S'more Family Fun

Our last night in Pinetop we had fun making s'mores on the porch after dinner.  My kids love to roast marshmallows over fire, but I don't think any of them will eat them that way.  I love s'mores though, so it was a perfect ending to the reunion.

 

 

 Landon was pretty upset that we wouldn't let him on the porch near the fire.  But that's what happens when you're a curious two-year-old who wants to touch everything.

 Uncle Justin kept him entertained instead.

I loved watching Joshua & Max play checkers.  They both wanted to play "their way" so it was always two completely different games going on the same board.

 Finally Justin tried to teach him the right way to play.

The only WiFi access was at the lodge.  But luckily my parent's cabin was right next door and we were able to use the internet from their porch.  This is where the guys could usually be found after the kids went to bed.

 

We had a wonderful reunion and it was so nice to spend uninterrupted time with my parents and brothers.  Thanks so much Mom & Dad!!!

We left Friday morning and drove to Van Horn, TX.  We got to the hotel just in time for the beginning of the opening ceremony of the Olympics!  I let the kids stay up for most of it since we needed to adjust back to Texas time.  We arrived home Saturday afternoon.  Like always, it was a great trip but SO nice to be home in our own beds.

Pillow Monster Strikes Again

No visit with Grandpa is complete until there is a battle with the Pillow Monster.

 Landon was really worried about Grandpa.

 

 

 Grandpa uses legs, arms and hands to trap his victims, sometimes all at once.

 

 

Running the Gauntlet

Grandpa & Grandma brought a bunch of water guns to the cabins for a big water war.  But every day it was rainy and overcast whenever we had a chance to do it.  The last day the kids really wanted to have their water fight, but it was close to dinner and I didn't want to have to do MORE laundry on our last night.  So we compromised.  The main thing they really wanted was to soak Grandpa, and Grandpa was more than willing to comply.  The kids had to stay on the porch and Grandpa ran the gauntlet a million times while all the kids had a few chances to spray him.  They loved it and he seemed to enjoy it too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  While Grandpa got changed Grandma brought out tons of craft stuff for the kids to make pine cone creations.

 

 

Horseback Riding

Thursday after lunch we all headed over to some stables that my dad or brother found out about.  Most of my kids have never been on a horse, so they were pretty excited about.  Landon wasn't though.  He only lasted about a minute.

Max did so good and seemed like a natural, pretty good for only 3 years old!

Savannah LOVED it and went 2 or 3 times.

Grandma & Joshua

Zach rode the horse for a few minutes, but spent the rest of the time at the corral with the other horses.  He loves animals.

Connor absolutely refused to get on a horse, so this had to do.

Just as we were finishing up it started to rain.  It was definitely a fun thing that we'll have to do again.

Extended Family

After the fun park we went over to my cousin Melanie's cabin in the Show Low area.  I hardly ever get to see aunts, uncles and cousins, so it was fun to get to see 4 sets of aunts and uncles and a few cousins on this trip.  Melanie was there with her husband and 4 boys (her 3 older girls were at camp or something) and also my Uncle Don and Aunt Sandy.  We had a nice time talking with them for a while.  (Side note for Connor's journal:  Connor was so sick after doing the go-carts three times that he cried the whole way to Melanie's cabin and threw up in her front yard the second we got there.  Sorry about that Melanie!  He felt much better after that.)

 The kids instantly meshed with her boys and had fun playing all together.

 

 It was also fun to see Melanie's newest little guy, Jackson.

 On Thursday afternoon we drove to my Uncle Kent & Aunt Pat's house in Taylor, AZ (near Snowflake).  They have the best kid yard ever.  All of the kids were in heaven!

 Kent gave all of the kids "tractor rides," for quite a while and they loved it.

 

 

 Landon was excited to have a basketball hoop at just the right height.

 

 Three boys all wanting the same coveted tractor.  They drove it all over the yard until the battery died.

 

Kent & Pat brought out tons of chips and frozen drinks too.  Jacob said "I love this place!"  Just before we left my cousins Eric & Gary showed up, who I haven't seen in years.  Thanks for a fun time!