Fourth Family Vacation

We were once again blessed with a family vacation this year provided by Mom (Grandma/Great Grandma).  Most of Jeff and I's family, Bev's family, Kaye's family and Mom meet in Bella Vista, Arkansas over the July Fourth holiday this year.  Mom had rented two of Kaye & Rob's lakehouses for us to enjoy.  The picture below is of the family as they arrived on Wednesday visiting and stretching our legs after traveling (Bev's crew had traveled 8 hours from Texas!).

 

 

 

 Lincoln and Madyson were excited to see each other!

 Our granddaughters arrived.  Their parents left them with us for the night so they could go and celebrate their 8th wedding anniversary a few days early.

 Copeland and his parents arrived

And then Ellis and Graham and their parents arrived (Lincoln had come with his Papa and Mimi).  Lincoln is opening a birthday present from Uncle Matt and Aunt KiKi since his birthday was the 2nd.

 The next several days were spent visiting, cooking, eating, and spending fun times on the dock and in the water.  Rob was very kind to fill up a pool for the kiddos:

 And spraying the kids as he filled it (which they loved)

 Copeland's first swimsuit

  And first time to go swimming....wasn't too thrilled with it though :-)

 

 We were so blessed with such great weather in July!  In fact, the lake water was downright chilly!  So only the kids and their dads and grandpa's braved the water

 

 Us Momma's and Grandma's stayed on the deck

 Everyone did get a boat ride, which we all loved

 So pretty!

 Oh those stairs.....at least that was one way we did get some exercise to balance all that eating we did!

 Sisters!

 Laine loves Lincoln :-)

 I had bought some festive outfits for the grandchildren.  Copeland looked so cute in his!

 And the girls did too!

 Trying to get some pictures in our Fourth attire.....

 

 

 

 Our family that was present that day

 Kaye & Rob with their grandkids

 And their family

 Bev, Don and their daughters and grandchildren (hubbies had to work and couldn't come).  Their family picture was taken on Friday so that is why they don't have their red, white and blue on :-)

 Great Grandma with her 12 great grandchildren.  What laughs we had trying to get these pictures!  There was no way we could get everyone looking at the camera at the same time.  Twelve children of which ten of them were 5 years of age and younger -- so you can only imagine the chaos!

 Too funny!

 With the grandchildren added.....

 

 On the night of the 4th, some of us went to Bentonville to watch a fireworks show. Laine does not like loud noises, so is wearing Daddy's headphones

 

 

 Friday, Uncle JJ (Josh) came out for a visit

 Our precious grandchildren.  Rachel and Jonathan left Copeland with us Friday night for his first overnight stay without them, while they went to Fayetteville and stayed in a nice Bed and Breakfast to celebrate their first anniversary.  Yes, he is crying here, but that was about the only time he cried.  He was such a good baby for us, only waking once during the night to eat.

 Friday night, we ate a delicious dinner at the lakehouse where Bev and family were staying.  The next couple of pictures were off the dock at that house

 I wish I would have had Copeland in this picture.  But he was on Great Grandma's lap up on the screened in porch taking a little nap at the time.

 Sunday morning, some of us attended our son, Andy's church, Metro in Rogers.  This picture was taken in the church foyer.

We came home Sunday afternoon exhausted but so very grateful for the memories that were made and the wonderful time we enjoyed.  We were especially thankful that there were no accidents, injuries, travel problems, sickness, etc.!  With that many people, especially so many children, that was a miracle indeed!

Thank you again and again, Mom, for doing this for our family and thank you to our Lord for blessing us with our family!