we are family

Today we had a family get together. 

I love family get togethers. They just make me happy.

Perhaps it is because I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that I have the best, most beautiful, most loving, most crazy, most amazing family ever. 

And here are a few (ok, actually a lot) of pictures to prove it.

My sister is so pretty.

I had a "better" picture of the two of them, but I just love Dad's bug eyes in this one.

There was a lot of laughing.

My broskie and his border collie.

Sisters.

Siblings. Need I say more?

Me an my Grammy.

Family group shots.

The girl pictured with me is my cousin, Jess. She was born 7.5 months after I was, and we have always been the best of friends. This spring, her graduation was a week after mine, but we never got our cap and gown pictures. Two days after her graduation, I left for 5 weeks, and before I got home, she left for 5 weeks. So finally today, with both of us in the same place and (sorta) healthy, we got our pictures done.

 My beautiful cousin Lindy was gone for a year in Germany. She just got back this past week. It was so nice to see her! I have missed her laugh. 

 Pine cones are interesting objects. 

 This little girl's curls are amazing.

My mommy and daddy.

 Happy baby!

 Matching mommy and daughter!

 Apple trees are the best for climbing. (And....strangling your sister?)

 One got home from Germany last Wednesday, one is leaving for Africa next Sunday.

 Dinner time!

 Rolling down the hill in our backyard. Seems like just yesterday I was doing that with my cousins...

 It's a happy Grandpa and grand-daughter! 

Brothers. On a mission. To eat their ice cream and homemade blackberry cobbler. A warning to anyone who might try and delay their quest: these two men have been known to inflict bodily damage on people who mess with them while eating. (Nah, just kidding. They're really just big teddy bears and will only glare a little at you if you try and interrupt their eating.....but don't tell them I said they are big teddy bears. They might try and prove me wrong.....)

Missing some of the girl cousins, but this is best we could do! 

So I know there are some poor, miss-informed, unfortunate souls out there that will disagree with me, but I seriously have the best family in the history of ever. (True story.)