Chicago - Day 1

Illinois State Fair

The Illinois State Fair has been a highlight of the summer for years! I remember coming to the fair when I was little, walking around, seeing the animals, eating the fair food, riding some rides, watching some horse shows...I loved the fair! And I still do! This time, though, it was even more fun because I got to watch my own children enjoy the fair! We started with riding the ponies, then the big slide, then we enjoyed a fried Twinkie!!! YUM! Although it doesn't go very far when you are sharing it with six people! After that we rode the Ferris Wheel and Bumper Cars. For dinner, we all (all six of us) shared Corn Dogs, a cheese burger, regular fries, and sweet potato fries. Then it was off to the FFA tent to pet some animals. When we were done there, we rode the Sky Coaster back to the gate. Before we left, we all shared an Elephant Ear, then headed home! It was a wonderful night. We had so much fun and wished we could have stayed longer!! (And tried some more fair food - like a fried Snickers bar!!!) = )

Illinois State Fair Parade

New Pool

Bath Time

Fireworks

Since it rained in Annandale on the 4th of July, we did not take the boys to the fireworks. We thought it would be too wet...they did fireworks anyway. I felt so bad that we didn't take the boys. I don't think they have ever been to fireworks, and I thought they would really enjoy them. Because of all that, we decided to buy some fireworks from one of those roadside stands and do them on our own. We did some of the fireworks the other night, but the boys didn't like them as much as I thought they would! FJ thought they were too loud and Judah didn't like them at all! He kept asking if we could go inside. Thanks, Uncle Jeremy, for your help with the fireworks! I thought it was fun! = )

Fishing at Grammy and Papa's

Papa showing FJ how to cast
Judah watching his bobber
FJ's first fish
My "baby" fish
Judah got the biggest fish of the night and the liveliest! It flopped around and hit his arm; and he wasn't very happy about that, as you can tell by the picture!!