I was setting off to for Chicago again for the trade show that I do there for work each year and this time Brynn tagged along. Thankfully my boss Jen's daughters, whom Brynn knows pretty well, were also planning to come on the trip. Since Jen and I weren't available during the trade show hours, the girls were able to do some things together. Otherwise, Brynn did some shopping and walking down by the riverfront and pier, got coffee and thought about how she didn't want to leave to come back home to ND. ;-)
Unforunately we flew out of Fargo at an asinine time of 5:00 AM on Saturday - upon reflection, I think that must have been the cheapest flight and of course we wanted to leave sometime in the morning as that was my only totally free day where I wasn't doing any trade show set up or working the show once it started.
We weren't able to check in to our hotel early, so we stowed our luggage and set out for our brunch reservation Brynn had booked for us at Beatnik on the River. It was so gorgeous in there.
We caught the fireworks over the pier that night.
Brynn out with Jen's girls, Bella and Kaytlin. (Fun fact: I started working at SK - now HFI - just weeks after Kaytlin was born.)
We had a little time to kill before our Sunday dinner reservation so we visited Millenium Park again and saw the Bean.
We were able to walk to most places. I love all the buildings and there are so many good restaurants.
We tried a Peruvian restaurant called Cabra. It was so delicious.
The trade show ended on Wednesday and Jen gave Brynn her badge to get into the show since she wasn't going to be there for that day, so Brynn came over for the last hour. I had to snap a pic and send to Jen.
Brynn had wanted to go to Chinatown to this place where you could decorate a phone case, so we hopped over there once the show was done, ate an early dinner and got to the airport to come back home.
It was fun having her along with me!
Meanwhile, Clara and the rest of Scout Troop 276 of the Northern Lights Council packed up and shipped out to Camp Wildnerness near Park Rapids on Sunday morning.
The leaders were sending us photos and updates all week and we were so grateful to be getting all the info and pictures. I was zooming in on every photo to see if it looked like Clara was having a good time.
They were able to earn some badges through different activities and a couple of things that Clara signed up for was a drama/theater track and Trailblazers which entailed getting her fire safety and knife safety badges. In addition to those things, they did all kinds of other tasks, adventures, rec activities, etc.
They brought cots to sleep on inside their tents. Since Clara and Corinne were the only girls in their troop who attended camp, it was just the two of them in a tent together.
I knew before they left that they were planning a five mile hike and I think this is what this picture was from. I asked Clara how bad it was and she said not bad at all, so I was glad to hear that. I know they took a lot breaks and she had her canteen backpack. It was so hot and humid up there though.
I was amazed at these pics anyhow, but also how clear the sky was. The leaders had reported back to us that the smoke wasn't bad where they were, but just north near Ely, a different Scout camp had to evacuate due to the smoke, and so Camp Wildnerness took on 400 additional campers and leaders.
I know they retired a flag during camp and I believe that's what they're doing in this photo.
They celebrated a birthday!
I think each troop takes turns serving breakfast and dinner.
Dana was able to go spend the last night there and had a tent all to himself. Clara was so ecstatic to have him come stay. She made this chair during Trailblazers.
They got up at 5:00 AM on Saturday to get everything packed up to head home. It was a long week, but full of amazing experiences. Clara said she had a great time and made so many good memories, got to do a lot of things she had never done before and learned a lot of new skills.
My dad had asked me if I wanted to see Travis Tritt perform at The Lights in West Fargo so he and I went to that Friday night. It was really fun and Travis sounded great.
I had dinner there by way of a beer and an Uncrustable.
Saturday was the Dietz Picnic at my aunt and uncle's lake. Brynn unfortunately had to work and Clara was so exhausted from camp that when she arrived home just before I was getting ready to leave for the lake, she decided she'd have to stay home and rest. I think she said she ended up lying down for a nap around 1:30 or 2:00 and she didn't get up until 5:00. So, I went solo and it was another great time of visiting and good food. I even got to go tubing.
It's good to be home and have everyone back under one roof again. Later this week we're all off again though, setting off to West Yellowstone for a family vacation.
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