Cousin Week

July 11-20:  The kids got to spend a week with Grandma & Grandpa Henry this summer... lots of cousin time, lots of fun memories, and of course--the Hancock County Fair! 

We started our time together with a family wedding reception for my cousin.  The kids and I left Friday morning to head to Bowen.  I stayed with Jason & Trista's kids at their house for the weekend while they were gone on a canoe trip.  Yep--7 kids (2 babies), 2 nights, by myself!  We had fun and the kids were really good.  We played at Grandmas, worked on fair projects, the big girls went swimming, we went for ice cream at the dairy barn, and we had a pizza & movie night.   

On Sunday morning, Sadie & I left to head back.  I dropped her off in Streator to spend the week with Ms. Jennifer.  Kinnick, Macey, and Carver stayed with my parents.  Marc and I got a KID-FREE WEEK!!!  All the kids had a blast.  Sadie got to attend VBS, do some swimming (not as much as she wanted because it ended up being a cold week!), and eat at McDonald & Burger King.  The other 3 got to do lots of fun things also...

Indoor S'More Maker

Visiting Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa

LOTS of playing in the back yard!

Play-Doh (And Lots of Legos!)

Carver--showing off his trick

A trip to the fair for arm-band rides...

And of course some yummy treats!!

On Friday night, Marc & I headed back to Streator to pick up Sadie then went on to my parents.  It was great to see all the kids again.  We stayed for the week and got to enjoy the fair as a family on Saturday.  We went for "Kid's Day" games, $1 rides, checked out the exhibit hall, had some yummy treats, and walked through all the livestock barns...

Kinnick caught a greased pig!

Showing off their trophies:  Macey won the 4 year old tractor pull & Kinnick caught the greased pig!

The kids somehow suckered me into riding this ride with them!

Sadie's FAVORITE ride!

We came home with lots of fun prizes.

Cousins!

And of course... no trip to the fair complete without cotton candy & alien slushies!

Sadie won lots of ribbons.  Here, she's showing off her "Best Overall" for her writing project.

Kinnick, pointing out his zombie drawing.

Sadie even won a bike!!!

 This was the first year the kids entered projects in the fair.  I know it will become an annual tradition.  Sadie made over $40 and Kinnick & Macey both won cash prizes also.  They loved it!