Jessica – Page 66 – JAMSquared

Evans Family Reunion & 70th Wedding Anniversary

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Jennifer

James’ grandparents, Cecil and Freda Evans, were married September 10, 1940. That’s a whooping 70 years of wedded bliss.

Over Labor Day weekend, all the Evans kids, grand-kids and great-grand-kids plus some assorted nieces and nephews and some others got together to celebrate this momentous milestone. We had a great time catching up with everyone.

Saturday morning, Jessica played on Nana’s living room floor. Isn’t that tongue sticking out cute?

Jessica Playing

"Are you done taking pictures yet, Mom?"

After some time spent at Granny and Pawpaw’s house, we went and had a somewhat early dinner at Tampico, a great little Mexican food restaurant that we seem to go to at least once whenever we go to Midland. As this was not the official reunion/celebration, not everyone made it to dinner. However, I was able to take a photo of everyone who came except Randy, who doesn’t do flash photos, and Dawson, who didn’t want to be in a picture for some reason.

Jessica and James

Larry III and Denise

Boyd and Jamie

Freda, Cecil and Norene

Kay and Larry

Jane and John

Jason and Dory

Boyd, Braiden and Barrett

Braiden is always game to have his picture taken.

Barrett, Rachel, Braiden and Howie

Aundra and Lyle

Carson almost didn’t want to have his picture taken either; however, we were able to convince him. I’m sure that it didn’t hurt that I didn’t say anything about him giving Fallon rabbit ears.

Carleigh, Fallon and Carson

Olivia and Joe

James and Jennifer

Jessica and her Aunt Tami

The big reunion/celebration was held on Sunday at Clear Springs Restaurant in one of their side rooms. After a late lunch, cake and ice cream were served. Jessica ate ice cream for the first time and loved it. Group photos followed on the patio.

The Whole Gang

This next photo is of Granny and Pawpaw with their kids and their spouses, their grandkids and their spouses, and their great-grandkids. Four generations of Evans.

Four Generations

I like this next photo of Granny and Pawpaw with their kids. The only one missing is David, Tami’s father who died when she was three.

Dale, Kay, Boyd, Cecil and Freda

Siblings

The group photos were taken on my camera using my Dad’s tripod. A nice waitress snapped them after I got everyone in the frame. After the group photos were done, Howie seemed really interested in my camera, so I let her take some photos (no fear of a 6-year-old dropping the camera when it’s on a tripod). This next photo is one she took of her Mom and 2nd cousin Braiden.

Rachel and Braiden

After the luncheon, we went back to Granny and Pawpaw’s house and worked on a family tree project, which I will share in my next blog post.

Overall, we had a great day Labor Day weekend spent with family. The weekend was a little extended for me, but I’ll go into that more in another post. So stay tuned.

James’ Parents Visit

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Jennifer

James parents came to visit the second weekend in August. They brought our nephew Dawson with them. We had a really great weekend with them.

Dawson’s 10th birthday was near the end of July and so we waited to give him his gift in person. It is so much fun to watch people open the gifts you picked out especially for them. Jessica really wanted to help him open his two presents. She enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper when he had finished unwrapping the gifts.

Dawson Opening his Birthday Present

Jessica Reaching for the Wrapping Paper

Jessica Playing with the Wrapping Paper

Saturday morning, we went swimming. Well, all of us except for James’ Mom. She watched us from the shade. We were the only ones at the pool. I guess swimming before noon is not too popular. Dawson’s swimming skills have vastly improved since last summer. Those swim lessons this summer have really paid off as he is no longer afraid of the water. I didn’t get as many pictures as I would have liked because silly me didn’t check the battery life before going to our neighborhood pool and I didn’t bring along the spare.

James and Jessica

Dawson

On the way home from dinner that night, Dawson and I sat in the very back of the car.

Jessica in the Car

Dawson kept Jessica entertained by wiggling his fingers and making faces at her. She smiled really big for him.

Jessica Smiling at Dawson

Before they left on Sunday, I got some family shots.

Jessica and her Grandpa

Grandpa and Nana with their Grandkids

Jessica with her Daddy

Family Photo

Lost Pines Resort Vacation – Day Four

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Jennifer

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

We got up early, for us, and met everyone for breakfast at the Firewheel Cafe. Jason and Julia then went horse-back riding. We would have joined them if I had heeded my husband’s request to pack jeans for horseback riding. Silly me thought we could go riding in shorts. Oh well, I know for next time.

