Late Summer Work Party

Kent has been in business now thirteen years.  It has been good.  Financially things were very tight at the beginning, but both Kent and I felt absolutely sure he should be going into business with Dal, his partner, so when times got stressful, we knew it was going to be alright.  And it has been alright.  Great in fact.  Kent loves being in business (a surprise to him!), he and Dal and Lee (Kent's brother) work well together as they deal with current issues and plan for the future, and we have been blessed financially.  Inspite of the tremulous economical situation, they are still in business and provided we don't experience a worldwide economic meltdown and the zombie apocalypse, prognosis for continued growth looks good.

Today we had our first annual work Summer Family Barbecue.  It certainly wasn't the first time we have gathered.  Each year we have a "Christmas" party, usually held in early January, but that is an adults only party.  We haven't had a family gathering, and our time together today was so fun, we'll definitely make it an annual affair (baring the zombie apocalypse).

Shane and AJ spent most of Friday scheming how to make the coolest slip-n-slide ever.  Using large banners left over from World of Concrete, several bottles of baby wash, and lots of cold water from the hose, we did create a fairly cool slip-n-slide.  In addition to running and sliding or running and staying upright because the water was cold, Shane and AJ attached a tube to a rope pulled by a 4x4 and zoomed all willing speedily down the slide.  It was lots of fun.

In addition to slipping and sliding, we played volleyball (poorly) and the kids jumped around in a bounce house.  We had Hawaiian food for dinner (Lose, the admin, is Polynesian) and talked and laughed while the kids all ran around and, if ours were any indication, had way too much soda.  Dal, Kent, and Lee were each presented with lovely TAG Heuer watches for ten+ years with the company.  We really like Kent's business associates and are glad there is such a good feeling at work and away from work too.

Lee showering the slip-slide

He was dangerous with the hose.

Brandt is pulling Blythe on the tube

Blythe is pushing herself

Blythe is scooping up bubbles 

Bryan is working for Kent doing production so he came with Donovan and Grandma Sue

 

  

Tommy, Bryan, Boston, Lose, and Aaron

They were opposite 

AJ who you can't see, Brody, Maddie, Kent, Brandt, and me (that's my shadow)

Kent and his very fancy watch

 

Back row: Lose, Lishelle holding baby, Brenda, me, Kent, Bryan, Shane, Tommy, AJ, Maddie, Aaron

Front row: KJ, Victoria, Brooke holding Chase, Dal, Brandt, Blythe, Donovan, Joanna holding Eli, Boston, Broday, and Lee

All the same people in much the same order, only backwards

 

Business mongrels Lee, Dal, and Kent

Below are pictures I took of the kids bouncing. 

I tried to get them to all come sit for a brief moment so I could get a picture.

This is how cooperative everyone was.

No one listening at all except Blythe in the corner 

who looked at me and then went right back to what she was doing.

Ah! Five small people sitting, none looking at me.

Less sitting, still no looking.

Three sitting, one looking.

This is the best shot.  

In a rare moment of compliance, Blythe sits perfectly still and looks calm.

It was literally a moment.

Much craziness.

Dal has a firepit.

We made s'mores.

Donovan must have shoved three large marshmallows in his mouth before we realized what he was doing.

He has another in his hand he was going to try and shove in too.

Unfortunately for him, we noticed what he was doing and called a halt.