Just a casual cookout....

If Friday and Saturday hadn't been chaotic enough for our house guests - especially Kade and Mary Margaret - newly dating, kid free, and looking for a nice weekend vacation - Sunday may have been the icing on the cake.  

Owen with Uncle Kade at the neighborhood pool

Sunday started off easy enough.  
We headed to the pool.  
Found a nice shady spot.  
Enjoyed the water, the slide, the kids.  
Ordered a pizza for lunch.  

Eric making a splash at the bottom of the slide.
Chad still holds the record for the largest splash
....of anyone I've seen at the pool this year...
this is a compliment of course!  

Brady enjoyed the pool even more that the beach.
His daddy had to get him in the pool and even
attempted to wake him up from a peaceful nap to do so.
Brady slept right through it and kept on sleeping
so his Mommy could enjoy her book!

We spent a few hours at the pool.  It was easy, relaxing and fun.  All of that came to a screeching halt around 5:30 on Sunday afternoon.

**I must add a little background here** Chad and I have been blessed with lots of wonderful friends here in Mt. Pleasant.  We love to have people over and especially love to have cookouts in the summer.  All of our friends have kids - most of them have at least 2 kids.  So, a casual cookout with a couple or two quickly turns into a slightly chaotic scene with kids everywhere.  This has become part of my life - a part that I enjoy.  I've learned to overlook the mess and plan on cleaning it up after all our guest leave.  For this particular cookout, I wanted to keep it small and simple - seeing that we already had 5 extra people staying with us for the weekend. Chad and I discussed that we would invite one couple over.  I think it is great for our friends to meet our other friends - it is nice to put names and faces together once and a while!  My plan was to invite the Ballenger's.  Chad also invited the Jordan's.  The Blakes were a late addition.  My friend Jesse lives downtown now, so, he should come too.....notice how 1 extra couple - with 2 extra kids - quickly turned into 7 extra adults and 6 extra kids.  Total: 13 adults and 9 kids (though Brady didn't cause too much trouble or eat much food!).  Eric and Amy had met several of them last year at our annual Memorial Day cookout and as usual, they just picked right up with everyone....and found a good hiding spot when needed!  We have had an annual Memorial Day cookout.  This July 4th cookout was really a quick decision.  At the end of the night, Chad was quick to let me know that someone else would have to be in charge for Labor Day!

Group shot of all the kids - including baby Brady who Amy was brave enough to let Holman hold!

Geni, Reese, Alex (attempting to escape!), Ella, Payton, Owen, Holman, Brady and Jack (escaping!)

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years

So, imagine you are Kade and Mary Margaret enjoying your nice little weekend away - kids are not even  on your radar - and suddenly - WHAM! - all of these precious little kids are everywhere!  It was interesting to say the least.  As I said before, I love to be the hostess with the mostess - I love a good party and a good evening with friends.  I found myself caught somewhere in the middle of mother, wife, hostess for our house guests who had retreated to the back porch, hostess to our local guests who were outside or inside or chasing kids, cook, jersey supplier (most of the kids requested UNC jerseys....we actually ran out), and eventually one stressed out lady!  At one point, I was holding Owen on my hip while looking for him at the same time - I am not kidding - we were posing for a picture and I was looking around for Owen - when suddenly, it hit me that he was on my hip....on my hip!....I wish I was joking, really, but I'm not.  Mary Margaret found Owen in her arms more than she probably wanted - I hope I thanked her appropriately.  We did have one toddler wander off to the neighbors yard.  If Mary Margaret hadn't been there to lend a helping hand that could have easily been Owen.  As I mentioned earlier, I do love her but using her as a babysitter wasn't the way I had intended to welcome her!  

At one point we were definitely divided into our "local" friends and our "old" friends - which I'm sure wasn't really that big of a deal - but, being the people pleaser that I am, it really stressed me out that I wasn't doing enough for either group.  Sheesh......over thinking a little!  Either way, what I have learned is that maybe in the future, when we have house guests I'll refrain from also inviting lots of friends over for a cookout.  

A full group shot - it is a little crooked, and Matt is almost cut out - don't blame the photographer - he's only 4!  Thanks for a great shot Holman...and a few good laughs while you were taking the picture!

Good buddies - Payton and Holman.
Holman's orange crocs show his true colors.
He loves to wear Payton's jersey when he comes
to play but he is a little Tiger on the inside!

Amy and Brady

Lindsey, Gene, Amy J. and Amy H.

All the guys - Kade, Rusty, Matt, James, Chad, Eric and Jesse

You can see in these pictures that we all survived and everyone appeared to have a great time!   I know we enjoyed all of our guests and on Monday morning, Payton woke up and immediately asked if they were all coming back!