FOR THE 4TH, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BIG BASH HERE! WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME. NO FIGHTS AMONG THE KIDS (NONE WITH THE ADULTS EITHER) AND VERY FEW TEARS. GREAT CONVERSATIONS AND THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO DO POTLUCK STYLE PARTIES...:)!! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO JOINED US. WE HAD A WHOPPING HEAD COUNT OF 55! WHO KNEW WE HAD SO MANY FRIENDS? :) (we won't mention the few families that we had to pay to come!) WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH AMAZING AND WONDERFUL FRIENDS!! WE LOVE YOU!

WUBBEN'S, VAN HOFS AND WIERSMAS (among others)....WE MISSED YOU!

THE FIRST OF MANY LOUD ONES! :)

JUST A FEW OF THE 19 KIDS WE CELEBRATED THE 4TH WITH!

ryan letting micah in on the firworks secret hiding spot. micah suggested that when they unveiled it to everyone, they should yell 'TA DAH"! :)

jill and landon...just getting started with the fireworks

sweet sisters

em, mel, jill and me....great friends!

jill, shona and greta...dear friends of mine!

jades, hailey, taylor (holding joe) and sophia...nice to have some more girls around here! :)

carson, jack and zach...

ryan's favorite place to be!!

happy birthday uncle dave!

our last boy lost his FIRST tooth!!! :)

as promised....more camping pictures. of course, it's once again, after 11 so i'm doing this before heading off to bed so the journaling on this will have to wait.....:)