Family Time

I am the second of five children. Growing up, we always got along well, even when there were ten or twelve years difference in age. Due to life situations, we are only able to get the entire family together every 2-4 years. This time around, it was 4 years.

So the month of June into early July, when my brother and his family were in the United States, were very full of as many gatherings as possible, each including at least most of us, culminating in a final gathering that held every single one, plus the addition of one of my Dad's brothers.

There were probably a thousand photos taken between all of us, but I'll spare you and only share a few of my favorites. Photos taken in a park while celebrating a 4th birthday, at a Mama and Daughter date for tea, at a Sisters-only night out, and finally all of us gathered here at our homestead.

1 Grandpa + 1 Grandma + 5 Siblings + 5 Spouses + 4 Nieces + 8 Nephews (with 1 more on the way)

= Lots of Love (and maybe sometimes a bit too much Crazy)

This

One of my parents captured this series of photos on my sister's camera. My brother hadn't been on US soil for 4 years and having almost all of us together (one sister missing) led to a very funny smart phone selfie snapping session that still has me smiling two months later (its August as I type, but I'm back dating it to the day that it happened for my own sake, since this is my personal photo journal that I happen to share with the world). Hopefully you'll get a chuckle out of it too.

At this point, we decided to re-arrange ourselves in order of birth (me being the *ahem* most mature), I don't really know why... probably because that's how our Mother would always position us in photos growing up, and there's no sense stopping now that we are in our 30's and 40's.

And then my Mama, realizing that only four of her five babies were having fun, helped to ensure that the most elderly of our bunch got included too...

First Birthdays

Remember my teenie little niece Clara? The one born 7 1/2 weeks early?

We just celebrated her First Birthday. She has continued to grow and thrive, with no forseeable problems from her early start in the world. I don't usually write much about my extended family, choosing to keep it a little closer to home for privacy reasons, but I know that many of you were following along in those first several weeks of her life, and thought you might like an update.

She had quite the papparazzi there recording every last possible second.

Including far-away cousins who were wishing they could eat some of that yummy cake too!

Thank you, sweet Baby Clara, for being such a good girl on the long, long drive to the Pacific Northwest. We were all so very happy to be a part of celebrating the first year of your life!

Looking Back

I recently used up the last of the space on my ancient external hard drive. With lots more photos and files to back up, I bought a fancy new one that holds more data than my computer hard drive (time to upgrade!) While waiting for files to transfer, I started looking back at the Aprils of the past, and thought it might be fun to take you on a little walk down memory lane with me.

All photos taken on or around Tax Day.

2006... Farmboy with a four-month old Firstborn.

2007... The Boy with his Dog (Bailey).

2008... Three-month old Baby Sister joins her Big Brother and parents on a trip to see some BIG FISH.

2009... The kiddos having fun with crayons and a butcher-paper covered table.

2010... Farmboy and the kids feeding the fish.

2011... Palm Sunday celebration.

2012... The kids in their new play fort.

And this year... looking so grown up, still the best of friends.

Lest you wrongly get the impression that they are always sweetness and light... this is the unprompted, spontaneous shot that came next.

I'm pretty sure they get it from me.

Little Ones

I realize that I have been quite remiss in keeping you up to date on the puppies. The last time I posted pictures, they were sleepy little blobs of fur. Well, they aren't so sleepy anymore.

At nearly five weeks old, they are only a few weeks away from going to their forever homes. We usually let our families pick their puppy at the four week mark, but we had the Memorial Service for my Father in Law last weekend, and just didn't want to deal with the extra busy-ness. So this coming Saturday will be the day that these furballs get to find out where they will live and whom they will terrorize for the first few years of their lives (until their brains arrive in the mail and they realize they are supposed to be well-behaved).

We already have an inkling of which pup will be named Lucy, and are pretty sure which ones will be Luke and Rusko. There is also a Fiona in there, and Dungee (as in Dungeness Crab- he's going to a deep-sea fishing family). I think I also heard the names Boone and Agnes, and a few others were being discussed. Its pretty important, you know, this puppy-naming business.

Speaking of puppies, this is often how you will find my own litter, when we grown-ups are busy about kennel chores. Aren't they the cutest ever?

What They Were Up To While My Back Was Turned

I expect them to love each other.

I expect squabbles and fights and tears.

I am trying to teach them to treat one another with respect.

I tell them almost daily that they are each other's best friend.

But cuddling and giggling together on the loveseat for over an hour?

That I didn't expect.

Our Cuties

Playing

There were so many photos from this particular play session, that I decided to pack them into two collages. I can't tell you how much it delights my heart to see my babies enjoying each other so much!


Charging the bed, like a racecar (note the extra-special Cars tshirt with flashing light, thanks to Grandma Whittaker, which makes him go especially fast), and the response as Big Brother approaches.

Everybody Say Awwwwwwwww....

Sibling Makeovers

Circa 1979


Circa 2008

3 Months Old!

Here she is with her bear...



And here she is with her brother...



MmmmmmmmWAH!