concert!

Have a great weekend!

Indiana caught the Beiber fever

I took my daughter to Conseco Fieldhouse in Indaianpolis tonight for the Justin Beiber concert! I've never been to our new (to me) field house yet. It was jam packed, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that all of the lines moved fairly well.

We had awful seats. I know better next time. I thought my Daughter was not going to make it...we were so high up we both felt sick until they turned the lights off!

It was a lot of fun watching her dance, and sing, and I was happy to hear a few artists I knew that opened for the Beib...because he's just not my thing.

We arrived about 30 minutes early. I love that Nadine wanted to wear a dress and not the typical crazed fan attire...while I would have supported her in shirt making and face painting, I kinda like that she is outgrowing that stage!

We found our seats and convinced ourselves to stay at least until they show started.

Did I mention how HIGH up we were?

His stage sets were pretty good.

The dancers were good too.

Nadine got cold and had to put on her keepsakeTour T-shirt. 

He wrote the I <3 You graffitti on stage and man did that make the girls squeal!

He floated around in this egg over the floor. That was a crowd pleaser! More screams please.

He played the drums. I think Nadine loved this part the best.

I <3 drummers...but not this one. He's too young!

He also floated around in this heart over the floor while he sang and played his guitar.

This induced more screams...

especially when it started turning.

He did a Michael Jackson song and he has some very good Michaelish moves.

I didn't care for this all white look he had going on. He looked like a painter to me.

Nadine got adventurous and sat on the stairs. I promptly moved her back to the chair so she didn't get stepped on!

Here's the JB in red.

I didn't know he played the piano. He's really a good player too.

My fave part was probably the short hip-hop free style bit.

They took turns dancing in the corner like it was a dance-off.

The show was good...the girls drove me crazy, but all in all I think the pain and agony was worth it for Nadine. This was the biggest concert she's ever been to, and it's not likely she'll get to go to one like this again unless mom likes the artist a whole lot...and preferably if it's not a ton of screaming pre-teen girls fave artist too!

Indiana State Fair: Day 1; Family night

Today was "Free day" at the Indiana State Fair. Every year they print a ticket for free admission (an $8 value) in the Monday Indy Star newspaper. We buy a paper for each of us (except Aiden...he's still free this year) for $ .75. It's a great value for the larger families! You can go one of two weekdays, and today is day 1!

We had to wait for school to let out, and for the oldest 2 kiddos to finish practice. This was not the best of nights to go, but we have to take advantage of these free, or near free activities when we can!

We only spent 3 hours at the fair, but I am satisfied with how much fair we were able to fit into such a short visit.

Aiden was thrilled to be able to pet the babies today!

Cookies & creme, chocolate, and expresso cows =D

The WORLDS largets Boar...right here at the Indiana State fair!

This photo just doesn't do this big guy any justice. He was HUGE! He weighs almost 1,300 lbs!!!

Pink piggies!

...and black piggies!

Moma and her babes.

This goat was funny. Every time I held up my camera he would dunk his head down.

The kids enjoyed the parade, which happened to start rigt as we sat down to eat.

We were so distracted by the parade that I forgot food pics!

It's the Beauty Queen!

Welll...I think the "Year of the Pig" deserved a better costume. Just sayin'. ;)

After dinner and the parade we headed to the indoor agricultural stuff!

This is the 2010 cheese sculpture which was just revealed today!

This sand sculpture was a model of the fair train. Aiden wanted to take a ride. Ha!

This is the audiance of the cockroach race. I've never seen the actual cockroaches race, thankfully, but I giggle every year at the cockroach patrons that have a resting place as spectators.

We visit the Ball State Ag/Hort building every year. In this building is the farmers market cafe, produce competition, gardens, canned goods scultures and so much more!

This was the giant pumpkin of 2010. Over 700 lbs! That's a lot of pie, yo'!

This train runs through a landscaped garden area and Aiden loves to take a break to watch the train make a few laps on the track.

I don't know why but I love checking out the annual canned goods sculptures.

This Toy Story inspired pig was Nadine's fave.

This bacon and eggs skillet was Andrews fave.

Jon like the "Green eggs and ham" entry.

Dane loved this pig, ready to eat!

I really loved Piglet and Pooh!

And of course, Aiden liked the Rocket and Pig astronaut!

We scammed a lot of indoor activity this visit because of the heat, and the fact that the kids had ran several miles after school at practice. We finally decided to head to the midway.

Dane & Aiden road the Catapillar coaster!

Andrew doesn't do rides, but he gladly went on the Raiders obstacle course to help little Aiden and Dane went along too.

Nadine rode the Kite Flyer ride!

It was so stinking hot that NONE of us remembered dessert until we were half way home! No elephant ears, no funnel cakes, no dipppin' dots. Nada! Maybe on Friday ;)