In Town

Jameson was invited to go boating with his friend Beckett on a Saturday in June.  The last time we took Jameson on a boat he absolutely HATED IT, so I was a little nervous to let him go for that reason.  Jameson was so sure he would love it but just as they were getting ready to leave he started to get nervous.  Since the family that invited him are our friends and neighbors they invited Adam to come along, too, so Jameson wouldn't be so nervous.

With Adam along Jameson was able to relax and he ended up really enjoying the experience. In fact, he was even more brave than Beckett for a few activities.

On Sunday, June 24th family started arriving from all directions. Taylor and Jen decided to have their baby, Preston Taylor, blessed that afternoon at my parents house.  Heather came down from Idaho, Tiffany and Abigail arrived from Texas the night before, and Mckay and Tricia were in town from Pennsylvania.  Jen's parents and grandparents and also her sister and family also came to see the blessing so my parents had a very full house.  While my parents weren't physically present they joined us on Facetime from their mission in Independance, MO.

This is the most common look I get from baby Preston.

Our side of the family after Preston's blessing.

Hilary, Mckay, Heather, Taylor, Heather, Tiffany

For a brief 24 hours there were 5 out of 6 siblings together

The cousins always have a lot of fun together creating theatrical productions to be filmed or performed live for a family audience. Here they are dressed up like Clue characters. (Miss Scarlet, Crnl Mustard, etc.)

Korinne, Jenna, Jessica, Elsie, Abigail

Taylor and Mckay getting ready to ride

Heather, Taylor, Mckay, Tricia, Jen, Tiffany, Hilary

On Monday the adults went to lunch.

Some of the older kids started their week at Patriot Camp.  Korinne went back this year as a teen volunteer and helped as a group leader.

Cousins: Quinn M. Korinne, Abigail S., June P., Elsie M., Jameson, Will P.

Jameson, Thomas P, Quinn M.

Heather and Taylor flew out on Tuesday morning to separate destinations.  Taylor went back to China and Heather went to Nashville with her husband Aaron for a conference.  Later that night Heather texted us this picture:

Libbie and Heather

Heather and Aaron were leaving a restaurant to walk back to their hotel in Nashville and she looked at people crossing the street and saw Libbie, our sister who lives in South Carolina!!  What are the chances?!? Libbie and fam were in Nashville on their way back to South Carolina after a church history trip. Neither one of them had any idea that the other was in town so it was a mighty big surprise for a sister who lives in Idaho to bump into a sister that lives in South Carolina in the middle of Nashville, TN. Wow. That is one for the books!

 The next day Mckay and I were able to go on a bike ride to Mt. Sterling.

And everyone who was still in town headed to the Aquatic Center later in the afternoon.

It was nice to watch Jameson in the big pool without a life jacket swimming around confidently. He has come so far from last summer. 

Jessica, Tricia, Thomas, Mckay and Cameron P.

We don't get to see our Pennsylvania cousins very often so it is always nice to spend some time with them.

Jameson on a hike in Prov Canyon with Will and June.

At the end of the week all of those who participated in Patriot Camp got to be involved in the final program. I enjoyed the patriot songs and skits. It is definitely a camp that is Kristen K. approved. 😁

It was a great week and the kids were spoiled having cousins to play with 24/7.  By Friday everyone was gone except for Jen and her kids who will be around for a few more weeks.