10 Reasons Family Reunions Rock

happiest monday.

i hope your weekend was full of goodness. 

mine certainly was.

i just could not let the weekend end without sharing a little bit of it with you.

before i share my little list...

some exciting news....

i'm sooo completely honored to be feature at Tracey's blog - French Larkspur. 

please come say hi, and if you haven't visited the french larkspur, wow you are in for a treat!

i'm so in LOVE with Tracey's blog, her beautiful home and images.

i am just honored beyond belief that she wanted to share my blog with her readers.

biggest thanks sweet tracey.

you are such an inspiration to me.

xxo, kim

.....
okey doke... here's my family reunion story

okay so we left friday morning for a family reunion. 

john and i traveled with my mom & dad

and Bryce, Brett and his sweet girlfriend Alannah followed behind.

the reunion was in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 

it's about 6 hours from here.

i have to be honest.  i really wasn't wanting to go.

mainly because i have so much that needs doing around here.

i didn't want to tear myself away.

but

boy am i glad i went!!

here's my top 10 reasons why family reunions ROCK. :)

.....

1.You meet your cousin's sweet baby girl and fall in love.  kisses to you, gracie.

2.  you discover your once 'little cousin' is now a wife & mommy and has another baby on the way.

(is she not just gorgeous?)
and she also just happened to graduate this spring with her commerce degree.
:)

3.  you fall in LOVE with a puppy named, Benny as he follows his 'daddy' around the bases....

sooo sweet.

you meet several cousins for the very first time.

you reconnect with cousins who were just babies and toddlers the last time you saw them.

and find out...

that once little blonde boy is now an awesome plumber

another is an amazing photographer touring with a band in the U.S.

one now lives in mexico and is getting married soon
one just graduated from high school and he is a wrestler ranked #2 in his weight across canada
one is heading to toronto to paint the town red

one has some pretty cool tatoos ....

the main one across his chest says 'families are forever'.

'sigh'

and so much more....

you discover that yours was not the only family that had struggles while raising their children

you stand back and look at all the amazing people and think how proud your grandparents would be..

4.  you see your beautiful second cousin, who has survived something so very difficult....

smiling, laughing and having fun....even when she really, really didn't want to play ball.

:)

you hug her tightly and wish her the most amazing time as she prepares for an adventure in europe.

5.  you see your hubby looking like a jock on the baseball field.

6. you capture your son looking like he plays ball all the time.

(he actually despises baseball, but you would never know it here)

:)

7.  you see cousins hanging out, talking and visiting....
you see all kinds of smile and laughters, everywere you look.

8.  you gather everyone together for a group pic and capture hilarious moments in time.

and then you look closer and see

a dad in love with his new baby,

everyone genuinely happy to be together,

once little wee jo-jo, all grown up now and making everyone laugh

you discover that your parents are now part of the 'front row'

and that time is slipping away,

9. you capture 'lucy' the rescue dog from mexico and 'kaley' the retriever in the family pic as well.

apparently 'lucy' wanted the front row too.

10. and no matter how many clicks you may take.... there's always someone looking the wrong way or scratching something (wink, wink kailey).... and that makes the group pic even better.

you see that family gathered together is a beautiful thing.

 

and those, my friends...are my top 10 reasons family reunions ROCK.

xxo,

 p.s. if you are looking for me in the group pic...

apparently i am one of the shorter ones now....

there i am in the back row...4 in from the right.

bryce is beside me

and john and brett are the other 2 tall guys in the back.

:)

.....

p.s.s.

i'm off to get my ducks in a row...

lots to do this week.

so much to be thankful for.

p.s.s.s.

tip: no matter how much your family may give you a hard time about taking pics...

take more... i definitely should have this weekend.

p.s.s.s

i also wanted to say....

if your weekend wasn't quite so fabulous.

if times are kind of rough....

please reach out.

there's always someone out there who cares.

i know how difficult...hard times can be....

sending you good thoughts and lots of love.

Comments

[Colleen]

...delightful images...so glad I heard about you from French Larkspur!......family reunions do rock!

[Sherrie]

Oh Kim! This is such a fun and heartwarming post. I loved getting a peak into your family reunion.
I love the snippet of life that you shared. You have a marvelous family!

Happy Monday, Dear Kim!

[Caroline]

Such great images Kim...sound like a great weekend and it's always wonderful to reunite. Now I am off to check out your interview. I love that blog!!! Congrats :)

[kelly@thebluemuse]

That was so wonderful...I loved #8, what you said there...I am the same as you, I never want to leave to go away, always so much to do, but then I am almost always glad I went.
Off to visit you at French Larkspur!

[My Arts Desire]

Kim,
I found your blog via French Larkspur. Oh.my. I am in love. completely. Your photography is amazing. Cannot wait to come back when I have more time and experience more of your beautiful expressions of creativity! Just learning PSE and would stand in line just to buy your textures! Did I mention stand in line in the rain? And blowing winds?! xo, Sue

[Gigi]

I LOVE this post, Kim! You are so right about family reunions, and your photos capture this as eloquently as your words do. I especially loved seeing the different versions of the group photo. Just magical. So glad you went and so happy that you shared it with us.

Hugs, sweetness! xoxo Gigi

[Char]

i so agree about family reunions ... so much of my father's family has now passed that it's just we cousins and we're losing connections. *waves at you on the 4th row* fun stuff.

now off to check your other post.

ps - before i do...the last words of this post touch my heart - you are so very right.

[Christina]

so beautiful. you made me cry happy tears.
xo

[erin]

hi, i am visiting here from French Larkspur...and so glad to find your blog!! what fun family photos...i especially love how the doggie walked in front and coralled the fam with his leash. cute. looking forward to getting to know your blog and photography better...
erin

[Lis]

Beautiful images to remember the gathering! And I am excited to check out the new link.

I am loving your textures ... I need more time to experiment (I am new to using textures) but I've posted a few images over the past week or so on my blog. I've always mentioned your blog and if you are into it at all, I have a little award for you over on my space: http://dandelionseedsanddreams.blogspot.com/2010/07/totally-random-thought-monday-weekend.html

I just wanted to let you know, I am loving the magic and the inspiration and beauty I am finding here and on Staycation! Thank you!

xo Lis

[ELK]

good for you ..glad it went well..i sure do like the black and white not quite ready shot!!

the psss is so tender and special..just like you!!

[Heather {A Measure Of...}]

This is such a beautiful post! So glad I found you today!

Love all your p.s. notes, especially the last one, so very very sweet.

Family reunions do rock! I suppose the last one I had with my family would have been almost 20 years ago for my grandparents 50th anniversary. Can't even believe it was *that* long ago. Sounds like a seed I need to plant in some relatives' ears.

Lovely week to you!
xoxo

[La]

What lovely pictures. Your final sentiment to those who may be feeling blue, touched me.

I'm visiting from French Larkspur.

Have a wonderful week! La

[Jan]

I thoroughly enjoyed your family reunion! Thanks for sharing and reminding us all that family is the most wonderful part of being alive!

[Maureen @ Cottage 960]

so glad you got away and enjoyed your family so. In the end, that's what matters right?
I have a family reunion in a few weeks time. I will try to take your advice and use my camera more.
♥ maureen

[Marilyn]

Great list and great thoughts. Thanks for sharing.

[Dyche Designs]

Sounds like you had an amazing time, there's something magical that happens when families get together.

[jillsy]

unfortunately, our family can't seem to pull off reunions except for special occasions such as weddings. it's probably because we all live too far apart.

it looked like a wonderful time!

[beth]

i love family renunions, too and you made this one look absolutely amazing and fun and like we wish we had all been there, too :)