Summer Fun at Orbit Skate Center in Palatine {and a Coupon}

**Disclosure: We will be receiving complimentary admission to Orbit Skate Center in order to conduct an accurate review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% our own.

My family visited Orbit Skate Center in Palatine a year and a half ago when my daughter first entered the first grade. She had been invited to a birthday party at Orbit. Being a new skater, she was quite unsteady on her skates. After the party, I brought her to one of the beginner skate lessons offered at Orbit. After the lesson, she was more confident and was off on her skates. Needless to say, we really love Orbit and are happy to share a deal for Orbit from Windy City Kids with you!

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Watermelon Cucumber Salad {Munchie Monday}

We had a surprisingly tasty watermelon salad during a recent date night. After devouring it, I knew that I had to try to replicate it. This evening, my husband and I came up with this easy and refreshing recipe. Perfect for picnics!

Ingredients:

1-1.5 cups watermelon, cubed with seeds removed
1/2 cup cucumber, cut into thin wedges
1 radish, sliced very thin
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 tsp fresh dill

Directions:

Whisk together rice wine vinegar, olive oil, honey and dill. Place prepared watermelon, cucumber and radish in large bowl. Add dressing and toss. You are ready to serve! Very easy!

**Tip: Measure olive oil with tablespoon first. Then, use the same tablespoon to measure out the honey. It will not stick! Pin It Now!

Free Kids' Events at Faith Lutheran Church {Mark Your Calendars}

Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights has a number of free events over the summer. We are just a week or so into summer break, so I am sure some of you are looking for some fun events to keep the kiddos busy! Here are some free events that you may want to add to your calendars:

Tuesday Tales

On Tuesdays from June 25-August 6 (except for July 2), Faith will be holding Tuesday Tales from 10:00AM-11:00AM. The event is geared towards children ages 3-8. Kids will learn about their favorite Biblical characters as well as enjoy a treat and work on crafts. The event is free! Parents and caregivers are required to stay with their children.

Lego Club

I have mentioned Lego Club in an earlier post. There will be two more meetings of Lego Club: July 11 and August 8. The sessions are geared towards those 3-10. Faith provides the snacks and Legos, kids supply imagination! The free event runs from 9:30AM-11:30AM each session. My daughter has been to a Lego Club session at Faith before and enjoyed working on an airplane. What a fun way to work on a project and let kids connect.

Vacation Bible School

The theme of this year's Vacation Bible School is Growing in Friendship with Jesus. Join Faith at the VBS HayDay Tuesday July 30, Wednesday July 31 and Thursday August 1 from 9AM-12PM! Children ages 3 years old - just entering 5th grade are welcome! 6th grade students and older can volunteer to be a Crew Member. Contact Jori Reuter, Faith Lutheran Church's Preschool Director, for more information. Please contact Jori by calling 847-253-4859 or emailing faithlutheranpreschool@ymail.com with any questions. You can also visit www.faithlutheran-ah.org for more information. You will need to register by filling out the VBS Form. You can read more about HayDay on the HayDay website.

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Happy Father's Day!!!!

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Strolling around Lake Katherine

A couple of weekends ago, we made our first trip to Lake Katherine in Palos Heights, Illinois. In addition to a gorgeous lake, Lake Katherine has a picturesque waterfall along with various rapids and pools. While winding on the trails, we discovered different gardens including a butterfly garden and a children's garden as well as an arboretum. The preserve has a Nature Center. Unfortunately, the Nature Center is closed in Sundays, so we were unable to take a peek. Another time! We found Lake Katherine to be a serene place to walk. Here is a look at the scenery:

 

Look at one of our friends from our hike:

 

One of his buddies actually caused quite a ruckus with a swan. The swan waived his wings quite rapidly and flapped them in the water to scare off some geese on "his" island.

We found Lake Katherine to be a refreshing option for a hike. The scenery just sets you at peace. Plus, the waterfall adds a little something different from the other places we hike.

Canoes and kayaks can be rented during part of the year. You can check Lake Katherine's website for details. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leash. Be sure to pick up after your pooch! Picnics are actually prohibited at Lake Katherine. Please check the website for more on visitor policies. There also are family events at Lake Katherine, so be sure to check those out!

Lake Katherine is open for walking dawn through dusk. The Nature Center is open weekdays 9AM-5PM and 10AM-4PM on Saturdays, closed on Sundays. Admission is free! The preserve is located at 402 W. Lake Katherine Drive in Palos Heights. However, I must warn you that we had to "trick" our GPS to find it. Pin It Now!

Great America bound? {Here is a coupon!!!}

If you are thinking about visiting Great America in Gurnee this summer, the US Family Guide has an awesome coupon for $20 off of one day admission. $20 is a pretty nice chunk of change, so I thought that I would share. Using the code FAMILY, you can receive the $20 discount off of online ticket purchases. The offer is valid through 9/14/13. Thank you, US Family Guide for providing this deal for our readers!

**Disclosure: We received notification of this special coupon through our affiliation with US Family Guide. No compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

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