Mixing The Old With Some New...

I am warning you before I start this post, that it's a long one. Lyssa & Jenny...this one is mostly for you since you were not with us but this new family tradition was hilarious so I just had to share :)

Grandma and Grandpa Terry (my parents) decided that they wanted to add a new tradition to the 4th of July activities. We already host the Sainsbury side family party on the day of the 4th, but my parents want to start doing something fun for the grand kids. From now on, they are going to have a big "camp out" down in the backyard the night before. This was the first year that they did it and it was alot of fun! I love watching the cousins interact and I know that memories are being made. These are also the moments that we really miss the Zimmermans (my sis Lyssa and her family who live in Tx) and this year we also missed my other sis, Jenny (who was in Co with her man)


It was so funny because Carter could not wait to get the tent up so that he could mark his territory with his sleeping bag...
Grandpa could not pass up giving his "this is how to" lesson to Kindra about how to correctly build the fire.

My parents have the best yard ever that we have put alot of hours into...both creating and using as we were growing up. Sorries go out to the rest of the Terry family because I have already put dibs on our parents yard when they "pass over to the other side". Even though we were joking around, I think that I've got a good chance of this actually happening. My parents will never move so I will just have to knock down their house and build my own. The yard is worth it! Since I am the oldest...I've got first right so back off everyone!!! :)
Kindra lucked out and she got to sleep in her own tent since I knew that the sleep factor was going to come in handy the next day. In other words, I went home and slept in my own comfortable bed...he he he
...the view of Lone Peak from their backyard...
Growing up we were continually harassed by my father about knowing the correct way to start a fire. "This is what you do...this is what you don't do". However, the lessons were never remembered. Miraculously none of us died. Many tree explosions went down in this fire pit. Many flame jumping competitions were seen. Many near death experiences were seen.

Flash forward to the present day. My Dad put together paper, wood, kindling. etc but what do you think he told my Mom he was running up to the garage to get? That would be what he called "some fire accelerant" aka GASOLINE! He will never live this event down! He did exactly what he has told us to NEVER do! He even started the grass on fire! I caught the perfect pic of him almost singeing his eyebrows...seriously!

It's time for SMORES...line up everyone but not without the "how to" lesson from Grandpa...
...and now for a lesson from Mom... "I am way too impatient so I just place them in the flame, pull back a fireball, blow it off, and pull them off. YUM." So much easier...

This is exactly why I am not a fan of "the Smore concept". Way too messy! BOO to me, I know, but still....

Time for bed...My brothers, Michael and John-Charles, were the "adults of the night" in charge of my kids. (since I weaseled off to my soft bed. he he he) Jake, Nat, Colin, and Abbi camped out too so they were one big happy family!

The next day, we put the tents away, Grandma made us breakfast, and we got ready for the annual "river rafting" adventure. In the back of my parents property is an irrigation creek that we grew up using as our own personal entertainment. We would jump IN a raft and would float down to the end of the street and run back to do it all over again. I emphasize the word IN because that way we would not freeze to death. That water is freeeezing!

...Jake's personal changing area....
I love these 2! They are punks to each other and all that my Mom asked for was "For one day, can you two just be nice to each other both in words and in deeds". We laughed hard at that one. Impossible! They love each other and are not really mean but they love to give each other a hard time...PUNKS! Only the brothers were going to get in the water with the kids this year...and our rafts were flat...so we pulled out some other floatation devices...but they allowed you to get wet. Freezing remember! Notice the garbage bags that he taped to his legs to act as a wet suit. What do you think about their retro, old school swimming shorts!!! Such retards!
...in line to take the plunge...
...notice the sheer panic on my brothers face as he is shoving the kids aside just to get out! Quote..."It hurts so bad! My bones are aching because that water is so f'in cold!"(once the kids are out of hearing range, ofcourse)
They decided to walk the kids down from one end of the yard to the other. The more they did it, the easier it got. Yeah!!! because their legs became numb!!!

Now...it can not be a true Terry family event if there is not some sort of bet or dare usually given and it's usually given by me! I am really, really good at coming up with some good ones! "I will give you each $$$ if you can become fully immersed in the water!" They did it and here's the proof....Michael was the only one who knew that the $$$ was sooooo not worth it!

Kindra and I getting ready to head back over to my parents for their usual 4th of July party...
...John-Charles and Colin eating some grub...

I am not a huge fireworks fan. My motto...You've seen one firework, you've seen 'em all! Of course I can handle the little "family driveway show" so I took the kids up to Trevor's parents home to hang out with their cousins who are visiting from Az.
Kindra, Carter, Jack, and Carson

Carter is the best "cleaner upper" in the whole, entire world!

Overall...such a fun day...long...but way fun! Like I said before...this was going to be a long post but that it was mostly for those who were not able to be there. We missed you and hope that your day was as grrrrreat as ours :)