​​Whoa - it’s Memorial Day Weekend already! I’m still finding pine needles around the house from our Christmas tree removal back in December, so it truly is a surprise to be approaching the weekend that unofficially kicks off summer! There are many celebrations throughout the city and suburbs to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving our country.  We have the pleasure each year of meeting up with Meg, Tony and the twins to view the Memorial Day Parade in Norwood Park.  This year, on Monday, May 28th the parade will kick-off at 11am. You can find more information about the event as well as the parade route at http://www.norwoodpark.org/memorial-day-parade/.
 
While it truly is important to take time to remember those who have served our country during the upcoming holiday weekend, many also look forward to this weekend to spend time with family and friends!  I know many of us in Chicago will be setting up our outdoor furniture, planting gardens and getting our grills ready to start enjoying the arrival of summer!  
 
If you don’t have plans for the weekend yet, and want to venture out for a few hours with the family, I suggest checking out Southport Corridor.  Often times this area on weekends is bustling – and if the Cubs are up to bat at home, it’s even more festive!  If you don’t happen to have tickets to any of the games this weekend, but want to be a part of the baseball fun, I have a suggested itinerary to fill a morning or afternoon this weekend with a bit of fun!
 
First, head over to Margaret Donahue Park at 1230 W. School Street.  If you and your kids are Cubs fans, you will love this place due to the large turf area showcasing the Cubs logo!  The playground equipment is awesome, and if the temperatures rise, the splash zone will be a great place to cool off. The playground honors the work of Margaret Donahue, one of the first women executives in major league baseball. You can check out her story here
 https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/margaret-donahue-park

After playing for a bit, the kids will probably be ready to eat! Head west on School Street to arrive at Southport Avenue.  One of Eleanora’s favorites for lunch or dinner is locally owned and operated by 4 Star Restaurant Group, Tuco and Blondie!  EVERYTHING on the menu is great and all kids meals are only $6 and include a drink, fruit and an ice cream cone for dessert. If you end up at Tuco and Blondie between 4:30pm and 6:30pm, your kids will eat for free! Eleanora is a big fan of the guacamole made with avocado, lime and pico de gallo.  Moms and dads should definitely try one of the margaritas! Tuco and Blondie is located on the corner of Southport Avenue and Roscoe Street.  http://www.tucoandblondie.com
 
However, if Mexican food isn’t what you are hankering for, Eleanora also gives a big thumbs up to Crosby’s Kitchen located at Southport Avenue and Cornelia Avenue. This is another super kid-friendly restaurant owned and operated by 4 Star Restaurant Group where you will find outdoor seating allowing for the fun pastime of people watching. I love the Wrightwood Salad made with the restaurant’s rotisserie chicken. The menu also offers great options for kids, and again, if you dine here between 4:30pm and 6:30pm, kids eat free. When we eat here, it is a must to end our dining experience with the skillet cookie! ​

So now that you have played with the kids and had a bite to eat, there is one more thing visitors to Southport Avenue experience – shopping. It isn’t always easy to shop with kids in tow, but you may want to pop into M2 Boutique and have them help you pick out a Father’s Day gift or grad gift you may need. This cute little corner shop owned by Melissa Nelson, is a great place to find unique and affordable gifts.  With Father’s day around the corner, you may find something for your sports fan hubby, accessories for the traveling dad, or fun bar accessories for the thirsty guy! However, if Father’s Day shopping isn’t on your radar yet, I am sure you can find a little bauble for yourself!  ​

Calling all friends of the Messy Mommies! Do you have ninja kids flipping around your house? Are your kids climbing over furniture? Do they turn your backyard into an obstacle course? Well then, Stella, Sophia and I think you should brave your adventure and join us at the awesome Chicagoland Kids Obstacle Challenge on June 16th at Busse Woods! And, we have an awesome, muddy deal for you!

Sign up today for the epic Chicagoland Kids Obstacle Challenge! Just click on this Kids Obstacle Challenge link and use the promo code MESSYMOMMIES10 to receive 10% off your registration! 

Stella, Sophia, Tony and I did the muddy Kids Obstacle Challenge last year and it was awesome! And very muddy - which was awesome! This was our first family obstacle course and we were not sure what to expect! Tony and I thought it would be a good family adventure and it far exceeded our expectations!

Stella is our brave, adventuresome daughter that loves to climb high, leap over any object, and is drawn to anything messy. Her 6-year-old twin sister, Sophia is such a sweetheart and is a deep thinker, assesses the situation, and bravely charts her own course. I love 5k races and my husband, Tony thinks I'm crazy. I really wasn't sure how our family outing was going to go. 

We picked an early morning wave time and hydrated with our favorite Body Armor sports drink. We packed up extra beach towels and headed to the course. The Kids Obstacle Challenge team was so organized! After we checked in we powered up with our Clif Bars! Then the kids stretched and tested their skills in the warm up area. It quickly was time for our race!

The Kids Obstacle Challenge folks are fantastic at spacing the participants which was great for my cautious Sophia. Yet, there was plenty of room to run for my gazelle like Stella. The course is filled with obstacles from jumping up to hit bells to climbing over fences and walls. As we kicked our challenge into gear we encountered rope walls,  ball water pits, and spider web challenges. It was a blast working with the girls. I was enchanted with watching them assess and decide how they would bravely navigate each obstacle. Sometimes Stella went over a challenge while Sophia opted for climbing under. Other times we all helped each other maneuver around. And there was mud - lots and lots of mud! It was awesome!

As we dashed through the course I could see Stella and Sophia's confidence build and we were all laughing as we splashed through more mud. Tony was a champ as he helped Stella swing across the mud pit. Stella then went bravely into the army crawl mud pit!

I was so proud of the girls as we rounded the last part of the course. The girls were laughing and cheering each other on as we dashed to the finish line. They LOVED getting their very first medals and thought it was awesome that we were muddy! 

The Kids Obstacle Challenge is an epic way to kick off summer with your family and friends! Sign up today and be sure to use our special code MESSYMOMMIES10! ​

Here are a few tips for the day!
1. Wear old gym shoes! The course is muddy, muddy, muddy!
2. Bring towels. There are spray hoses so you can get some of the mud off before you get to your car. Towels help!
3. Bring a change of clothes for the kids. It is muddy!
4. Bring or purchase on site a plastic case for your cell phone so you can take pictures along the way!
5. Travel light for the race, it is muddy!
6. Have an awesome time with your family and friends!

The Messy Mommies hope to see you and your families on June 16th at the Kids Obstacle Course! Look for us, we'll be near the mud!

​Meg