Cousins Camp

Greg and I tried to go to Chicago in December 2008 to celebrate our 10-year anniversary, but we all got sick...the kids, the babysitters, and eventually us.  So, we didn't go.  This year (in February) we thought we'd give it a go again and do it for our 11-year anniversary.  And a few days before our departure, our babysitters got super sick. 

After much plan B, C & D discussions (including just taking a hit and giving up our hotel reservations), my parents said, "If you can get your kids here, we can watch them."  You see, they had already agreed to watch my sister's kids for the same weekend.  God bless them!  So, I spent all day (literally--4 hours there/4 hours back) driving my kids to their house so Greg and I could leave our own house at 6 am the next morning to head for Chicago.

Greg and I had a great time in Chicago!  We were major tourists and did very touristy things.  I'll share some pictures of that some time.  While we were enjoying the windy city, our kids were enjoying "Cousins Camp," as my dad enthusiastically dubbed it after finding out they'd have every grandchild they own parent-free for several days. Again, God bless them!

My parents took pictures of their fun weekend and sent the CD home with us so I could have documented proof that they fed my kids only junk food, and that they did have them change their clothes occassionally.

Art projects in the living room...Owen, Aubrey, Sophie.

While my mom was driving several hours to pick up yet another grandkid (God bless them!), my dad took the first three arrivals out on the lake near their house.

I think Owen may have been pelting Aubrey with a snowball here.  Good supervision, Grandpa!

Junk food evidence #1 & #2.  Look at that "milk" in Owen's cup!! 

#3

The whole gang...Owen, Jozie, Aubrey & Sophie

More outdoor fun

No idea what happened here, but it doesn't surprise me.

I believe there was snow-licking occurring here based on other pictures in this sequence.  I'm hoping it wasn't yellow.

Junk food evidence #4

and #5. 

Our kids had such a wonderful time at "Cousins Camp!"  Sophie got to sleep with Aubrey in a big bed with a TV in their room, Owen got to sleep with Grandpa, and both kids refused to speak to us on the phone every time we called (at least once a day!).  They didn't want to leave, but when I finally pealed them away, Sophie was already talking about "the next time" and "couldn't just us two big girls [Sophie & Aubrey] go alone sometime without the little kids or moms and dads?"

I guess my parents had a good time too.  My dad even made certificates for all the kids to commemorate the occassion.  If you zoom in really close, you can see it says "First Annual Cousin's Camp."

God bless them!

Thanks so much, Mom & Dad!