First Time Cousin Camp

Hey C.,
Great idea!! Some food ideas:
have a picnic. You can have rice cakes that the kids can put peanut butter on, raisins for the nose and mouth and mm's for the eyes. I know my kids have fun making and eating these "faces". Since you are going to bake, you also might consider making pizza's that day, each kid can make their own. My daughter and her cousin just made some crazy ones the other day at my moms. We have also done "skewers" meals where the kids and use skewers instead of utensils. We did cut up hot dogs and some fruits.
Have fun!!

Sounds like fun! One thing that I have learned with little kids, is that most activities or crafts that you think will take them at least 30 minutes to do, they may rush through in 5 minutes. Some kids will take their time and really get into it, but most kids won't. So, I would have lots of additional ideas to help fill the time. I do the arts and crafts at my church's VBS every year and I have found that the kid's really enjoy what I call - Big, Messy Art day. We go outside and do several tactile and messy activities. This would be good for even the younger ones. I also include some science type activities. SteveSpanglerScience.com has great experiments that you can do, mostly with stuff you already have at home. Some examples of things I have done are: quicksand(cornstarch and water in a pan, fun to play with), finger painting(cover an area or table with butcher paper and put globs of tempera paint for them to play in - also add shaving cream (not menthol) to the mix and this makes it more fun and helps with the clean up), watered down paint in squirt bottles, scented paint(made from koolaid), mentos and coke experiment(see stevespanglerscience.com). You could do this in their bathing suits and then just hose them down when you are done. Have fun!

Don't have any suggestions for games, etc.

But do suggest you skip the hayride or you are going to have a major meltdown from at least one very tired kiddo.

I do not really have suggestions for you, but I wanted to let you know what a great idea this is. Praying that it will go smoothly, and be a blessing to all involved.

WOW! Can you be my kid's grandma too?!

I think meltdowns are inevitable even if you sit at home all day and twittle your thumbs. Go have fun!! :)

I know a grandmother that does it every other year and she has done
getting snow cones
making homemade icecream
going to get old fashion burgers
planting trees
playing with water guns
The grandparents built the kids a place house in the back yard so they also do that for hours.
What you can do is google cousin camp ideas and see what you can find.

I hope this helps!!!!!!!

Ohhhh can I come!!?!! It sounds like you have everything under control and ready for those kiddos already. What fun this is going to be!!

Since the children will be kept busy in the mornings and evenings it sounds like you are on the right track to provide some down time too. Maybe you could let the little ones nap and the older ones do individual crafts or play doh type projects on their own. This way it won't wear you out entertaining them everyday and they get a little individual or one-on-one time with you as well.

Have fun!
D.

i am currently "reading" sandra lee the almost home made cook. check out her cookbooks at the library. you can have each child make a card for their other grandparent/s or their parents. have a dress up day with old clothes and take a photo of them to give to their parents upon their return to their homes. go to the library one morning or afternoon to select a video/dvd. www.marthastewart.com might have some craft ideas. good luck! and i love your idea about a "cousins camp".

That sounds like so much fun...what a way for the family to bond and what good memories they'll have!
You mentioned baking so I thought it would be fun if you let them bake cupcakes and then they could each decorate their own with frosting, sprinkles, etc. Or you could also let them make ice cream sundaes with whip cream, nuts, cherries, sprinkles, syrup, etc.
Other options for outings:
If you have a local library nearby a lot of them hold storytime for the kiddos during the summer.
Take them to the mall and let them play in the kids area & have lunch in the food court.
Go to the dollar theater and catch a movie.
Go to a bounce house.
Whatever you end up doing I'm sure you will all have a blast. :)

Why not get the fun foam visor hats, usually $1 at Michael's, to decorate so they can match the t-shirts! I do this every year in June with my nieces to wear on Forth of July.

Good Luck!