reunion wrap up! day 3 pictures @ mesquite wash and assorted other fun.

Saturday we went to Mesquite wash. it's just past sycamore creek here in AZ. less than an hour away. my family used to go picnic there years ago. we always had fun playing in the creek, target shooting, (i was especially good at shooting cow pies with the BB gun!) catching tadpoles and minnows. and just having fun! we haven't been there in years, I'm not sure that we've gone since i got married. SO it's been a long while. and it was SO FUN! the kids were in heaven!

wading in the water,
my big kids brought their swim suits.

it turned out to be a FABULOUS idea.


the kids played in the sand, and dug holes.
here is my mom getting the roasting sticks ready.
we cooked hot dogs on sticks over a camp fire
(l-r: Sadie,Joy,Nate, Bridger)

we sang songs around the campfire,
and roasted marshmallows. and made smores.

Hope took a nap in the blanket on the ground because she was cold.
and then joy laid down with her. and irritated her and stole her blanket
like all big sisters do so well.
you can see Joy's nose was a little red on the bottom of the picture,
and the top of Hope's head at the top of it..

3 crazy boy cousins.
Paxton,Nick and Zane
are all just a couple months apart.
they all turn 8 this year. look how nasty dirty they are.

you get that dirty by rolling in the dirt like this down hill!
Pierce had a dirt bath too.
this was his 3rd and last change of clothes.
little devil.nice headlamp huh?
it was more so we could spot him in the dark wandering off.

Peyton was pretty dirty too.

Here is Pierce in his 2nd outfit. including his sweatshirt for the night.
DANG KID wouldn't stay out of the water. he was shivering something fierce, but he wouldn't stay out of it. he just sat in the muddy water for over an hour, shoveling sand.
This is my Brother Bruce and his 3 boys.
Nick and the twins Colin and Carter.
his wife was out of Town with their Daughter.

here is Asquared wandering off into the darkness.

also known as my fave brother and his wife Alicia.

here is Maria and Travis and Baby Joe-tastic.

and here is my little brother Gary.

yeah he is retarded. in real life. Down syndrome. we love him lots.

and he was dressed for the chill with his beanie. perfect planning Gary!

here is Janie, she was the mastermind and planner of this year's family reunion. it was awesome. Just the perfect amount of going and doing, and the right amount of sitting around.

the kids loved everyday of it. and i was exhausted by the end, but not because i did too much chasing. the kids had tons of freedom to roam and explore. it was PERFECT!

Thanks Jane for the fun time.

IN other news:

Liberty is the student of the week. and she brought home her p[osterboard over a week ago, yeah i am doing it tonight. it's 2 am. and of course i can't let it go. and let her do it all by herself. infact i'm doing it alone in the middle of the night way over the top since it's of course got to be FABULOUS! and maybe even sparkletastic!

i made this comparison picture for her poster. since everyone thinks she looks like me, i thought i'd see how much her class mates thought so.

what do you think?

does liberty look like me?

i better go finish glamming up the poster board.

so that's what i'm up to.

and i'll leave you with this...

THE END

Pierce,

a little sand in your crack makes for a funny picture and excellent blackmail later. i'm glad you had so much fun sitting in the creek. and playing in the sand. you were in heaven wandering around, wading, and shoveling. not to mention flinging dirt down your back and rolling downhill in that soft dirt.

love ya!

Mom!