Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Lords & Ladies!

A few weeks ago, we trekked eastward to the Great Lakes Medieval Faire. 

Ainsley had an absolute blast. She loved all the beautiful costumes, the butterfly tent (where we held a live butterfly), the big black oxen, and the pirate ship. We met Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, practiced archery, watched a man blow a ball of fire off the palm of his hand, and danced to a LOT of fun music. What adventures we shared!

Ainsley even got her very own amulet to wear, just like a medieval queen. She was so excited! 

Peter & Tink!

Ahoy, Matey!

Pirate Ship fun house

Playing in the pirate ship

This exit is more fun than walking the plank!

Ainsley LOVED the bow & arrow - she was
just like Princess Merida!

She did a great job!

This band called themselves Cu Dubh, and they were incredible! 
Bagpipes with a drum and trombone - the sound was awesome!

We can't wait until next year!

Fun in July

In addition to the Fourth of July and our trip to Wisconsin, we had lots more fun in July. Here are a few highlights.

Wade Oval Wednesday

Once again this year, we're enjoying the free concerts on Wednesdays at Wade Oval. 

Little birdie in a big nest

Swinging to the music

Brainard Spray Park

Ainsley was invited to a birthday party for her friend Lauren from daycare. It was at a local splash park, and Ainsley had so much fun running around with her friends.

Picnic at Aunt Wynnie's house

Aunt Wynnie had a picnic at her house in July, and we enjoyed seeing the whole clan. Ainsley was re-introduced to her cousins and especially had a good time playing with Serenity & Elise - the only two girls her age in a family full of boys! There were so many fun things to do at Aunt Wynnie's house that Ainsley didn't want to go home at the end of the day!

Riding a horse that she named Minimus
(like the horse on Sophia the First)

Granddad and all the girls

Upstairs in the big dollhouse

Driving the tractor

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
On a recent trip to the Cleveland Zoo, we explored the Dinosaurs exhibit. It was pretty amazing to see the real-size dinosaurs, as though we were roaming the Earth alongside them. It was like being in Jurassic Park! Some of the dinosaurs even moved and roared. Ainsley was little afraid at first, but it didn't take long until she got right up close.

Digging for fossils

this guy is TALL

T-Rex!

On one leg, like a flamingo

Her best flamingo pose, wearing her flamingo dress

Summer Fun in Wisconsin

We decided to drive instead of fly to Wisconsin this year to visit Grandma & Papa Molnar. We left at 6:45 p.m., assuming Ainsley would sleep most of the 8-hour trip. She was so excited to go to Grandma & Papa's house that she didn't fall asleep until 10:15 - little chatterbox for three hours! 

The weather was pretty chilly for July, barely reaching 70 degrees, so we had to adjust our schedule accordingly. No swimming this trip, but we found a lot of other cool things to do!

Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Saturday was a cold afternoon, so we found some fun indoors at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum in downtown Milwaukee. We took Ainsley here last year before her 2nd birthday. Now that she's 3, it was fun to watch her explore different things! She found some new things that she really liked (the art corner), but also some things she enjoyed before, such as the train and the grocery store.

the artist

Wash your hands!

Just like at Heinen's

Milking the cow

Driving a train

Building

Washington County Fair
We spent another chilly afternoon at the county fair. I was impressed with the many beautiful handmade items on display. And so many animals - cows, pigs, sheep, goats, roosters, rabbits, and more. Ainsley even fed a little goat, right out of her hand! She enjoyed all the rides, too.

Papa & Ainsley on the merry-go-round

Ainsley made a friend on the teacups

 We rode this one four times until we were
first in line to get a seat in the engine!

In the bounce house

Bay Beach

Last year, Ainsley, Grandma & I went to Bay Beach, a small amusement park in Green Bay. We had so much fun that we took Papa and Daddy with us this year. Most rides cost only $0.25 each - the roller coaster was the most expensive at a whopping $1.00 (Grandma, Papa & Daddy braved the roller coaster!).

Ainsley loves rides, so she had a blast at Bay Beach, running from one ride to the next for a full day of fun. There was a big slide, merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, and much more. Here a few pictures of her favorites.

The Ferris wheel is one of Ainsley's favorite rides.

Waving to her fans

She really liked this one, too.

Little Speed Racer

The swings were a new ride for Ainsley this year, as she wasn't tall enough last year. I think we may have found another favorite!

Grandma & I rode the big swings - we're up there somewhere!

Ready for a train ride

Riding along Green Bay

We rode this fighter pilot ride several times, and Ainsley always chose the camouflage plane, because she knew the gun worked. Apparently, the gun didn't work in one of the other planes, so she was quite disappointed during that ride. You gotta have a good gun!

One more time on the Ferris wheel!

Fun in the Backyard

One afternoon, Ainsley challenged Grandma & Papa to a game of beanbags in the backyard.  Ainsley turned out to be quite good at it!  I'm not sure who won, but everyone had fun!

Having some snacks with Grandma

Picnic time!

After we got home, Ainsley asked, "When can we go to Wisconsin again?"  I guess she had a good time!  We're all looking forward to another trip soon!