Stinkin' Camera!

Being the professional photographer that I am, I noticed that my camera was on the wrong setting and kept it that way on purpose.  I thought the over-exposed beach pictures would be awesome. 

 (I'm so mad!  These could have been really cute pictures...but, as I tell my kiddos, "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit".)

 We packed up the family and headed to Bear Lake.  We drove forever...complaining about where in the world uncle Mike was taking us, and then ate our words...it was awesome!

 Little Max had a really fun time with his squirt gun.  Aunt Jen really liked it! :)

 You can't tell from the pictures, but the water was so clear and really blue.  It was almost being at the ocean.  We even had a soft sandy beach...perfect for... 

...Jackson to impersonate Hasselhoff in his find of the century swimsuit.  Jackson, you crack me up!  

 Then the guys decided the conditions were perfect for a friendly game of beach football.  I was the good supportive wife that caught Mark's touchdown/kneedown (?) on camera.

Here is my cute niece Samantha.

 My mother-in-law, Judy, and sister-in-law Michelle, had the right idea and brought their chairs into the water to watch the game and all the little kiddos playing.

Kas and Lauren, having fun in the sand.
  I love seeing cousins making fun memories!

4th of Juy

 We started out the morning with a fun small town parade, complete with rodeo royalty.  Is there anything better than starched teal wranglers...I think not.

 These two cuties were trying to be extra cute to get more candy, and it worked like a charm.

 After the parade we went up to the quad on USU to play a little kick-ball (which I managed to not capture with a single picture).  Then we corralled the grand kids (plus a few-Patrick's kids) for a picture. 

 And if you call yourself an Aggie, you can't leave without taking a couple pictures on the A table.

 We are definitely Aggies!!!

 And so are Mike and Jen...

 And Patrick and Lisa.

 And what is a family reunion without a little friendly competition...who is the fastest?  I think McKay claimed it.

 And then the grand kids had to follow suit.

 Followed by more pictures...Monte and Jennifer, we missed you!

 And then we headed over to Mike's work to have a family dinner in the conference room, and light up some sparklers.

 These little fun fire sticks are so stinkin' dangerous.  Why we think they are the perfect thing to hand a 2 year old is beyond me.

 Here you go, have a burning piece of metal that you could poke yourself, or anyone near with.  But look at that happy smiling dirty face...

But I can get on board with the pop things...little bags of gun powder.   Little Bassett was jumping as high as his little legs could get him, and throwing them down as hard as he could.  He was having a blast!!!

 The masses.

 Oh, two two-year-olds.  "Let's share our fire..."

 Nice choice of clothing Parker...Red, white, and blue!  Good worker.

 Then after all the fire sticks and gun powder packets were extinguished, we let the teenage boys light the bigger stuff.

 Which consisted of some screamers, stink bombs, buzzing bees...and all were a huge hit.

 Little Preston had the best seat in the house.  He loves his daddy!

Somehow, this picture is out of order, but it is a cute one to end with.  Hope y'all had a safe and fun 4th of July.  I know we did.

July 3rd at USU...time to catch up

 There are a lot of pictures...but I saved the best for last, so you have to look at them all. :)

 We headed up to a field right next to the stadium so we could watch the fireworks show for free that night.  We had a couple hours to kill, so we played a little frisbee...

 The kids discovered Red Rover...

 (Which ended up being Reilynn and Bailey's favorite because they kept getting chosen. The older kids realized really quickly that the little ones couldn't make it through their lines.)

 If Reilynn wasn't playing Red Rover, she was perched on Grandad's lap...for hours.  Thanks Grandad for being brave enough to have the little potty-training-2-year-old sit on your lap!

 Parker was saying thanks to Grandma for the yummy gingersnap cookies she brought to share with everyone.  You can't tell from the picture, but he liked them a lot.

 Mark being Mark.

 Marshall being Marshall.

 Aubrey tickling Reilynn.

 I taught the kids how to play Killer.  It doesn't sound like a kid's game, but I learned it at scout camp...it is fun.

 Reilynn's "say cheese" face.

 Right before the fireworks started, the kids were getting a little restless.  We pulled out the glow sticks.  They were a hit...

 for all ages!

 Even Grandma joined in the fun.

 Cute Kas.  Her poor lip was so chapped from being in the dry weather.

 Bailey wanted to hold little Audrey.  She was a little old to be held like a baby, but Bailey didn't care.  Poor Audrey was very patient with her.

I told you I saved the best for last...two little cutie patooties snuggled in Grandma's lap for the show.  It was a fun night.