July 4th week cont...

The beginning of July my dad's cousins came to Iowa for their yearly get together. They have some kids, so Mason again had some entertainment, as did Mallory. For some reason I didn't get many photos, but then again, we really didn't see them as much this year as we usually do. Fred and Norma were married on Saturday July 4th, so that was partly the reason for them not hanging out at the pond longer, and most of them didn't stay more than 5 days. We had a great time and it always goes too fast....
Mason got Anna to go out in the canoe with him

Ryan and Mason in the paddle boat. Funny story. Ryan is 10 I believe and they were out there paddling around I think Ryan was ready to be done with it and he had asked Mason if it was ok if he got out. Mason said sure. So they went close to the shoreline and Ryan gets out. So this leaves Mason and the fishing poles in the paddle boat. Mason has no idea how to steer this thing let alone paddle it by himself. When Ryan was asked why he got out, he said 'Mason said it was Ok'. Needless to say, he got back in and paddled back to the dock.

My serious boys

Mallory just being Mallory... look what i can do for Aunt Kristin... an 'OH' face

Fred and Norma got married on July 4th. Course the weather had been perfect up til that day, and then it decides to rain off and on all day long.. til about 6pm.. when it cleared up, blue skies and perfect for an evening of fireworks. Their wedding theme was Hawaiian and they said to wear some Hawaiian attire. This isn't something we have in our wardrobes, so I went and picked up a couple outfits from the consignment store that were perfect for the occassion! So before we headed to Green Castle where they were getting married, I figured I'd better get some photos of the kids before they got all wet and dirty and weren't 'pretty' anymore!! Here is basically the sequence that took place next....

Somehow when Mallory decided to leave the photo shoot, Mason decided it was time to pose. So he brought out the senior picture poses... can't wait to compare these to the actual ones in 13 years!!! He's quite the ham

This was the first time I've attempted to paint Mallory's toe nails, and she sat still for me. Nothing like little piggies all painted up

Well, getting a family photo wasn't easy either! As you can tell in this one, Mallory is crying. She wanted nothing to do with the camera

BUT let me get down and play and I'll be all smiles

This is a picture of my dad (on the far right) and his siblings and their cousins.. in age order. My grandma and their mother were sisters and all of them basically grew up doing things together.

This is a picture of all the 1st cousins that were at the wedding

Here is the original Randall family...

Now add in some spoues and some kids....

Now add in my dad's brother and sisters and their spouses... and you got almost the whole Randall side of the family (cousin Amy couldn't make it, and I have no idea where Grandpa was)

Here is the Bride and Groom AFTER the actual wedding, when the rain had stopped. They had made a 'beach' of sorts outside, but since it rained, they didn't get to stand out there for their ceremony. It was still a great day!!!

It wouldn't be the 4th of July without some fireworks...

And some sparklers...