#22 - Kids Day at the Isanti County Fair

Well, we went a day before Kids Day because it worked better for scheduling (kinda), but then we still without one group of cousins... It's getting harder to get everyone together as the kids get older and busier.

I do love the Isanti County Fair. I remember going as a kid and hanging out for the entire fair at my dad's C & H Siding and Remodeling booth. Good memories... I am glad to give my children their own memories of this place. It was the first place my daughter wore shoes for more than 30 seconds... at age 16 months!

The wee ones.

Isn't this little guy an absolute darling?! It was our first time meeting the son of a girl I started babysitting at age 7 months! (Yes, it's a little crazy we are having babies at the same time!)

What's a trip to a fair without a pony ride?

The scavenger hunt in the 4H barns was tons of fun! I hope they do it again.

High, high jumps

Peek-a-boo

$4 glitter tattoos

And the best ride of all...

Splash Pad #2 - Princeton, Minn.

Summer is about splashing, and in early July we visited a local splash park. After going out of our way a bit by heading south to Isanti and then west to Princeton to avoid the Highway 95 detour, we made it. I have to tell ya, finding the splash park isn’t easy. Go past McDonald’s and the hospital, and follow the road as it makes a sharp turn and takes you back the way you just came. Then turn into Mark Park at 11th Avenue South and Fifth Street South. Now, you’ll think you’ve arrived at a ballfield complex. Keep driving through the parking lot and you’ll reach a few buildings. It’s to the left of that. Confusing, yes.

But after you’ve made it, you’ll be glad you discovered this jewel of a splash park. Spacious with a number of umbrella-covered picnic tables, it’s a great spot to spend an afternoon or entire day. The cost per day is $4; got a bigger family? It’s $15 for all of you. The splash park is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day to Aug. 15 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Aug. 16 to Labor Day, weather permitting. Snacks (chocolate bars and chips) are sold by the same teenager who reminds kids to walk and stay out of the pump area.

We were at the splash park on a hot and humid day, the kind where you just want to sit and be still. The splash park was so refreshing. We’ll be back.

http://www.princetonmn.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={17341848-BF64-49BA-80C3-8DC7B0C35755}

Splash Pad 1: Oak Park

This summer is the year of splash parks.

Josey loves water and I enjoy getting out of the house. Sadly, there is no splash park (or even public beach) in Cambridge, so we have to venture out for our water fun. The closest splash park is in Princeton, and we plan to head that way soon (braving the detour on Highway 95). A few weeks back we started our summer by visiting Oak Hill Splash Pad in St. Louis Park. What a fun place!

Josey and I were joined by two other moms. Our kids range from 14 months to 8 years. They all had a blast. The web site at http://www.stlouispark.org/neighborhood-parks/oak-hill-splash-pad.html boasts that the splash pad is like running through the sprinkler on a grand scale. There are bubbling hoses, water nozzles and spri

nkler arches, as well as the ever-popular buckets that randomly surprise kids by dumping water when they fill.

I most appreciated the fence around the Splash Pad that kept my little wanderer close by. Moms and kids were parked around the edges; someone planned it just right to be sure the water nozzles wouldn’t reach the shaded benches. That deserves a big thank you! Food isn’t allowed in the Splash Pad, so we set up our picnic just outside the fence.

The splash pad is in a park with two playground areas and a picnic shelter. When the kids got tired of the water, they headed for the swings. Oak Hill Park is located at 3201 Rhode Island Avenue South, about 5 minutes west of Highway 100. The entire area is free — what a bonus. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 28 to Sept. 12, weather dependent. There are changing rooms and restrooms, as well as an indoor pavillion. Little ones should wear swim diapers; rubber soled water shoes are recommended.