Family Gathering 2010

My entire family was together over Labor Day weekend.  For a little perspective, the last time everyone (my parents, Mike, me, both my sibs and their wives, and all the kids) were together was at my brother Dan's wedding in August 2007.  Yep, three years since the whole gang was all together. 

We met up at a resort in a rural part of Illinois and had just a brief overlap when everyone was together, but it was great seeing everyone.  The cousins had lots of fun together - I think Andy and Kerry's girls might have had the most fun with their awesome older cousin James to play with them and the cute babies Samuel and Kyla to entertain and help with.  We went hiking and swimming and just played a lot.  It was nice and relaxing and just great to see everyone.

Here are a few pictures from our family photoshoot...that is, Dan's super fancy camera set up on a tripod :)  They turned out great, didn't they?

More pictures of our adventures at the family reunion to come, but for now it's bedtime!

Playtime!

Samuel is becoming more and more fun by the day and he is keeping us on our toes with his playfulness.  As he becomes more mobile and aware of the world around him, he is beginning to explore everything he sees.  Here is a little glimpse into Samuel's world...

Mischief...

Hi Mom!  Look at my new trick!

Johnny Appleseed wanna-be

Kitchen toys are the best!!!

What's this, Mom?  Water?  On my tray?

Wait...it's okay for me to splash water EVERYWHERE???

Water splashing makes me tired...

Very tired...

Water splashing in action

Samuel's important new trick of crawling!

Veggies - YUM!!!

Samuel has been learning a lot about foods and has developed a clear favorite - veggies - both for eating and playing!  This bodes well for a family that gardens as much as we do.

 This is funny looking, Mom...

How do you eat this thing???

Mmmm...mushed up sweet potatoes!  That's more my style!

Totally Turtles!

Our little town did an art and sculpture theme in our downtown again this year to raise money for the arts.  The theme this year was Totally Turtles!  We went for a walk through downtown a couple of weeks ago.  I'm sure Samuel really enjoyed it...or didn't notice the turtles at all...but I enjoyed it!

Here are some cute pictures from our Turtle walk.

Turtles climb walls?  I didn't know that, Mom...

Do you think this turtle can eat his fist, too?

This guy has blue eyes as big as mine!

What a silly turtle...

Mommy liked this one...I guess it looks like a blanket or something...

This turtle had money on his back...if only I could crawl up there, I might get rich!