Family is Everything. Part 2.

So, really, .... previous to Labor Day Weekend, the last time I think that ALL of my siblings were together, .... was for my mom's funeral. I am truly so happy that each of them would carve out time to come and all be together for one weekend.

So, with very little commentary, here are more photos of Day 2.

Chelsea, my talented niece, took many great shots of the family, but she also did a lot when we weren't looking, too. She has an amazing knack for capturing moments. I'm really thankful to her!

Officially the oldest person there..... which is what happens when you're the oldest sibling. That's her awesome hubby in the background there. Busy scanning pictures and documents for us all!

This is what I think was one of the highlights of the weekend: nothing scheduled, nothing planned, just being able to sit and visit and talk, and talk, and TALK!

The "little" cousins made ice cream on the trampoline with our ice cream roller. This is an amazing invention: talk about working off energy!!

Karen and Angie, and then just Karen. The wrench in the works of this wonderful weekend was a downright nasty stomach flu bug that seemed to run its course through several of us. This was taken before Angie got hit with it. I think Karen left town to avoid getting sick too! (Kidding, but she actually did avoid The Plague ..... hmmmm....... )

(My grand-nieces -- so stinkin' cute!)

My amazing brother, Sterling. Sharing the wisdom of the ages!

My niece & her hubby....

(My daughter with their daughter!)

And since we had everyone there, I just had to get family pictures taken. How else would we document this epic reunion?

Brandon and Cecilia had left just days before: Cecilia was staying in Utah with her mom, and Brandon headed across the country to Washington, D.C. for his internship with Senator Crapo from Idaho. (At this writing, they are thrilled to be reunited again after 3 1/2 months apart.)

Karen and her girls. And then, Kaylene with her family:

(Sisters!) And then Kristina and her family:

They actually had the shortest travel distance to come - about 45 minutes. They went home at night and came back each morning to be with us.

Cheryl & Marc. Coming without their kids made it a bit of a getaway for them. I'm so glad they made the long drive!

One of my favorite things about my siblings, is that we all get along. And not just "get along", but we actually enjoy each others' company. Getting together again is always like picking up right where we left off. And we have FUN!! For as many dysfunctional families as there are out there, THIS family right here --- is awesomeness.

(We had a hard time being serious enough for a nice photo. Really.)

This one is my pick for the "best" photo:

Unfortunately, Angie was sick during our photo session, so I only have Sterling & Chelsea together for their family:

Best shot of the whole group:

And finally, here is Part 2 of the videos that Chelsea shot for us. I am truly so very thankful for my wonderful family!!

Family is Everything. Part 1.

Once upon a time, when Todd and I got married, we moved me out of my parents' home in California, and up to Idaho. Though we moved 6 times in the first two years of marriage, we always called Northern Idaho, "home", and I was a California Girl, transplanted into Idaho soil. And though I love my family, we didn't visit them often, due to the travel cost and time factors.

Today, my siblings (Mom and Dad are gone now) are spread through Utah, southern Idaho, and California. It's not easy to get us all in the same place, at the same time.

So, when a proposal for a Siblings Reunion came up last spring-ish....... I don't even know whose idea it was ..... well, I can't begin to tell you how excited I was! Plus, even though Northern Idaho is rather out-of-the-way for the rest of them, SOMEHOW, I talked them into all coming to my house!! And fortunately, the Haven has enough bedrooms (and a camp trailer) that we were able to put everyone up at our house. In beds. No hotels needed.

So here are some of my favorite photos from our Labor Day Weekend Siblings Reunion. I am so blessed to have such a great family. We are blessed together that we actually LIKE each other. We had a few of the next generation that joined us as well, and it was so wonderful to visit together and just spend time with each other.

We took everybody for a picnic lunch and tour of a nearby dam. I ended up with a lot of dam pictures....  

My very talented niece, Chelsea. She's pretty darn amazing...... keep scrolling, and you'll see why.

Uncle Sterling -- for some reason, everybody loves him!

Emma loved having kids her age around. Technically, they're first cousins once removed. Having playmates around was so much fun for her!

My pretty redheaded daughter.

It was a long walk back!!

So, Chelsea made a couple of videos from our reunion weekend. This is the first one. I think I'll put the second one in a different blog post, because my uploading feature is acting all weird on me right now. Wish I had Chelsea around all the time -- we'd have the best family videos EVER.

(This first video documents their trip here and the beginnings of our reunion.)

I'll continue with more Family Reunion in the next post.

Everybody Together.

For a few short weeks this past summer, we had everyone together. In town. At our house. I was fortunate to grab a friend who is a photographer, and get a few family portraits taken. Who knows when we would have this opportunity again? Here are a VERY few of the photos.....

We picked the smokiest day of all the smokey summer days during wildfire season. But it was our only opportunity, so we endured the stinging eyes and just did it. 

Sure glad we did. I know know when I will have my whole family together again.....