The Jones Family

August 5, 2010

barbecue, parade, a rodeo & fireworks!

Howdy Cowboy! We made our way up to ADams Reunion in Oakley Idaho on the 24th of July Weekend. It was a blast! Had a family barbecue at Jessie's mom's house & then watched the parade, went to the rodeo & then watched the fireworks. The weather was not as hot as it has been previous years & we all just sat & enjoyed catching up with the cousins. We were able to see Eric Adams, a cousin of Steve's that we haven't seen since Grandma's funeral. It was really fun seeing his kids! AHHH - we are getting old. The kids played some really fun yard games & of course the parade was a classic! Small town floats, horsemen, bands, cheerleaders, etc. We really like this parade - there are no floats that advertise ANYTHING! Love it! Made our way back to Jessie's home & got fed leftovers - more barbecued chicken & a yummy garden salad & a peanut butter sandwich (thanks melinda!)

The rodeo was so classic! Lots of bronco riders, bareback broncos, bull riding, clowns & just good old fashion fun. The firework show was also loads of fun. It is to the east of the rodeo stands & feels like we are sitting right under it. bEautiful! Stayed in Burley, ID for the night (thanks H&G Jones for the hotel room - again!) & left for home the next morning. Trent was washed up, packed, laundry done & off to a week of scout camp up by Omak WA at 6 a.m. the next morning. We were exhausted AGAIN! But, had a really fun time with Trevor - just the three of us for the next week. Jacy had left for Japan & had some super great mom's taking care of her, making sure she made it to the train station in Seattle on time! Also, took her shopping in Seattle! Thanks a bunch - Amanda's mom & Loni & Lori! Both Steve & I were sick with nasty colds during the week everyone was gone. Steve had some more time off & we had such a FUN week just hanging out & sleeping! Very relaxing!

jacob - chowing down on fries!

Bronco riding!

Melinda & Angie

Nothing like good old rodeo burgers!

STeve & his cousin Wendy

It was so much fun visiting with Wendy. She was telling us an amazing story about her brother, Craig's son & his mission call. Pretty cool stuff! Come to find out - Wendy lived here in Moses Lake & knows alot of the members we know! Small world!

This is the old Bench home. Steve has a lot of WONDerfUL memories in this home. Cousin time!

Wendy in the parade. Bye Bye Birdie is the production she is in charge of.

We loVE when there are otter pops thrown during the parade!

Here is Keith. Josh's dad. I tried to get a picture of him while he was clear up on top of the truck, but missed it. He is a pretty amazing rider!

Some kids on Pogo sticks! They were flying through the air!

we LOVE a parade

The flag is marching by - can you tell?

Josh, Katie & Jessie

Barbecue TIME!

watching the yard games

brady & trevor

Aunt Melinda

Uncle Steve

Yard games, cousin time

Cannot believe how many post's !

Hopefully, I am getting caught up.

Toodles!

Garden of Eatin! Swimming & Japan

Jacy is finally starting to get back into our time zone. While driving over to Othello on Tuesday she was so cute - "mom, the moon looks the same here as in Japan" & "it is now 10 o'clock in Japan, time to go to bed!" HA! She is so cute - & had a trip of a lifetime to Japan. Here are just a few pictures of her trip. She has been so busy since she got home. Soccer practice, helping the city with a soccer clinic, working, Young Women activities - not much time to get caught up with her sleep. We'll try to get more pictures of her Japan trip up after she tags them. Her host family put this adorable poster in her room for her. She is also the first girl they hosted & they were adorable. They decorated her room with girl stuff & she had her own bed & couch. All of the other students slept on mats. We are so excited to have her student come here in the 13th of Aug. Take him to the cereal isle at Wal Mart & let him go to town!!

Little Amanda & their host students.

i LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture! They were on top of a mountain & the wind was blowing HARD & they were in the middle of the clouds! LOVE it!

AHHH!

Jacy - told us some fascinating stories about their shoes!

This is on Sunday Aug. 1st in Seattle at Kings Station. After traveling 35 hours - they are home! Lani, Amanda, Jacy & Lori

Has been a crazy, busy week so far. The Laurels & Priests had a fantastic activity at Roylance Pond. A Pond in the middle of nowhere with a big slide, pier, paddle boats, canoes, rope swing, barbecue, fire pit & LOADS of fun. Then we had a party at the Baker's pool last night & then BYC. Trent had scouts & poor Steve was sooooo tired - had to beg & plead for him to drive Trent to Scouts. Poor Steve!

This is LiLY - cute girl!

Jacy, Yvette, Becca

trevor & dominic had a blast in the pool - can you see his bloodshot eyes. This was after a day at the aquatic cntr & then weeding the garden & then mowing the grass & then the Baker Pool. They boys sure do sleep good in the SuMMER!

Trevor - ever

jacy - lacy

We are thrilled to be eating some yummy vegetables out of the garden. New potatoes, tomatoes & green peppers. The boys want to sell our pumpkins this Fall - we are going to have a TON of them. Cannot wait till we get to barbecue the corn- on- the- cob!! Janine came over last Wed. & we made fresh raspberry jam & honey butter! Oh - so yummy!

Digging!

Oh - so yummy!

Went out to mow the grass & this nest was just laying on the grass under a tree. Pretty cool!

Summer is flying by ! The kids don't start school until Sept. 1st. It is really heavenly because the summers here are SOOOOO nice! it was near 100 degrees yesterday & it has been nearly perfect pool weather! We are off to the dentist & then basketball & then more pool time! Gotta love it! Love ya all!

August 2, 2010

Morgan, UT & Oakley, ID reunions!

The Reunion this year was a blast! We would go up to Morgan during the day & then sleep at Heather & Jason's house at night. Last year's reunion was nuts! We went down to the Sand Dunes near Delta, Utah - came back & then helped my sister move into their next door neighbors garage because they were having issues left & right - moving truck, closing, etc. Then, we made our way to reunion, but my other sister Janelle had injured her back - lifting totes into the back of her truck. So, she couldn't move, it rained & we had to give her drugs in the middle of the night. Exhausting. But, fun! But, exhausting! So, this year we decided to just hang out at the reunion & then sleep elsewhere! Thanks Heather & Jason for letting us crash at your house AGAIN!! We loved it!

It was so much fun seeing all of the relatives, playing in the river, enjoying the HOT weather, visiting with Uncle Howard & Aunt Betty, more golf, smores, barbecues, horseshoes, soccer games, building dams in the river, Stef's Drive Inn runs. Etc. Our relatives are all so much fun to hang out with. Byron & Mendy ran a marathon in the 24th of July celebrations in Salt Lake City on Sat. (they are both amazing!) We LovE getting to find out what all of the younger cousins, nieces and nephews. Hearing about missionaries, weddings, vacations. We LOVE it!