This is as good as it gets with a baby in full teething mode, but you get the idea… ThePondFam5 knows how to party country style! (and we love each other very much!)

 

Mike’s mom and dad joined us this year, so it was extra special!

Missing Michele in England but happy to see my little bro!

Aren’t our babies cute!?! 

The girls love roaming around the fields in the wide open spaces… there’s just something about this place that is magical for them.  It’s really special to me too!

My little treasures!

 

Rara with her stateside granddaughters and the girls with their cousin Melissa.

 

Kay Kay and Grandpapa with 3 of their honeys and Mom with the babies!

I *love* this pic I took of Brother Man with his girls!

 

My big girls were busy busy with their cousins, but I did snap some quick pics!

Mike with his dad, Paul.

We got the peach and white memo for dinner!  Lol…

Melissa and Noelle made a beautiful “centerpiece” for the hot dog supper!

I love their creative little centerpiece!

                     

I love this picture of Harper and Rose with Aunt Polly… babies are so silly!

Rose couldn’t wait to get started on her hot dog!

Peek a boo during dinner!

“Do the happy dance, do the happy dance!” which pretty much happens every time baby Rose eats!

Cousin Dannette (wife of Bobby, my mom’s first cousin) and Cousin Linda (my mom’s first cousin) enjoying all of the fun, family, and fellowship!

Cousin Troy digging his dog!  Love this little buddy!

Cake pop face!

Mustard face!

My baby and me happy after dinner.  I love this little stick tight!  (which won’t be the case next year because she will be 2 and very social just like her sisters, I’m sure!) 

  

Rose did not like the grass, but she decided this after she gave it a good try!

 

Anna Kate and Emma.  These sweet cousins met last year and really bonded.  They couldn’t wait to play together again this year, and it’s precious how Emma just gets Anna Kate.  It’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen.  Monday morning, Anna Kate asked if Emma could come over.  When I told her she lived too far away, she started crying and said, “But I love her really bad!”  Sooo sweet and sad!

I hate that my baby girl has to teethe.  It hurts so badly!  I don’t remember it being this rough with the others, but time is so kind.  Hoping we’ll forget all about this too!

 

As soon as the sun went down, Rose came alive and enjoyed being her happy little self…for a little bit. 

Cousin Brittany and me

 

Let me games begin!  Mike and I totally won the 3 legged race, and it’s the first time we’ve ever done it in our 12 years of being together!  (I bet Brian and Amber would give us a run for our money, maybe next year?) <— subliminal message there, ha!

Bunny toss for the little ones.

Love Noelle putting on her lip gloss in the background… these are my girls!

               

Anna Kate and Brittany!  Where are you Regan and Ashley?  Oh yeah, chillin with your boyfriends!  🙂

Enjoying watching the games!

Aunt Polly and Olen carrying on… love this pic!

Baby Rose playing with the spoons from the egg carrying game.

 

Piñata time!  Go girl!

 

Noelle’s getting after it, alright Miss Thang!

Rara was so sweet to give Rosie a turn!

 

The girls laughing at the boys hitting the piñata.  Cousin Duke kept raising the egg right when they were about to bust it, and the girls got so tickled!

These two were found on the step of the stage at the end of the night last year too… from now on when Emma and Anna Kate sit on the step, it’s time to call it a night!

*If you’re new to the blog and wondering what all of this is about, every year we have a get together the night before Easter out at our party barn to celebrate Easter with my mom’s Staton family.  It’s a wonderful chance for the cousins to get to know each other, make memories and stay connected since we live in different places.  Then, the next day, we have a wonderful lunch and Easter egg hunt, all the time celebrating the Resurrection of Christ together on top of the most beautiful hill in the world (found in Jacksonville, TX).  And there you have it!