Summer Adventure- continued

I am taking too long getting this vacation post done. So, I will keep it brief. Maybe.

Aren't these two cute? I might have mentioned them before. They are Thing 1 (my #4) and Thing 2 (my sisters # 4). I know I referenced how cute they are....well, they really are. And, I think there is a reason! It's a defense mechanism. Generally, they are energetic, darling, and engaging, but when the get together they become two talented mischief pixies. I could fill a book with their exploits. The first half would comprise science experiments brewed in Grandma's tub. But, I digress...the point of this picture is they had a smashing time and we are happy to announce they have been accepted into the Guinness Book of World Records for "the most dirt ground into the seats of a pair of shorts". Here I am doing my best Mario impression. I thought I was kickin' it, but was informed I drive like a grandma. They weren't sure whose grandma, since no one had seen a grandma drive that slowly. They were just jealous of my tight curves.The bumper boats were hilarious. The kids had been waiting all year to get back to this place so they could DRIVE. I thought driving would be a problem when they became teenagers, but I was wrong.

Notice the naughty little children with the squirt guns blasting in the back ground. Yeah, those are my sister's kids. OK- here is a real drama: I have this exceedingly artistic brother-in-law who loves to doodle. So, while we were sacrificing out knee-caps helping with a pinata, he did this......... with Big J's encouragement. # 5 even had "Jesus Loves me" creatively scrawled across her belly. They didn't stop there. By the time the artists were discovered three innocent- and completely entertained- children had been graffitied.

One mom was not too happy. Apparently, her son has an ink allergy. So, she had her revenge at the trigger end of a Super-Soaker. They got what they deserved, but were not very penitent.

(Edited for time)

After numerous days in the great outdoors we returned home to scrub off the dirt, mow the jungle, feed the chickens, dust (not really), and restock our suitcases.

After adequate preparations we were off to my great aunt and uncle's 80th birthday party. You would think that someone who drove seven hours to attend a birthday party would get a picture of the birthday couple together, but alas, nope! So, here are my two great aunts. The one with her arm around me is the birthday girl. Can you believe she is 80? I wish I had her DNA. You should see her yard! Amazing. The other lovely lady is my grandma's sister. My grandma passed away when I was 16 and I was blessed to have this special lady step into that empty space. She is 87 and can out shop anyone. These ladies are the guaranteed best fun there is. Speaking of the yard: Here is a little glimpse... and that is not a child torture treatment. My dad is helping my niece retrieve something from the fishpond. That yard just thrills me.Here is #5 coming up the side of the driveway. I don't know about yours, but my driveway does not look like that even in July!

Last, but not least, these are some of the silly girls in my family. They two lovelies on my left are my sisters and the one on my right is my cousin. I only have two first cousins on this side of my family. On my mom's side there are 30-40-something-ish - not that that information has any bearing on anything. Anyway, the tree we are sitting in is an old apple tree with a bench that encircles the entire trunk. It is so idyllic to the imagination. All you need is a poofy dress and a big hat and you would be set for placing in a novel.

I think I have run on enough...so much for being brief.