Visiting long, lost friends...

On our way home from all the fun up in ID (family reunion), we stopped by two of our very good friends homes in UT to spend some time with them - and to sleep on their floors because we're too poor to pay for a hotel. :-) We hung with Sean & Tiffany over the 24th of July (see firework pics below), and then partied with Garrett & Kricket at Trafalga (including glow in the dark golf, and go-cart racing). The "kids" had a blast!

IT'S REUNION TIME!!

For each of the past 22 years, July has marked a gathering in NE Idaho for the ever-expanding Jones family. The people responsible for making it happen year after year are pictured below (Harold & Cleone). It's a fun-filled week, as you'll see below...

The extended family

The Draper clan

Of all the activities, my personal favorite is PROGRAMS!

Several of the Draper cousins watching a movie

Carter playing at the sand dunes...where sand will find its way into every crevice on your body.

Cassidy jumping off the diving board at the swimming hole

Several of the Draper cousins feeding the fish

Feeding the horses

Playing at the waterpark

Beautiful sunset

I wanted to kill these mangy, disease ridden cats by the end of the week. My daughters couldn't get enough of them, and they have the claw marks all over their bodies to prove it.

Playing on the inflatable waterslide in the front yard

Twin Falls Temple Open House....

Another stop along the way up to reunion - the open house of the Twin Falls temple.

M&M World in Las Vegas...

Kimberly and the kids stopped off in Las Vegas on their way up to her family reunion in ID. It was a chance for the kids to get out and stretch their legs, and see a few sights along the way.

Cute kids...

Look at Carter..."Mom, it's TOO LOUD!"

Carter was so excited, he couldn't stand up straight. :-)

Lake Powell...

Over the 4th of July weekend, we went up to Lake Powell with our friends Brock & Shannan. Neither Kimberly or I had ever been there, so we were excited for the opportunity. The weather was awesome, and the company was great. The kids had a blast, and when we got home, they couldn't stop telling people how cool it was that they got to stay at a "house" that was also a "boat".

The floating 'casa de Ohlson'

We went on a boat ride up some little canyons...it was gorgeous!

Who's that sexy cowgirl?

We did a little fishing off the houseboat (just pulled in a few nasty bottom feeders)....but the kids can't tell the difference. I think we caught that same fish like 5 times!

Carter thought he was in heaven - trying to drive both the skiboat, as well as the houseboat.

Of course we had our not so cute moments as well....."I want to hold you!"

The kids in the 4th of July outfits

Viva la Mexico - Family Style

The last weekend in June, we went down to Rocky Point, Mexico with a bunch of friends from our ward. For those of you not familiar with Rocky Point, it's a little slice of heaven, generally only know to the Phoenicians. It's a scaled down version of Cabo San Lucas. I know a guy who owns a 3,500 sq. ft. penthouse on the 15th floor of the resort pictured below. So we stayed for an extended weekend (4 or 5 days). The kids had a blast in the pools, on the waterslide, riding the waverunners in the ocean, searching for crabs, building sand castles, getting their hair braided, and other fun beach-time activities.

Kimberly loves to ride waverunners - and took each of the kids for a spin in the ocean.

I think the only person who loves waverunners more than Kim is Carter....he was in heaven!

Sexy ladies soaking up some rays.

The kids spent hours going down this waterslide...it had a 4+ ft. drop into the pool.

Several of our group gathered around something interesting....what could it be?

Courtney and Carter are very intrigued....

And here is what all the commotion was about...a jellyfish - OUCH! (although it looks like something else).

Carter showing off a little crab he found when the tide was out.

Carter putting the moves on Tessa - one of his two "girls".

"Tessa, hold my hand, I'll protect you from the jellyfish."

Here he is with the other - Ella.

"There's plenty of me to go around ladies."

THAT'S MY BOY!

Here's the whole group from the patio of our room - GOOD TIMES!

Everyone make a "goofy face"!