Marchant/Jackson/John/Greene & Carroll Annual Summer Party

So, it's a little late, but since I've had a few days without work, I've tried to catch up on some of my personal photos.  These are our bestest (yes, I realize that is not actually a word) friends in the whole wide world.  Every year, when the Greene's come out from NC to visit, we all get together again just like the good 'ol days. 

 It all started with us about 10 years ago...

and the Greene's...

And then came the Marchant's...

And, then, the John's...

And, now, there are 16 of us in all.

And, then came the Carroll's.  We were sad they couldn't make it this time.

But, the kids still had a great time.

And that's why we need a break-- ten years of fun and craziness.  Cancun, here we come!  Les & B-- we'll miss you!

Suggestions, please!

This is what happens every time I take a picture of my own kids together.  Chaos, frustration and nothing resembling anything worthy of hanging on a wall.

These are a few pics I took of the kids on Easter morning (yes, I am just getting to them now) and very few of the actually turned out.  My kids HATE getting their picture taken-- especially by me.

Hallie was a pretty good sport, though.

I LOVE this one.  One of my all time favorites of the two of them.

Classic Cameron

Typical.  Bryant is always a bum when I want to get a shot.

At least I got one happy face of Cameron looking in my general direction.  I've got to work on the eye contact thing with him.

One word.  Smoldering.  I better watch out 'cause I think the girls are going to break down the doors for this one!

The Lamest Parents on the Block

Notice the sunshine in the background... that's why we're the lamest parents on the block.  Everyone who passed our little firework show kept asking why we weren't waiting until it was dark.  Well, we are just plain old lame parents who wanted to put the kids to bed so we could relax and play a mean game of Puerto Rico.

They just don't make them like they used to.

So I went to buy fireworks this year and saw these snakes and remembered how much I loved them as a kid.  Well, they were pretty lame, too.  They didn't really do much except for make a big dusty black mess.

I had to document this... Joni's 1st gray hair.  She was so proud.

B with his sparklers

Jones

Cam

B and her sparkler

Hal... the drama queen

Best Buddies... hopefully, forever.

We scared the Dickens out of her!

This is my mom trying to recover from the fireworks.  For the 4th of July, we got some of those aerial fireworks that are now legal.  They were super unpredictable and were blowing up all over the place.  She was totally freaking out and it was too funny.

We started the night out at my sister's house with a BBQ.  This is my little bro. and his girlfriend, Esther.

My old man and my little bro-- they are starting to look more and more alike these days.

We played games while we waited for it to get dark.

Grandma brought glow sticks for the kids. They're way more crafty and exciting these days than I remember as a kid.

This is her freaking out in the weeds.  Highly entertaining.

And, this is us laughing our guts out.

Baby Easton

This is my adorable little good natured nephew, Easton.  I was watching him a few months ago and decided it had been way too long since his last pictures and it was time for some more.  So, I whipped out the camera and took a few shots.  Here's what we ended up with.

The Dust Bowl Campout

This weekend we went camping with my family in the Five Mile Pass area near Eagle Mountain.  I hope we never go there again!  It was so hot and so dusty.  We got there Friday morning and were supposed to stay until Sunday morning but we ended up leaving Saturday afternoon because it got so bad.  By the time we left there was about an inch layer of fine dirt powder covering our campsite and the wind was out of control.  We stayed the night at my sister's house in Eagle Mountain, cleaned up all of the filth, and went to church the next day.  It ended up being a pretty okay weekend and the kids had a great time.

Friday night was great, though.  Bryant and Cameron played in the dirt the whole time-- that is, until they parked it on top of a red ant hill and got bitten.

My brother brought his girlfriend, Esther.  They were great at keeping the kids entertained.  

 Grandma Julie kept the kids busy making crafts and playing games.  Here they are showing off their glow-in-the-dark hats.

Brad and his awesome charcoal marshmellow.

The kids took tubs outside before getting ready for bed.  I think this was their favorite part of the night.

Doesn't Mike look hot on the four wheeler?  Thanks Becky & Kevin for letting us borrow them and the trailer.

An accident waiting to happen

Gavin kept doing this funky pose for me.  Gotta love it.

The dads took all of the kids for a ride Saturday morning before it got too miserably hot.  Nisha and I sat in the shade and revelled in the peace and quiet.

My cute little beatle... I had to convince him that he looked like one of the beatles from the Super Mario Brothers game before he would wear this helmet.

The girls

Grandpa Gene and Cameron

When we couldn't handle the heat and the dirt any longer, we packed up the truck and headed over to Clover Springs to play in the water.  Unfortunately, Hallie lost her flip flop in the river and Mike had to carry her back across.

Brad decided he was going to prove to everyone that drinking from the Spring was safe.  I guess we'll find out in a few days :)

Classic 3 year old

My gorgeous sister, Anisha, and her gorgeous baby, Easton

He got a hold of an oreo.  Yum.

At the springs we found a rope swing.  The kids had a great time swinging and the adults loved the shade.

Even Mike couldn't resist.