Family Campout 2009

This year's Jones'/Seelos Un-Campout was a different twist to our typical 3-day campout. This time we spent one entire day together at Classic Skating and Waterpark....just to see if we could wear ourselves out in one day instead of three (mission accomplished!)

We started the day--the night before. The adults were invited to come to Alan and DeeAnn's home for dutch oven dinner and civilized conversation. Wes and I gave up attending as we were exhausted the night before while making preparations for everyone to meet at our home for breakfast the next morning (sorry....we're old)

Bright and early the next morning, we had breakfast in our front yard. We set up a beautiful banner (created by Mallory), put tables on the lawn and, with Kline and Carrie, we served ham, hard-boiled eggs (oh, lots of eggs), french toast and toppings, orange juice, and chocolate milk.

You can never have enough hard-boiled eggs! (We thought!). I must admit there has been an abundance of deviled eggs and egg salad sandwiches at our house this week!

And as is typical of any Jones/Seelos activity, the food came and went....but the talking around the tables was eternal. It was great to catch up on everyone's lives, children, adventures, etc.

The kids always love hanging out with Ross.

Then, of course, there is the necessary

"counsel" from the Elderly Wise Ones.....

And then there is all that great DNA!

Cute Cousins!

Cuter Cousins:

CUTEST Cousins:

THIS HARD WORKING COUSIN CAN FINALLY REST!

That Jared Thompson flipped french toast all morning without a moment's rest.....

And then there were the little ones! They were inside, outside, in the garage, on the tramp, everywhere! It was wonderful to see so many cousins who love being together.

In the early afternoon we left our house and went to Classic Skating and Waterpark. The adults were a little overwhelmed at first with all the bright lights, loud music, and a bajillion kids....but it didn't take long for many to get right into things! (Lousy fotos....but when you're going that fast, what else can a photographer do??)

Jon and Zac each did their best to FULLY participate in the video games.

Now who is the REAL Guitar Heroe? (Notice Zac taking notes from the side!)

Wes had a special need to relieve stress.......and he found it! He says he wants a machine like this in his office.

Just down the at the other end of the room were the HUGE Bounce Toys that old and young seemed to find an adventure in. Father against son, brother against brother, Mother (Susan Seelos) against daughter (Ashley Seelos) they fought against each other and the clock to come out as winners! What a charming Eternal Family Moment......

And for some fathers and sons....it was just pretty darn tiring!




And once again, the tableside sharing/talking/counseling/commiserating/comforting
was there in abundance.







By early evening, it was time to leave the Skating/Water Park and head over to a nice, quiet, shady park where the Lindsay & Jodi Jones and Darin & Tina Thompson families prepared some much-needed FOOD! We had fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, and some amazing brownies made by Tina's gifted hands. Thanks, guys!






It was a great day with lots of time to spend with loved ones...to see the family grow, try to kill one another (did I mention anything about shots fired during a Family Laser Tag game??), and to come to appreciate all that we have to offer the world because of the blessings of a wonderful family.