Kickball...the New Olympic Sport

On several nights of our vacation one of the houses would take the responsibility for cooking dinner for the big group.  Those usually ended with the kids playing in the back to some extent.  On one night they played tag, rolled down mini-hills, and just generally ran...on another my mom brought water balloons and Kate did a scavenger hunt with silly string as one of their prizes...and on another there ended up being a kickball game...only some of the adults also got involved.  Aidan was trying to stack his team and kept going up to all the men asking to join his team - smart boy.  I'm not sure how he convinced everyone to get in on the action, but almost everyone played for a few minutes.  Some of my favorite pictures from that night are:

Mark trying to corral the girls, and convince Sawyer to kick the ball.  You can see Alexa just coming into the shot.  She ran in front of Sawyer each time and kicked the ball b/c Sawyer was too slow.  

My cropping function wasn't working or this would be better - but the shot is of Aidan running the bases.

 Lauren was a star pitcher, at least for one of the innings.

 Recorded for posterity...Mark smiling.  No really, he laughed a lot during this game.

And, another cropping fail - Ryan running the bases.  Ignore the rest of us and focus on his intense, streamlined running capability

Finally, Mark helping Sawyer to run the bases.  This was the first time she had ever seen/played a game of kickball...i know - it's a shame...so she required some coaxing.

As for the rest of the night, there were also just some random cute shots taken.  Isla hanging by the door

 Mark and Aidan watching what was left of the game.

Lauren giving Maeve a hug.  I actually feel bad because all Lauren wanted was to hold babies.  Maeve let her, but Isla was having no part.  What can I say, the girl rarely leaves my side, and certainly not to be held by other people.  Grandma and Grandpa have a shot, but even they got shut down a few times. You're a stubborn girl Isla!

 Grandpa and Isla playing with one of the balls on the sidelines of the big game.

 And Isla trying to get in on the big game with Dad.  

Was all in good fun...Give it a few years and they'll be playing Ghost in the Graveyard too like we did when we were kids.