The kids, my Mom, and I all celebrated the 4th with Josh's family at the Frio! :) Although she was struggling to clear up a case of strep throat, Anna went on ahead of us with Big Momma like she does every year. She wasn't going to let a little thing like strep hold her back!

Before the rest of us could head that way Hommie managed to do this to himself!

:(  This is straight-up going to scar, and we have no idea how it happened.  I was giving the baby a bath and Josh was in a different room.  Only Wallace and Hilde will ever truly know what happened... — :( This is straight-up going to scar, and we have no idea how it happened. I was giving the baby a bath and Josh was in a different room. Only Wallace and Hilde will ever truly know what happened...

Anyway...I took a half day and we headed over to the Frio on the 2nd. Wallace was so excited to hang out with his cousins! Finally some boys! And apparently, the cool new thing is to pick Wallace up and swing him around. :)

I believe this group took face painting to an entirely new level this year....

You can kind of tell Anna wasn't at 100%....but her face paint looks cute!

I'm pretty sure Joe may have started this trend of the adult faces becoming art canvases for the kids.

Man....did he get it this year!  ;) — Man....did he get it this year! ;)

There were about 5 hands involved in the creation of this masterpiece!

And it went on for days....  It was like when you have a puzzle set up on vacation and people walk over occasionally and find a piece.  But it was face paint.  All the time.  :) — And it went on for days.... It was like when you have a puzzle set up on vacation and people walk over occasionally and find a piece. But it was face paint. All the time. :)

We had some first-timers this year!  This was Eric watching them paint Mark's face and saying.... "don't even think about painting my face!" — We had some first-timers this year! This was Eric watching them paint Mark's face and saying.... "don't even think about painting my face!"

Lyle showed up too, and even helped string up the pinata!

Wallace hasn't quite figured out the sweet spot of the bat.  ;) — Wallace hasn't quite figured out the sweet spot of the bat. ;)

I just love this shot of Bodie.  :)  He looks like he's about to knock the crap out of Mickey. — I just love this shot of Bodie. :) He looks like he's about to knock the crap out of Mickey.

Tanner got the best photo with candy falling this year.  :) — Tanner got the best photo with candy falling this year. :)

Meredith sat in the grass nearby and played the entire time. She seemed completely oblivious to the craziness that was going on 30 feet away.  She was battling strep too though.  :( — Meredith sat in the grass nearby and played the entire time. She seemed completely oblivious to the craziness that was going on 30 feet away. She was battling strep too though. :(

As usual, Wallace would play until he fell asleep.

And he made sure to get cozy with the lady bearing Doritos.  ;) — And he made sure to get cozy with the lady bearing Doritos. ;)

Aunt Lynn was the baby whisperer.  :)  Poor Meredith.  I apparently don't get her out of the house enough.  That coupled with the strep thing was about her limit.  :(  She was miserable...and fairly miserable to be arou… — Aunt Lynn was the baby whisperer. :) Poor Meredith. I apparently don't get her out of the house enough. That coupled with the strep thing was about her limit. :( She was miserable...and fairly miserable to be around.

It wouldn't be right if I didn't get pics of kids on swings!  :) — It wouldn't be right if I didn't get pics of kids on swings! :)

Haha!   Wallace had a love/hate thing going on with the swing. — Haha! Wallace had a love/hate thing going on with the swing.

So with all these kids with strep I guess it was just a matter of time...I ended up with it too. :( I immediately felt terrible for the kids. Strep hurts! I just started going downhill about a day after we got there, and got progressively worse.

So, unfortunately, I missed the parade. :( And I missed the talent show. Not that I wanted to be in it (let's face it...I'm kind of an introvert), but I love to watch it, and I was excited to try to get some pics of it this year.

But I did get some cute pics of some of the kids tubing. The river was WAY up due to all of the flooding this year. I've never seen it like this. It wasn't the quiet little river it's always been. So, the tubing was excellent, but the swimming holes were non-existent.

What is usually a waterfall near the cabins was a fun little chute. So, the kids would ride down it and then get out to walk back up and do it over and over again. Made for some cute pics that I wouldn't normally be able to get!

Although he suddenly seems to hate the camera....

Anyway....a GREAT time was had by all!  And I really pray the kids and I didn't pass our strep on to anyone else.  "/ — Anyway....a GREAT time was had by all! And I really pray the kids and I didn't pass our strep on to anyone else. "/

Thanks for bringing us all together Big Momma! Looking forward to next year!