The Non-People Photos Reunion Part 4

You knew it was coming right? I just have to take them. The the color and beauty of flower and nature photos just can't be passed up. I went on a little nature walk with two of my daughters to look for flowers and explore. I had really wanted to participate in this Photowalk event, but couldn't because it conflicted with our reunion. However, I decided that I could instead just have my own photowalk and where better to do it than this beautiful setting. Here are a few that I took on our walk. Hope you enjoy!






Check this out--ordinary leaves covered in pink lichen! They were beautiful. Sorry for the terrible lighting in this--I couldn't get a good angle AND make my own shade.

The Canyon Reunion Part 3

I have posted about The Canyon before on my blog, but get ready for the longest post ever. I have lots of pictures from our reunion time in The Canyon. It is such a beautiful area and my grandparents have worked hard to make it an area where we can all come and enjoy our time together.

Here is the swing. It has 6 swings that can hold a couple of riders each.


Here is the swing in action.


And here are the many willing riders. Once the motor is fired up the kids come running from everywhere.













And the swing operator.


And the spectators--some waiting for a ride and some just there to watch the fun.






I even took a ride and was able to catch these photos








Did I mention there is also a zip line?





And with all the fun came a little work.


If you made it to the end--you are probably related to me and/or attended this reunion. Thanks for the good times.

P.S. Thanks to this post I now know that a blog post can have at least 32 pictures. I wonder how long it will take to load?

The Park Reunion Part 2

It has been a busy summer, but it doesn't seem like school should be on the verge of starting. I have been meaning to blog these images for a few days now, and just haven't found the minutes to sit down and share them.

These images were all taken the first night of our reunion. I was actually quite hot and tired after eating dinner and just wanted to sit and relax. But I happened to glance around and saw my aunt and cousin chatting in the sunshine.


I saw the beautiful light hitting them from behind and remembered that it was that beautiful time of evening when the light is warm and soft. I decided to venture down to the park where all the kids were playing to see what I could find. What I found was LOTS of beautiful kids bathed in LOTS of beautiful light.













Okay--I guess there were some beautiful adults bathed in beautiful light as well.




These are probably some of my favorites from the night. Love this kind of light!!

Slip and Slide Reunion Part 1

I gave myself one week to go through all the candid pictures I took. There were a lot of them. All told it was 900+ pictures. I was even surprised by that number when I was uploading them to my computer. Here is the first installment.

It is a rare summer family reunion that doesn't include some form of water entertainment. In fact--I don't believe I have ever been to one that didn't. The kids had a lot of fun playing with the Slip n' Slide, bubbles, and the crazy sprinkler.













But water activites weren't the only activities going on. Lots of the older kids and adults were golfing and several of the women were caring for babies and making quilts.





Lots more to come.

By Morning Light

I love morning light but I am rarely out and about early enough to catch the great light it provides. Last weekend, while we were visiting family in Idaho, my son and I were up early looking out the window. I saw these average looking weeds bathed in beautiful light. I picked up my camera and headed outside--in my PJs and scary morning hair no less! I probably wouldn't normally do this at home because, most likely, several of my neighbors would be driving by my house on their way to work or school and I am just vain enough to care if they see me in all my "morning magnificence." But, thanks to the fact that the place we were staying was surrounded by fields, I ventured out and got the shot.

How's Your Monday?

I hope it is as good as my weekend. Just one of my favorite pictures from last weekend's family reunion. I loved the light in this one and knew it would be a favorite of mine the moment I took it!

What happens when you give a tired little boy spaghetti for lunch?

This!!!!

Honestly, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry when I saw this.

Family Reunion Part 3 (the non-people pictures)

Even during a family reunion, I can't be expected to ONLY photograph people. Here are a few non-people favorites.

Caught this one daisy while the kids were picking the "forbidden" flowers.


Some other wild "flowers" in the same area.


These cherries caught my eye on one of my walks between the pool and lodge to check on my sleeping baby.




Passed this sign on that same walk.

Family Reunion Part 2

The second day was the day of activities. We started with games. Everyone is such good sports and only a little competitive :D!! (Do you ever have a "brain lapse" and forget how to spell words? Just happened to me with "competitive." I actually had to pull out the dictionary to figure it out.)









Grandma awarding medals and cold treats!






Then there was time to cool off in the pool. And when I say "cool-off" I mean COOL. This pool is not heated. Apparently, it didn't bother them TOO much because they swam for hours.



Check out the goosebumps in these photos. Like I said--COLD!!


(I am actually not even sure how the above photo got on the memory card. I guess we all need a few of those.)

Grandma always does a treasure hunt for the great-grandkids!





This motorcycle was his favorite toy. He was happy to show it to me!!


Come back tomorrow for my favorite "non-people" pictures (translated as my favorite "nature shots" from the reunion!)

Family Reunion Part 1

Each and every summer we attend several family reunions. We try not to miss any since it is one of the few chances I have to catch up with Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, cousins and 1st cousins once removed (my cousins' kids.) Most of these reunions last a few days and are filled with lots of good food, games, fun and great conversations. We returned from our first reunion last week and I thought I would post several of the images I took while there. There will be two posts for this reunion and probably the same drill for the others since I tend to take lots of images.

Today's images are from Day one! This first set is mostly of my kids since the first day was a short day--meaning I ran out of light to take many pictures outside.




I had to take these pictures. I have some similar ones from about 3 years ago when we held this family reunion at the same location. In some of the other ones, she was holding a cousin's hand. I couldn't duplicate that picture exactly because that particular cousin wasn't at this reunion.



Love this laughing one!!


Then I saw these really pretty flowers.



And then, I told them to pick some flowers. The flowers made for some great pictures, but I found out later we weren't supposed to pick them. Oh well, the flowers in the field will die, but I have these recorded forever!









Stay tuned for the next installment of family reunion photos.

Tired

My son is transitioning from two naps to one and I am trying to figure out the new schedule. Apparently, I waited TOO long today. I think the picture says it all.

Deer Creek

We spent part of our 4th of July weekend boating at Deer Creek with my brother, sister and some of her friends. Here are some pictures from our day:

The girls getting wet on the tube.




Greg and I on our "safe" ride (a.k.a the ride where my brother wouldn't TRY to throw us off because my little boy was riding on our tube.)


The end of the "non-safe" ride. You can only see my foot. In the next frame my husband is in the water and I am desperately trying to relax my extremely tense muscles.


A few from the shore while the others were trying to ski (I say try because it was fairly windy.) Deer Creek was really full so there wasn't much shore to play on.




It was a fun, relaxing, and productive weekend. More to come!