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Monday, September 9, 2013

Meeks 2013

A rare Phillips family photo

I saved these group ones all in original size so people can down load them at full resolution.

Group Meeks shot!

I'm still waiting on a few fishing shots...but other than that, here are most all of my Meeks pictures!

This was a great year at Meeks. The girls were a lot more independent than the previous year.

Lia is just so full of personality

These two girls are the funniest of friends

Kiri, always looks like she's up to something! Cute little tike!

Julia and Audrey, such sweet and well spoken little girls!!! I owe them some money for babysitting!

Carli painted all the kids' faces. She is quite talented

..and by kids, I mean Chris

...and Eric

Eric's was awesome!!!

The kids all had a great time playing outside this year...Brooke with a grasshopper...I owe this mom-in-training some babysitting money for all of her care during Meeks!!!!

The girls loved their new found freedom

Super Grady was cute and full of new adventures to share about being a big brother to twins!!!

Incredible Max...

Incredible Max played each night into the wee hours of the morning and would often be the last one in the main cabin!

There were a few bumps and scrapes...

but for the most part, laughter beat tears.

an impressive shot of Lonnie...he doesn't just write poetry, people, he chops wood!!!

We made spray painted shirts after we had taped them. They turned out amazing...we people are very creative!

I was in charge of the adult craft this year and I think it was a success, if I do say so myself, the three F's...Form, Function and Frugal!!!

Speaking of F's...the Feast was amazing, as always, this year...a family thumb shot

Kale, Jen, Carrie and Chris

Lonnie, Sue, Kristi and kids

Carli and Chuck

Palmer Family

Grandma and Grandpa Phillips! Julie never ceases to amaze me, not only is she so fit, she has way more energy than most 20-year-olds...she never stops going...the energy bunny seems lazy compared to Julie.

These girls love their Grandma!!

A picture with me and the girls in our spray paint-tape shirts

Phillips kids' shot

Lia cutie Pie!!

Jarvis family shot...so cute!!!

Tug at my heart strings shot...

Dancing 'cause they're silly shot!

Posing 'cause they're silly dads shot

Such happy girls shot!!! I think I particularly enjoy this picture because for anyone who has slept in the bunk beds in these cabins, this bar is the bane of their existence. Every morning, it is my goal to wake up remembering NOT to sit up straight and bang my forehead against it...so, for the girls to be so full of optimism and fun that they could turn it into the source of laughter for hours...well, that warms my soul, a little...

...a lot...Giggling shot!!! It was another great year at Meeks...thanks to everyone who put so much work and effort into the organizing and executing of it! Can't wait to see you all next year!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Cruisin' with the Chestnuts, Catalina Island & Curtis!!!

I love this picture, because it was our first picture on vacation together. There is something monumental about your first trip with friends as adults...it's a right of passage!

Speaking of being adults...Eric and I decided to ride the buffalo statue at Catalina Island

Here's a picture that my mom sent us while we were on the cruise of Kiri blowing us kisses and wearing Eric's hat

Our 'first day' docked at the Catalina Islands

Eric loved the Catalina Islands so much, he decided to open a little bar/restaurant there!

The Catalina dog and burgers we ate far exceeded the quality we had become accustomed to on the cruise's all-you-can-eat, 24 hr lido deck!!!

You gotta love the obsession these two boys had with their Red Bulls...Eric even purchased a a Red Bull on the ship whose price was well into the double digits!!!

Nice shot of Bonnie and Bret

Here's Bret Photo bombing us!!

On the pier of Catalina Island. I will never forget this guy names Curtis,with a handle bar mustache, whom we spotted on the first day while perusing the photo display area...we were all in agreeance that we wanted to try and 'spot' him...just then, Bonnie excitedly told us that she had already seen him, that's when we heard someone behind us declare, "Hey, that's me!" To our embarrassment, we found out that him name was Curtis and he was on the cruise with him mother...flash forward to Catalina Island, the four of us run into Curtis and his mother and we all greet him, to which he replies (only to me) "hey, they gave you the day off?!" Piece of crap. Everyone had a great laugh over it.

Another pier shot.

...even so...here is a picture of us after we ate beyond our hearts content at the buffet!!!

Hey, Nerds are the new cool!

Next came Ensenada. We went on one of the largest/longest zip lines in America for about $40 a person...it was awesome...but a little ghetto...

They taped our sandals on with duct tape...

Here's a guy we nicknamed, 'short-shorts' for obvious reasons..he was hilarious!!! He owned them!!!

Me and Eric, all belted in...

Ditto, with Bret and Bonnie...except they are striking a much better pose!

Between the pick up at the dock and actually arriving at the zip lines..the only stop the tour bus made was at the Corona Shop...which, being LDS you forget how crazy people can get with a little alcohol...then, they took us on these crazy bridges with no safety nets or harnesses...totally not how it would have been done in America. These people on our bus that were in front of me and intoxicated totally fell off the bridge...it was surreal! The workers have a great sense of humor and one of them had places a dummy with the helmet on mangled underneath one of the bridges.

Here's a nice shot of me and Eric in the Corona store.Max asked if that was really me...no, man!!!

Bret & Bonnie right before they got on the first Zip line

Bret and Bonnie on the Zip Line...gotta love Bret's flying pose

Eric on one of the longest Zip lines...

Here we are on the last Zip line...one of the girls in our tour group that was totally drunk totally disregarded the no pictures while on the zip line rule...

So, I followed suit and totally filmed myself on the zip line...it was awesome!

it was so beautiful and lush in Ensenada.

One of my favorite group shots!!!The only downer to the day was that we had used all of our cash on the tour and zipline that we had to go to the flea market with only about $18 between the four of us...it was torture smelling those fresh oysters grilling!!!

Here we are on formal night...before we even sat down, Eric ordered double lobster!!!It was such a great trip!!!

In Chinese there's something called Yuan...it's sort of like fate, destiny, or connection you have with someone...and sure enough, we ALWAYS were running into Curstis and his mom...here we are at the airport, he probably thought I was interested in him to get a green card! Piece. Of . Crap.

All in all, we all had such a spectacular time...we'll remember it forever!!!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Easter 2013

They had so much fun running around the backyard. They are such happy little friends!

Here is Max showing off his Ben 10 toy...he told me how much he loves Easter and Christmas because he gets toys and Mommy and Daddy don't have to spend any money because Santa and the Easter Bunny pay for them...yes, Santa and the Easter Bunny...you've gotta admire his consideration!