G'ma Janice and Papa Terry

My sis and I herded our families into cars and drove over to see my dad and stepmom for an afternoon.  This year, Kendra and I took our hound out there as they are dog-friendly folks who actually requested the hound's visit.  Crazy people.

We got there and as is per usual, the kids peeled off their clothing as fast as they could (in the house, of course) and got into the pool immediately.  The great news this year was that Luker was tall enough so the water wasn't over his head!   Another bonus was that the kids of my step-brother Jason were there and we got to see them too!  Great kids, although I'm not sure who gave them permission to grow up so much.  Sheesh!

So first was the pool, and I caught each of the kids in an action shot as they jumped off the ladder...

Next, we continued the tradition of walking the couple blocks up to the little charming downtown area.  We went to a local mom & pop restaurant and had some seriously yummy pizza.

 

Here is niece Tessa, clearly in a pizza coma.

We ordered WAY too much pizza, so we took it with us.  My brother in law Jack makes a fine pizza carrier!

After stuffing ourselves ridiculously full, we did the next logical thing--we walked to the swinging bridge so we could mix all that pizza up with some serious motion!

The bridge is only anchored on both ends of the shore, so I suppose that would be called a suspension bridge?  As you walk across it bounces, wobbles, and swings.  Kendra is not a fan---this is about as far as she went across, but the other kids loved running full speed and making it shake like crazy!

Here are all eight kids and a good view of the bridge behind them. 

We walked back to the house where the kids jumped back into the pool until it was time to head home. 

Just before we left, Dad and Janice gave Kendra her birthday card.  Tradition is that they get a couple of lottery scratch cards in their card...unfortunately no winners this year!

When it was time to go we took a few pics of the soggy kids with their grandparents.  It was a fantastic, fun-filled day!

(Luke insisted that Grady be in this shot...how cute!)