ILLINOIS STATE FAIR

We took Mom and Don to the State Fair last Saturday. We were excited to get a chance to see (and pose with!) the Stanley Cup, which the Chicago Blackhawks won most recently. It was super hot, but we had our share of corn dogs, cheese curds, funnel cakes and lemonade shake-ups!

Baby cow trying to get milk from Don's little finger!
Don and Mom with Freddie, the Springfield Sliders mascot

Enjoying a beer, but not enjoying the extemely loud bad music, in the Bud tent!

Grandma and the kids

Butter Cow!

Ready to leave after a fun day at the fair!

MICHIGAN RELATIVES

At Auntie and Uncle Al's house in Muskegon! It was great to see them and all Rob's cousins (and their kids too!)

Rob with cousins, Craig, Lynn and Kevin

Rob and his mom

Jen, Auntie, Lynn and Mom

Adam, Brandi and Auntie...at Lynn's house for pizza

CRAIG'S CRUISERS

On our way to Muskegon we stopped at Craig's Cruisers, which was awesome. We rode go-karts and Adam got to spend time in the batting cages. We went to the one in Muskegon the next day and rode more go-karts, played mini golf and hung out at the video arcade. This place rocked!

HOLLAND AND SAUGATUCK, MICHIGAN

After leaving the Windy City, we started the 2nd leg of our vacation, which was going to Michigan to visit Rob's side of the family. First though, we stopped in Saugatuck to have a drink, look at the big boats and of course we couldn't leave without getting an ice cream cone and fudge to go!

Michigan Welcome Center Saugatuck

Our hotel in Holland - it had the best pool, hot tub and game room ever!

FINALLY...AMERICAN GIRL PLACE!

Emily and I had been waiting a loooong time to go to American Girl Place at Water Tower, so we were very excited to finally get there. We told the boys to go look around somewhere else because we were going to be there awhile!

Lanie, the new doll
My very own American girl!

CHICAGO RIVER AND LAKE CRUISE

The kids chose to go on a cruise instead of going to Shedd Aquarium. It was an excellent choice! We got to see all the famous buildings and learn about the history of many of them. Then we headed out to the lake, but first had to go through the locks, which we had never done.

View of Navy Pier from out on Lake Michigan

SEARS TOWER SKYDECK

Yes, this building is now called the Willis Tower, but it will be forever known as the Sears Tower to us! Colleen and the kids headed home and so just the Powers went up to the Skydeck at the top. What an amazing view! It was very cool to step out on the ledge and see the ground below us!

DAY TWO IN CHICAGO

Millineum Park!

The Bean and The Fountain

Rob and the Bean!
Museum of Science & Industry


At the hotel before we left for the day

Breakfast at the Rock and Roll McDonald's across from our hotel

NAVY PIER

After the Cubs game we headed down to Navy Pier. We rode the big ferris wheel and the kids rode the Swings. What a great view from the top! Dinner at Bubba Gumps and then taxi rides back to our hotel!