Vegas and Arizona Trip - July

Jackson and Delaney went for a ride in Grandpa Dan's spinning chair. Notice how Jackson is holding onto Delaney. He is such a good big brother. 

Vegas and Arizona Trip - July

Everyone loved giving Delaney her cup and she enjoyed the attention. 

Vegas and Arizona Trip - July

Delaney was a bit bashful at first, but finally warmed up to her great grandparents, who she met for the first time. 

Vegas and Arizon Trip - July

Delaney and Great Grandma Irene share a moment. 

Vegas and Arizona Trip - July

Jackson and Grandpa Dan work on taking some pictures. 

Vegas and Arizona Trip - July 2006

Delaney and her Great Grandpa Dan enjoyed each other's company. 

Vegas and Arizona Trip - July

We all visited at the Barbers. The girls all wanted to read Jackson's Leap Pad book. 

Vegas and Arizon Trip - July

A bath of cousins....here are Jackson and Delaney with their twin cousins Lena and Katie. These four had a great time swimming, running, and romping together. We forsee years of squeals and giggles from everyone. 

Vegas and Arizon trip - July

A whole bunch of Cooks! This was a wiggle bunch and hard to capture in a still shot. 

Vegas and Arizon Trip - July

Jackson follows Grumpy to a neighbor's house to hopefully catch a glimpse as a tortoise. 

Vegas and Arizona trip - July

Delaney and Jackson with thier great-grandmother, Granny. We had a nice visit with the Cooks. The kids were their usual energetic and therefore entertaining selves. We, of course, went to breakfast at the buffett with them. Everyone ate plenty, including dessert! 

Vegas and Arizona trip - July

 

Las Vegas and Arizona trip - July

Jackson and friend Erica at a great little waterpark in Henderson, right outside Vegas. Erica and her mom and brother gave us a ride to Vegas to meet up with Nate, who was teaching a class. Then, the Cooks headed out to visit family in Arizona for the July 4 weekend. Jackson and E were very patient, waiting for this break out of the pool to be over.

Camp Out - June 24th

A barely awake Delaney got in on the camp-out fun the next morning. 

Camp Out - June 24th

Here they are, getting ready to go to sleep in the tent. 

Camp Out - June 24th

Jackson and Nate camped in our backyard the night after the Soiree. Both were so excited. The desert sky was a treat that night. Here's Jackson with his flashlight and sleeping bag (backpack) getting ready to get in the tent. 

Summer Soiree 2006

Yet another self-portrait. The party ended with dancing and then relaxed conversation on a beautiful desert night. Thanks to all who could make it and made it such a special evening. We had a blast. What will Summer Soiree 2007 bring? 

Summer Soiree 2006

Nate and Matt, post water-fight. 

Summer Soiree 2006

Heidi and Kimberly 

Summer Soiree 2006

Team Shark calculate projectiles for the water balloon lob into the baby pool. The evening, of course, degenerated into a water balloon fight. 

Summer Soiree 2006

Team crab with their launcher. 

Summer Soiree 2006

Jen explains the rules to the beach ball relay game. Teams had to inflate beach balls, kick them backwards to a baby pool and kick them in. Once a team had all their balls in, they could start removing the other team's balls until time was called. She apparently did not recite the complete rule book as one competitor began slicing the other team's balls to make them non-eligible for the final count. 

Summer Soiree 2006

Team crab prepare for the annual quiz. "What? No multiple choice? Only free response?!" Team leader Matt's coniving later in the game led the team to victory and rights to first dibs on desert. 

Summer Soiree 2006

Polly and Brooke, sworn shark and crab enemies, but friends in real life. 

The willow tree is dying....

Here you can see the casings from the clearwing moth borers. They lay eggs inside the tree and then the larvae burrow for several feet through the pith of the tree and re-emerge elsewhere - totally destroying the tree inards.