Combo Breaker

10 Years of Combo Breaker Family Photos

I didn’t know what a huge part of our lives Combo Breaker would become back when we went for the first time in 2016, but we still took a family photo while we were there, and we’ve taken a similar photo every year since. There are two less images than there should be, since the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, but we took four pictures at the old Pheasant Run, and this year broke the tie, with five at the Renaissance in Schaumburg.

These pictures rival our Christmas and Easter photos for the ones that mean the most to me every year…Combo Breaker has become a huge part of all of our lives, and one of the top events on our yearly calendar!

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2026 Getaway–Day Seven

Last Monday we had to get all of our stuff packed in the car so we could head home…but first, Chickadee and I had one last Red Bull toast:

It was hard to say goodbye to the place we had called home for almost a week!

I had one short detour planned for our trip home…we stopped by the Umbrella Sky Project in Elmhurst. It was the first time we all got to see the umbrellas in the open position, and the first time any of us had seen the installation in sunlight instead of clouds and rain!

Just like we did on the way up, we stopped at Wally’s on the way back:

And of course we had Portillo’s for lunch:

We even stopped at a Jewel in Normal…it’s funny to me to see one so far outside Chicagoland!

The rest of the trip was quiet, and soon we found ourselves back home, with our memories of Combo Breaker 2026 fresh in our minds!

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2026 Getaway–Day Six

Last Sunday was the last day of Combo Breaker, but that didn’t mean we could slow down…Chickadee and I were up super early yet again to get breakfast ready and the coffee going (I seriously don’t think I do anything more important throughout the event than make sure that coffee pot is always full!)!

Chickadee did a fantastic job of keeping the water and snacks stocked all weekend…she takes hydration very seriously!

We worked hard in the Crew Lounge, but we were also treated very well, and even spoiled a bit…we were treated to Stan’s Donuts (a first, but hopefully not last, for me!), popcorn from the Popcorn Baron (I got to have my favorite, root beer, which actually fizzes!), and a sample of the cookies Finuccio & Sons, the sandwich shop we patronize during the event, serves:

The only moment we had out of the Crew Lounge was our daily trek back to our hotel room to do dishes:

But we did finally make it outside for the first time since Thursday morning after the sun went down!

After helping with some of the packing that had to be done in the Crew Lounge (and a good laugh over a pair of “hallway underwear”), we headed down for the grand finals:

And after the games were done, had our annual Combo Breaker family photo taken:

Hard work pays off!

Up next…our last day in Chicagoland and the trip home.

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2026 Getaway–Day Five

On Saturday, we were all once again scattered across the event doing our various jobs. Chickadee and I were back in the Crew Lounge, but we did get a moment to walk through Artist’s Alley, where I found my favorite booth, Splendid Treasures, and added a new bracelet to my Eeveelution stack…I only have a few more to go before I complete the set!

We served more meals…Saturday is always pasta night, and there was also a really good Cesar Salad.

And we summoned up all of our energy to do a more thorough walkthrough of the event, including another visit to the artists, and a stop in our favorite spot, the Combo Breaker arcade, where I got to play Pokémon pinball!

The arcade is right next door to the Crew Lounge and we could hear music while we were working…we quickly found out why, and we really enjoyed it!

Up next…how is it already the final day of Combo Breaker 2026?!?

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2026 Getaway–Day Four

Last Friday was a long and busy day for all of us. Ryan was busy directing things, Turkey was doing production with 10/0, Bunny, Moose, and Ladybug were working registration and/or the info desk, and Chickadee and I helped staff the Crew Lounge, starting with the very important task of getting the coffee going before 6 a.m.

We also helped serve all three meals for the staff and volunteers, including sandwiches from a local deli for lunch, and everyone’s favorite dinner of the event, Portillo’s Italian beef!

The two of us were so busy that we only managed a quick walk through the event before we returned to our room, exhausted!

Up next…another early morning, more meals served, and a visit to the Combo Breaker arcade!

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2026 Getaway–Day Three

By last Thursday morning, things were really starting to come together on the main floor of Combo Breaker:

But before things really kicked into high gear, Chickadee and I took around the Schaumburg Sculpture Park, which was a lot of fun (we even got to see a nesting swan!):

And the lilacs were still in bloom:

And then we got to work in the crew lounge…on Thursday, we only serve dinner, but we also have coffee, water, and snacks for everyone working so hard to get all the last minute details taken care of.

The real highlight of the day, though, was the delivery of the Red Bull fridge to the Crew Lounge!

Up next…Combo Breaker 2026 begins!

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2026 Getaway–Day Two

Last Wednesday we were at the Metra station in Palatine pretty early to get a jumpstart on one of the best days of the year…the day we go to Chicago!

We even managed to get on a train earlier than I planned, which gave us a little more time downtown.

We visited all of our favorite spots:

And we found lots of pigeons!

I got to spend some time on the lakefront:

And we enjoyed a few treats:

Marshall Field’s (or Macy’s if you’re from out of town) is always an important stop, because we have to get our box of Frango Mints for the year…we were impressed to find that they are doing a lot of improvements in the old flagship store:

Our time went by entirely too quickly, though, and pretty soon we were back at Ogilvie Transportation Center:

I think we walked almost from one end of the train to the other looking for seats up top, as is our tradition on the way home, and we finally found our preferred spot:

When we got back, we headed down to the convention center to help out a bit with setup before we got some pizzas for dinner…after walking seven or eight miles downtown, we were famished!

Up next: a sculpture park, and the real beginning of our work!

Markel Family Combo Breaker 2026 Getaway–Day One

Just like that, our favorite week of the year has already come and gone, but we had a great time at Combo Breaker 2026!

We set out last Tuesday. As always, we stopped at Wally’s on the way…it might be a controversial opinion, but I think it’s the superior gas station!

Arriving at the Renaissance always feels like coming home:

We did things a little differently this year, and went to Rainbow Cone on our first day in Chicagoland instead of our last (and we went to one of the suburban locations that’s paired with Buona Beef):

And we stopped at Meijer to pick up supplies, which is a treat for us, although it’s rumored that St. Louis will be getting one eventually:

And then a truly rare treat…Ryan found an amazing taco place, Thlaco Taco Tijuanense, in Arlington Heights, and we tried their tacos al pastor, which were amazing…we’re already planning on going back for dinner next year!

I capped off the evening with a visit to the hotel pool and hot tub:

Up next…an amazing day in Chicago!

Sartorial Saturday–A “D’Lite”-Ful Sneaker

Last year after Combo Breaker, I promised myself that I was going to get a pair of shoes with a bit more ankle support/stability before the next event. So today, just in time for Combo Breaker 2026, I’m taking a look at the D’Lites-Popular Vote sneaker by Skechers.

I have been a fan of Skechers for almost 20 years. I was first introduced to the brand when I was pregnant with Ladybug and having some back trouble. I tried a pair of the old Bikers style of Mary Jane with the crisscrossing straps, and fell in love. They were so comfortable, and my back felt so much better, that I started wearing them regularly, and haven’t stopped since in one design or another! These are my first full lace-up sneakers, though, and they provide just the support I was looking for.

These caught my eye one day at Kohl’s both because they’re a pretty shade of blue but also because SPARKLE! They’re a little hard to see in a photo, but next to every lacing loop is a little rhinestone, and they really catch the light in the sun!

My only complaint with these shoes is that they run a tiny bit small, which is, in my experience, pretty unusual for Skechers. I wear a size 11, and there was no bigger size for me to try, but if there had been, I probably would have gotten those instead. It’s a minor complaint, though, and I find them pretty easy to wear!

Hopefully my feet will thank me at the end of the weekend!