Steadman's Ranch

Steadman's ranch was super fun. It started out a bit chilly bu the kids were still sliding down the waterslide. We shot off the candy cannon and spend hours sliding down the hill and then climbing back up!

Garen kept his distance from the cannon-

Family Pictures

Our family pictures was taken after the group pictures- that little tid bit of info should let you know that my kids were done with pictures. We did get one okay one and it's kind of fun to go back through them and see the series of shots that tell the picture of how the photo shoot was going.

not off to good, Garen with his fingers in his nose and I just pulled Sophie's bottled away

a few bad shots then finally one where everyone is looking-

And now Sophie is done and ready for a nap-

Fairies!

The girl cousins had an entire week of fairies. They played fairies, they dressed like fairies, they made up songs and dances on the tramp about fairies. One morning the fairies left them all fairy necklaces. They went on a fairy treasure hunt and ended with a treasure full of fairy shoes, purses, stickers, etc. My mom helped them pick flowers from around the house, press them, and then use the flowers as fairy clothes and scenery in drawings.

Cousin Fun!

Maddie loved spending endless hours with her girl cousins. Garen enjoyed doing "boy stuff" with Colton and Joren and Sophie was so fun to watch with her other one year old cousins! And I loved seeing all by siblings and sibling-in-laws and staying up late playing games and watching SNL clips with my 15 year old nieces.

cutting the giant cake to celebrate Mandy and Carsten's Anniversary on Sunday-

The boys on their spiderman treasure hunt-

Joren and Garen wrestling-

Sophie and Chloe-

the babies-

the girls loved all sleeping together they were up most nights past midnight-

The apple tree is a favorite place to be for all the kids-

Sophie loved to still Ryan's food off his tray-

Me and Chloe (I love how cuddly she is!)

Young Family Games 2010

Nothing is better than 31 people in their church clothes trying to get a picture-

My mom and dad with all the grandkids-

A more relaxed approach of the Family Games was implemented this year. With the 19 kids out numbering the adults it makes it hard for the grownups to get their games played. So we had some fun little Olympic games for the kids, tons of time to just bond with all the family, lots of yummy food never served at meal time, no sleep, lots of laughing, and a cold morning at Steadman's ranch soon followed by a wonderful warmer afternoon.

On Saturday morning I got to go spend some time with my grandparents which I loved. Andy and Ben worked outside and I helped my grandpa with some odds and ends, clipped their nails, and just enjoyed their company.

Andy only got to stay till Sunday night so he could be back for work early Monday morning, but I got to stay all week and party with my sisters!