McIntyre Family Reunion--Part 2

Boy were the kids in heaven the whole trip. They found this "teepee" on the property and spent almost every waking minute there.

My youngest sister Natalie. Don't we look a like? I told her that this way she get she see what she will look like in her 30's and after 4 kids. Lucky her!!

Where we stayed. So beautiful.

We spent lots of time in the lodge playing games--especially "golf". Loved having so many days to spend with this guy :)

Seth with Natalie and Sarah with one of her bestest cousins Lizzie.

There was a large group of teenagers and Seth loved having so many boys his age to hang out with. They played lots of games and just got into "teenage" mischief.

One night we had spaghetti and gosh this girl was very happy about it.

Alturas has a beautiful lake that was way too cold to swim in but man was it fun to fish in.

The kids thought the fish were pretty fun to play with.

After awhile we thought we better take the kids on a hike to let the fishermen "fish in peace".

We walked around the edge of the lake on a deer trail and had a great time being silly 

and finding cool places to take some pictures (the adults with all the kids that "hiked" with us).

Following the leader.

Rock in the shoe...

Trying to fish some more.

Then back to the lodge to play some more games and wait for dinner.

Just hangin' outside the lodge.

McIntyre Family Reunion--part 1

 This past week we had the opportunity to up north to Alturas Lake for my dad's side of the family reunion. The kids were beyond excited to go and see cousins and have free access to whatever they wanted.

 We stayed at one of the church's campgrounds and it was absolutely lovely. Especially since it was quite cold there at night and the wood-burning stoves kept us nice and comfy while we slept.

 Tetherball was a big attraction for everyone.

 Luke was so content to play outside constantly--no matter the weather. He was so happy to explore and be always near the fire pit. Every night he was absolutely filthy, but absolutely exhausted and happy from playing so hard.

 Inside our cabin.

 Sisters playing tetherball and some of the crowd watching them.

 Luke with Grandma and entertaining the youngins'.

 Another attraction was the horseshoe pit. We had lots of fun watching the guys try to beat each other. 

The rest of day one was filled with helping everyone unpack and get settled and getting caught up with long lost cousins. 

Family Pictures with the Crew!!

 While we were visiting my parents for Memorial Day we had family pictures. They turned out fabulous. The kids were great the entire time and we had so much fun posing for the camera!

All the ladies and guys from the family. I think the ladies are winning!!!

 All the grandkids (for now...). Love it!

 The Crew!

 And boy do I love these ladies! Think we look alike!!??

A Family "Pet"

Last Saturday Sam took the kids to walk dogs at the animal shelter so I could have the house to myself and finish the 100 Father's Day cupcakes I was making. I had just finished and sat down in the living room when they got back.

Sam and the girls come in and this is how the conversation went:

Sam: "Close your eyes quick!"

Me: "Umm, why?" ( I hate surprises, so naturally I am very wary when he says this)

Girls: "Come on mom just close them. We got a new family pet!!!!"

Me: "Oh no way you didn't and I am definitely not closing my eyes!!!!" (thinking they brought a dog home which they know I would not "appreciate" in any way)

Sam: "Come just close your eyes. The kids want to surprise you."

Me: "NO.WAY."

By this point the boys are tired of waiting and I see them slowly trying to come in the house, from the garage, and trying not to let me see what they are holding. 

Finally Luke gives up and marches into the living holding a snake ( a little garden snake). And boy was I relieved...words do not express how happy I was that they did not bring a dog home and I didn't even mind them all holding a snake in my house!

 They said they were going to put the snake in my face when I closed my eyes. Good thing I didn't because that "appreciation" for no dog and only a snake would of gone right out the window!!!!!

And needless to say the snake when outside and was let go, over the fence, and into the neighbors abandoned yard, never to been seen from again. But they were so thrilled to play a joke on mom!!

What We've Been Doing...

 This girl had a piano recital last week and did awesome. We LOVE her new teacher and it's very obvious that Sarah does too. She can sit for hours at the piano playing just for fun and loves playing for us at family night. Her bestest buddy takes from the same teacher so they were very happy to do their recital together.

 Seth, Sarah, and Kathryn got to help our dentist with their float in the local parade. They thought it was pretty awesome and lots of fun. Mom and Dad not so much!

 Luke's kindergarten class put on a play, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears". He was very excited for it and did a great job. Their actions to the songs were very cute and he said he loved being part of the "singers"!

School is officially out in this neck of the woods so we have been trying to figure out our summer schedule to the kids don't go crazy (who I am kidding...so I don't go crazy!). 

At the end of every year we invite the kid's teachers over to our house for a "thank you dinner". We had a bbq last saturday and fed them all some of our favorite bbq foods--mango teriyake burgers, potato salad, honeydew mango lime fruit salad, fresh veggies, homemade lemonade, lemon sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies with a chocolate peanut butter frosting, and s'more rice krispies. We had so much fun with them and so grateful for all the hard work they do for our kiddos.