Cousins

On the last day of our trip, we were able to go back to Jake's parents house for one last hurrah before our flight. The adults were able to enjoy a lunch out together while the cousins all hung out at Gma and Gpa's house. Before we left, we were able to get a picture of all the cousins together:

Love these kids:

Happy Independence Day! 2013

Next on our trip, we headed to Idaho to see my mom and step dad. Mom had a fun BBQ on the 3rd planned with everyone, and I was grateful that Mandy and her kids and Jon and Chelsy with Jolynn could be there. Grandma and Grandpa D. even joined us for dinner.

After the kids sprayed each other soundly with the squirt bottles mom gave them, it was time to toss some water balloons. I did not win and beamed Jon and Chelsy's dog at some point. Typical. Breanna got a balloon right in the face, and, I must say, I was impressed that she laughed it off. Not every 14 year old would think that was funny!

Sparklers in the front:

Jon and Chelsy had to drive to SD the next morning for a funeral, so Jolynn stayed at Grandma Lori's with us. Although the circumstances were not ideal, we were very happy to spend more time with her.
Bath time!

Cole found an old bow in Mom's backyard and wanted to shoot bows and arrows. Jake and I went to King's and picked up a kid sized one for Cole and Tessa to play.
Papa Duke spent some time with Cole teaching him how to load and shoot the arrows. It was really sweet to watch them having such a good time together. And Cole got pretty good with that thing!

Tessa and JoJo:

The Fourth of July!
Brigham City fireworks.
I love this picture of Paige. It looks like she is high fiving the world.

The family:

Mom/Grandma, Jolynn, and Mandy:

Mandy's kids had to be with their dad for the fourth, but we were still lucky enough to be with Mandy.
Hanging out:

Breakfast the next morning:

Visiting at Great Grandma and Great Grandpa D's house! Tessa and Cole saw the watering cans and went right to work making sure the flowers got watered. Grandma D. couldn't get over how cute these good workers were:

Utah Trip 2013: part 3

It was time to move from Jake's parents to my dad and stepmom's house for a couple of days. 

The kids were able to play in the kid pool for hours and never tired of it -mix that with The Rescuers in the home theater and the ever fun toy room, and our kids didn't even mind if we were around...

We had a great visit with Camille and Brandon and their families one night and then with my siblings and their families the next. We were also able to get a nice visit in with my paternal grandparents.

Here is Paige and I relaxing on the swing. I am looking large and in charge and am sadly suddenly very aware of pregnancy picture angles...

 Emily, Andrew, Bree, Tessa, and Cole:

 We put Paige in the pool, and she just wasn't having it.

 The next day when JoJo came over!

 Yeah. They're cute.

 Paige FINALLY figured it was okay to be in the water with her daddy if Jolyn was there with hers.

 The cousins on my side:
Cole, Kaeley, Dallen, Paige, Tessa, Breanna, and Jolynn. (We were so sad to miss Breckin, who was in SD with his dad.)

Family Reunion

The McBride family reunion. 

In honor of what would have been Jake's paternal grandparent's 71st wedding anniversary, a McBride family reunion was held in Heber Canyon. It was a hot day, but we were so happy we could attend. Here we have cousins playing:

 Hannah the Nurturer being sweet with Paige.

 Marilyn's family (minus Andy's family, a few kids, and a couple spouses):

 Deanna's family:

Sharron's family:

 Stephen's family (woot!) minus Abby who was on a school choir tour:

 The cousins:

 I don't know how long it had been since I'd been to a family reunion (and from the way things are looking, the chances of anyone hosting one on my side are pretty slim). We had a good time, and I know that it meant a lot to Jake to be able to see so many members of his family.