Let freedom ring

Every year we spend the 4th of July in Gunnison.  This year was no different.  Jack was really into the festivities and loved the parade, fireworks, and summer fun.  Our Pickett reunion overlapped the Fourth so we got spend a lot of it with the Pickett cousins.  William turned 6 and had an awesome Angry Bird party that Staci put together.  It was Jack's first introduction to birthday partys so he was a bit confused but really enjoyed it.  

William's birthday party!

The pinata

Playing angry birds.

Jack loved playing with the older boys.  Megan, Staci's sister in law, made fun angry bird t shirts for all the boys. Its Jack's favorite shirt.

The parade.

Waving

Hannah on the mini miss float!

Grandma Alice took a quick break from her float to give Char a hug.

Cousins!

Cousin Carnival

Lets take a trip back to July before the rain and hurricanes.  We had our Pickett reunion over the weekend of Independence Day.  It was packed with fun activities.  First we met up in Salt Lake at temple square.  We took the kids to the Book of Mormon children's museum which they really enjoyed.  We walked around the square and headed to Gunnison.  Later that week we had a Cousin Carnival which was a big hit.  We made a mini carnival for the kids to attend in the back yard.  We set up booths, games and food.  Grandpa Lynn had the big attraction of the Carnival ride which probably should have been reported to child protective services.  It was so fun getting all the little cousins and babies together.  Can't wait to do it again!

The Book of Mormon Childrens Museum

Charlotte and Carly

Cousin Picnic

Carnival food

My favorite was the photo booth.  My talented sister in law Diana took the pictures.  Unfortunately I lost the copies she gave me in the move so all I have is mine.

Adam and Jack.

tatoos!

The duck pond

Grandpa Lynn and Jack doing the ring toss

Jason was a good sport and was the victim for the pie booth.

Bouncy House!

Grandpa Lynns carnival ride of terror.  He would spin the lift in a circle.

It was a hit.

The babies from youngest to oldest left to right.  Jacob 6 months, Char just over 5, Braydon, 4, and Carly 4.

The Cornicopia

We watched Hunger Games for date night.  Before the movie, we set up the Cornucopia in the middle of the room and had a showdown over who got what treats during the movie.  And yes you see Nasal Decongestant and Ibuprofen in there.  We were both sick that night.  It got pretty violent, there was Pirates Booty everywhere.

The Cornucopia

On your mark...

 Pirates Booty everywhere. Logan and his rewards.  

Me and my spoils.

Talking Tom BFF

Have you ever seen this app called Talking Tom?  Basically it is an annoying little cat that repeats everything you say in a high little kitty voice.  One day I showed it to Jack to see what he would think.  He was memorized.  At first he just thought it was funny but soon Talking Tom was Jack's best friend.  He would carry him around the house showing him all his toys.  

"This is called a closet, Kitty"

"Kitty this is my sister."

"Do you like firetrucks kitty?"

"No use your big words Kitty."  (this is especially funny because the cat repeats exactly what Jack says)

Jack in his hut talking to Tom.

Jack playing firetrucks with Tom.

Camping Cousins

One of my favorite memories growing up is when we would sleep in the backyard in a tent or on the trampoline, in the playhouse or tree house.  The memory of my cat Tigger temporarily suffocating me as I woke up to him sleeping on my face is still fresh in my mind.  Good times.  So of course we had to do it with the boys.  The Jackson's were kind to let us do it in their giant backyard.  There was even a fire pit.  We roasted delicious Dough Boys, played outside and slept in the tent.  Jack loved it and still talks about it.  I can't wait to do it again next summer.

Glow stick fun!

Staci and Scott taught us how to make Dough Boys over the fire.  So good!

Again, here is that face he is always making.

Sleeping in the tent.  Logan and I volunteered to sleep in the tent with the boys and Staci and Scott slept inside the house with the babies.  Not sure who go the better deal there.  Jack was a little too excited to sleep outside with his cousins and we had a hard time calming him down.  Just look at that face..

Look at those eyes.  All hyped up on sugar and cousin love.  No way he is going to bed.

In the morning the boys jumped in the hot tub.