Jessica rode the lobby horse with Cameron who then rode it with Trevor.

Jessica and Cameron on the Horse in the Lobby

Trevor and Cameron on the Horse in the Lobby

Then Cameron went to ride a real live pony (see Sarah’s post about Cameron’s pony ride here) while the other kiddos relaxed in their strollers.

Jessica and Trevor

Aspen, Jessica and Trevor

Cameron Riding a Pony

Afterward, Aspen and Jessica checked out some little bug cars, which were really too old for both of them, but they sure looked cute. Both girls really liked the bug’s antennae. Sarah and Cameron then swam a bit more, while we took Jessica back to our room to nap.

Jessica and Aspen

Jessica and Aspen Smiling

Jessica and Aspen

We loaded up and drove back to Austin where we all ate lunch before everyone went their separate ways. The next time we’ll all be together will be Jessica’s 1st birthday party.

Resort Entrance/Exit

Lost Pines Resort Vacation – Day Three

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Jennifer

Monday, August 9, 2010

Jessica spent some time with Nanny and Papa while James went to get us some breakfast tacos and I started pool prepping. After eating, we met everyone at the pool for a fun morning filled with lots of swimming and floating. We started out in the “beach” of the pool. I’m not sure if it was the texture of the sand or what, but Jessica did not care for sitting in the sand in the shallows of the water playing. However, once we got to floating the crooked river, she had a blast. Aspen on the other hand, loved the beach. She kept filling her bucket with sand.

Aspen and Trevor at the "Beach"

Aspen with her Bucket

Trevor and his Mama

Jessica with her Papa

Trevor in his Whale Float

Jennifer Going Down the Water Slide

Dad Going Down the Water Slide

Trevor and his Nanny

Sarah, Trevor and Jessica

Just Chillaxing

Aspen with her Papa

Happy Girl

Cameron Floating with his Daddy

Jason Trying to Push Sarah Under the Waterfall

Jessica with her Mama

Cool Cat Cameron

Sarah Going Down the Water Slide

Sarah and Cameron Going Down the Water Slide

James Going Down the Water Slide

Lunch was eaten under a massive oak tree beside the crooked river. Lunch consisted of sandwich stuff Mom, Dad and Sarah had picked up from HEB the night before after dinner. Much cheaper than the Old Buck’s Place of the day before and just as tasty.

Jessica, Cameron, Aspen and Nanny Sharing a Lounge Chair

Jason Lounging

All the kiddos plus Jason and Julia then snoozed. Brian stayed in their room and relaxed. The rest of us hung out in Mom and Dad’s room chatting.

We then went and had dinner at Roadhouse. I immensely enjoyed my bacon cheeseburger. Jason had what was apparently the best grilled chicken sandwich he had ever eaten. They did have good food in a hole in the wall location. It often works out that way, doesn’t it?

We then went to downtown Bastrop and ambled down the main street. Only one shop was open, Johns Barber Shop. We crossed the historic Colorado River bridge, a 1,285-foot (392 m)-long bridge with three steel truss spans and concrete piers, which is now a pedestrian walkway.

John in Front of John's Barber Shop

Walking the Bridge

The Colorado River

Main Street Bastrop

Lost Pines Resort Vacation – Day Two

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Jennifer

Sunday, August 8, 2010

James, Jessica and I went down to McDade’s Emporium, the little pastry & ice cream parlor near the lobby, and picked up some breakfast tacos. We then wandered outside to enjoy our breakfast on a bench under a massive oak tree. We then returned to our room to change into our swimsuits.

At the pool, we floated the Crooked River, the resort’s registered name for a lazy river, with everyone except Jason’s family who had already going swimming and went to take a nap.

Jessica in her Float

Jessica Relaxing

Trevor in his Whale Float

Cameron Monkey Crawling Along the Wall

Sarah

Dad Smiling for the Camera

Sarah Enjoying the Crooked River Waterfall

Brian Going Down the Water Slide

Jessica Smiling at her Papa

Everyone then met up for lunch at Old Buck’s Place, the poolside cafe.

Jessica Eating Goldfish

Cameron Eating a Mini Burger

Aspen Taking a Ride After Lunch

While Jessica napped in our room, and Cameron and Trevor napped in Jason and Julia’s room, the adults played a round of Balderdash in Mom and Dad’s room while Aspen played on the floor. Jason won. He had a real knack for guessing the real answer.

After nap time, Cameron rode a pink tricycle that was still too big (it was smaller than the blue tricycle).