Jackson Family Reunion NUMERO UNO

We finally made it happen! Our first reunion with just my parents and siblings. Not everyone could come, but it was still a lot of fun. Jared found us this sweet house in Salt Lake City. It looks kinda old on the outside, but it had been redone inside and we kept joking it was like the "Weasley's Tent". It just kept going on and on once you walked inside. There were rooms and nooks, and odd space everywhere!! We had nineteen people staying there and I don't think anyone slept on the floor. The kitchen was enormous -- perfect for our dinners we all prepared for each other. Jared grilled up some filet mignon the first night and we had baked potatoes, salad, rolls, and huge side of chocolate fountain for dessert. (a jackson family tradition) There was air hockey and foosball (sp?) for the kids downstairs and a flat screen TV. We played at the park across the street after dinner and enjoyed being around each other...tried to play Settlers after the kids went to bed, but we were all so tired by about 45 minutes into it we were begging people to win and let us go to bed. (Gotta love parenthood sometimes)

Monday morning we headed to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open house. It was a beautiful day inside and outside the temple. We loved the grand stair cases inside. It was fun to walk through with the kids and explain to them a little about what happens in each room.
Thankfully the tour went better than this picture of our kids
The Cousins (we missed you Hammlets)

Next we headed to downtown Salt Lake to take in the sights.
We started with a walk through the JS Memorial builing and headed to an awesome lunch at the Lion House eaten in their beautiful courtyard. After eating we headed next door for a tour of the Beehive House
Sometimes Jared and I want to read Jake's mind
The "Beehive house" (Brigham Young's Home)

The two who made this reunion happen....in more ways than one
Next we headed on to Temple Square




Learning about the temple from Grandpa Jackson

Having fun with my camera, I loved taking pictures of these statues it was such a gorgeous day...everyone kept complaining of the heat, but not us!

After the tour of the Conference Center
At the top of the Conference Center
We rounded out the day with a BBQ at my cousins Spence's house. There was swimming and food, and visiting. It was great to see Aunt Erma my Dad's sister who was like a grandmother to me while I attended BYU.
Aunt Erma loving Cole

Grandpa's Birthday Party

Grandpa's birthday is July 1st. So we all went on Sunday and shared a yummy mexican meal with him....I think it cheered him up! Karyl wanted family pictures so we took the opportunity.
Jared with his siblings, mom and grandpa

Stadium of Fire

Thanks to Jared's brother Jason who is an F-16 pilot stationed at Hill AFB, we got some complimentary tickets to the Stadium of Fire on the 4th. There weren't enough for everyone to go so the girl cousins and moms, plus Grandma Karyl, Strider, and Jake were in the group that went. Jared and the boys (minus Jake) stayed back in Farr West for the fireworks display there. It was a fun evening once we all got there through the crazy Provo traffic, me trying to remember the names of Provo streets, and a donut run. Thankfully we all got to see Jason fly over. It was cool, but man they go fast, we all were anticipating with cameras ready, but you have no idea which direction they will come from!

This flag was giant and really fun to see raised
The sugar highed sweet cousins they were spoiled with shaved ice, cotton candy, licorice, sodas...etc Aunt Colette bought us all these red shirts !
My Daddy flew over the stadium!! Heather and Strider
Dina and Devyn Colette, Leah, and Ellie
Jake got to come with us to check out the fireworks!
Hanna and I were so excited for the Jonas Brothers. The cousins weren't nearly as excited as we were, but Hanna got them up and dancing and should be fans now!!

The dancing with fire were really neat
Cutie JB fan with her JB pins she got for a souvenier. She has really liked the Jonas Brothers this past year and even tells me she has a crush on Nick. I think this is her first crush on a celebrity that I know of.....mine was Ricky Shroeder and then Kirk Cameron.

Grandma and Grandpa's Carnival

Every year Grandma Karyl and Grandpa Boyd put on a carnival for all of their grandkids around the 4th of July. They have 9 kids between the two of them so you can imagine the size of this party! My kids love it and it is a very fun tradition. Every year there are games, face painting, food (cotton candy, funnel cakes, hotdogs, homemade icecream), prizes and a few new additions to make it different each year.
This water treehouse was a new thing and the kids loved it
This is Carter's cousins trying to get him to take a picture per his mother's request
Jake, Daniel, Austin, John, Carter, and Andrew (in back)
hanging with Dad
Love that Utah Summer! (You can enjoy the outdoors)
Pin the tail on the monkey
The start of the huge water balloon, hose, bucket fight
look out everyone
Where are the gummy bears????
The whipping cream contest was for the grown ups and older grandkids (you were supposed to find the gummy bears with your teeth)
It turned into a whipping cream fight-- the Mounteers know how to have fun!! Mike is on the right, two of these are actually his own kids.
Karyl and Boyd with their grandchildren (the older ones didn't get in the picture)
The "CANDY BOMB" (not your ordinary pinata)