We've come a long way...the Jackson/Cooper Camp Out!

When my dad and Marsha got married, it was a little weird blending two grown families. Each of us had our own traditions. So here there were 4 grown Jackson kids and 4 grown Cooper kids trying to make our new situation in life seem normal (what ever that is...is there such a thing?). My dad and Marsha love the outdoors and love camping so they started having family camping trips. There was one for the Jacksons and one for the Coopers. They were so much fun that slowly some from each family started coming to the camping trip for the other family. Time passed and here we are...one big happy family that has blended well. There are lots of differences and lots of similarities. It has been so fun getting to know them and growing to love them.

No one would have believed this camp out. There were 16 adults and 16 kids (the oldest was 9). Marsha planned and planned for a year for this. This was the first time since she married my dad that her son Bryan came to Idaho with all his family.  With all these kiddos there were crafts, games, bracelet making, a fishing pond, and my kid's favorite...a bug hunt. There was lots of good food to eat too. One thing about being with the Jacksons is that you never go hungry.

Brandon setting up the fishing pond

Out side the fishing pond...girls are wearing hats they made at the craft table

Steph...doing the work behind the scenes at the fishing pond

Nate showing his loot! Tootsie rolls, binoculars, flashlights...and a whole bunch more stuff!

Logan having a bite of tootsie roll

Nate before the bug hunt...there were plastic bugs hidden and the kids got to find them and put them in their bug holders.

Just a little friendly fight with the bug holders between cousins...snap snap

On a cold morning, who needs a jacket??? Not Dad...just a pair of pants for his arms.

Rob  cooking dinner...love his camping hair

My cute camping husband...he is always such a help chasing all these boys!

The girls on the beach...soaking up some sun! My favorite part about camping...

NOODLES! That is what I call a noodle! We LOVE noodles!

I love this boy...he loves to have fun!

The self entertainment...dirt and water...we hardly saw our kids.

One funny thing about this trip was that Carson kind of wanted to go jet skiing. It took up a couple days of courage and then we went. There were a couple Carson rules...no going fast (like more than 5 miles per hour) and no leaving the shore (like no more that 20 feet away). So, after the first time, he loved it! Then, his crazy mother let him push the gas and steer. Big mistake. He was a wild man! Now he thinks he is practically 15 and can almost drive anything...that is one part of growing up that can wait...YIKES!  

After the camp out, we came back to Idaho Falls and stayed the night. Then it was family picture time. WOW. That is all I have to say about that. It was a little crazy with all the kids AND adults. The only way it could have been more crazy was to add dogs to the mix. The pictures turned out cute and now there is one that is the whole group of us. Thanks to Kelli for taking these cute ones:

After pictures Logan found a mud puddle to splash in... before long, he was laying down in it! Here, he is not sure whether it is worth getting in trouble...

Here he is sure it is! Stinker!

2 Classic BOB pics

Laying on the ground barking out orders...if I had a nickle for every time I've seen this happen...

After pictures, we had a picnic at the river and fed the ducks. The last time we did this, Carson was about 2. It was CRAZY. We chased him all over. This time, he actually fed the ducks. Nate liked it too. I guess it was mostly geese, but to them, they are all the same. Logan, on the other hand...

Running baby...running mommy

I am proud of our family. It is not the easiest thing in the world to blend two adult families. We are having fun together and are so glad to see our parents happy. They laugh more than anyone I know. We've come a very long way.