Memorial Day & Nielson Family Reunion 2010

We got up early {not by choice, Jake wanted to get up early, haha} to help cook dutch oven chicken for the reunion.  The basement is so dark, even during the day, that Ryan slept in until almost 9am.  While he slept, Jim got Jake breakfast and I showered and got ready.  Jim went to help cook after I was finished.

Jim helping to cook chicken for the reunion.

Crandall and Jim in the outside kitchen :)

Ryan and Muren coloring in the coloring books.  Ryan is coloring in Mekhi's color book and Muren is coloring in hers that she got from Grandma Guin for her birthday.

Jake was so tired from not sleeping well in the night and getting up so early that he went for a nap around 10am and slept until about 1:30pm.  He was tired.

Both boys woke up right before the reunion was to start.  In fact, Jim had went over to the park without us because both boys were asleep when it was time to go.  This is a pic of Jim's family at the reunion.

Crandall's, Jim's dad, Uncle Dee {on the right} talking to Mark, Leila's son, Uncle Dee is Jim's Grandpa Gordon's youngest brother.

Crandall with his Aunt Leila--Aunt Leila is Jim's Grandpa Gordon's younger sister.

Uncle Dee, Crandall, and Leila.

Crandall with all of his siblings but Jill--from {L to R} Julie, Vivian, Michael Scott, Sydney Sue, and Crandall

Jim's cousins little boy, Quade.  He is a little cowboy--I love it!

Jim swinging with Ryan.

Jerry swinging with Jake.

Jerry decided to take Jake down this slide.  It is sooo bumpy.  I think Jerry thought twice about taking Jake down a second time :)

Jerry was a good sport and even rode the 4-wheeler with Jake.  I love Jake's face in this pic :)

And I love Jake's face in this pic, too.!

And especially this one :)

Ryan loved riding this "la la loo" aka a dinosaur with Muren.

Quade was playing the sand pile so we went over and joined him.  He was telling me all about his 3rd birthday coming up.  He is too cute.

Mekhi was freaking out when we were getting up to leave the sand pile and go back to Grandma's house.  When I looked down there was a nasty TOAD in the sand.  I about had a coronary.  No time for a pic--I got out of the sand!!

Rheannon crashed after the reunion :)

Wendy brought Fudgecicles and Orange Dream Bars to Grandma's house to eat after the reunion.  Jake LOVED the Fudgecicles!

He would try to get his whole mouth on the popcicle.

He was pretty ticked when the Fudgecicle was gone.

Ryan loved the chickens.

He even dared to get close and pet them during this visit.

Jim and all of his siblings were able to make it to the reunion this year so Guin asked if I would take a picture.  We were getting everyone organized and teasing I said I wanted the two girls to sit in the splits down in front SO they DID :)  It was hilarious!!

Jim's Family from {L to R} Richard, Rheannon, Bill, Jim, Jerry, and Wendy.  Guin and Crandall are on the front row.

I love Crandall's face in this pic :)  He was sick of taking pictures at this point.

Sleepover with Grandma Nielson

We went to Oak City today for the annual sleepover with Grandma Nielson.  Every year, Grandma Guin sleeps outside with all of the grandkids the night before Memorial Day and the Nielson Family Reunion.  Even though the weather was actually really nice and warm this year (unlike most years), we didn't think Ryan and Jake would sleep to red hot outside.  Little did we know, they, or I should say Jake, wouldn't sleep so red hot inside either :)

We got to Oak City around 1pm.  It was really nice outside so we sat out in the sun and watched all of the colorful birds that were flying around.  There have been some really cool yellow and orange birds hanging around Oak City this year.

We all sat around and chatted and enjoyed the nice weather.  Ryan and Jake sat on the swing with Grandma and had a snack.

Jim watching the birds.

Another pic of one of the yellow birds.

Bill & Holly hiked the peak in Oak City so Rheannon and Evans watched their kids for them.

Jake checking out the chicken.  Me and Grandma Guin's chickens, well mainly roosters, do NOT get along :)  I don't even do anything to those darn roosters and they come up and bump me.   I hate em :)

Another pic of Miss Sophie.  She is such a mellow baby.

Richard & Brody also hiked the peak.  There is no way I'd ever make it--the actual hike is supposedly hard and you have to carry all that gear, wowza!

Sophie and Jake lying next to each other.

Muren & Mekhi both celebrate their birthdays in May so Guin made a cake for them.

Blowing out the candles...

Sylvan had to get in on the action and help blow out the candles.

Grandma gave Mekhi a "Cars" coloring book as one of his birthday gifts.  Ryan promptly took over the coloring book and crayons.  Jake is so funny--he thinks he is a big boy and can color.  I swear he really knows somewhat what he is doing!

Grandpa Crandall left his ladder out.  It didn't take long for the kids to find it and start playing on it.  Who knew that a ladder would be so fun to play on.  It was put away shortly after :)

Brody is the BEST kid ever!  I need a Brody at my house :)  He always watches after the kids without being asked.  He makes sure all the kids are playing fair and all of the kids are included.  Seriously love this kid!!  He likes to play with and hold Jake, too.

All the kids walked to the park to play a game of kick ball.  We started out where they were playing kickball but ended up at the playground.  Jake was having a ton of fun riding on these toys.

Ryan went down the big, blue slide all by himself :)

Ryan always loves to throw rocks on the slide.  He does it every time we go to the park.  For some reason, Jake thought it was HILARIOUS!  I wish I would have had a video camera to record his laugh.  It was too cute.  They were having so much fun together.

After playing at the park for a bit, we walked back to Grandma's.  We got the boys in the tub and in their jammies.  Jake went to bed really easy; he was tired.  Ryan found this sleeping bag that he sat down on and Gabe started pulling him around on it.

I think Ryan could've done this for hours.  Gabe pulled him around on the sleeping bag and Muren & Mekhi ran after him trying to jump on the sleeping bag with him.  Ryan was hysterically laughing.

Grandpa & Grandma Nielson with their two "babies" Baby dog and Mya.  Grandma is holding Sophie, too.

We had a fire in the fire pit when it got dark.  The fire was great because after the sun went down it did get a bit chilly.

We roasted marshmallows and made smores.  They were YUMMY!

Brody, McKell, Muren, and Richard roasting mallows.

Eliesia, Madison, and Mekhi.

Jim, Ryan, and I all slept in one bed.  It wasn't too bad.  Just when we all started getting comfortable and falling asleep, Jake decided to wake up.  Usually, I would have just let him cry it out.  But we were all in one room together so I couldn't do that.  I tried to hold him and get him back to sleep, but as soon as I would lay him down he'd freak out. 

Luckily, no one was sleeping in Richard's room down the hall.  Jim took Jake and went and slept in that room.  Jake didn't sleep that great though and woke up bright and early at 7am.  Ryan slept like a baby though; he was tuckered out from playing hard all day.