Family Reunion & 50th Wedding Anniversary

We celebrated the 50th Wedding Anniversary of my Uncle Jim and Aunt Judy in Michigan this weekend.  Uncle Jim is my mom's brother.  All of our extended family (minus just 3 people) drove/flew in for the event.  We haven't all been together since probably 2008 and we've added a few more people to the family since then!  So we were very much looking forward to seeing everyone!  Most of the family, including us, arrived on Friday afternoon/evening and the anniversary celebration was on Saturday.  My mom's family has always been close (even though we didn't all live close to one another)...we cousins were more like brothers and sisters...thanks to my grandmother instilling strong family ties and values.  We have a deep love for each and every member and we share lots of very fun memories!  This weekend was no exception!

 

Saturday morning in our hotel, I woke up to find the girls like this. :-)

 

Hailey, Laura, and Renee (picture courtesy of my sister, Stacy). 

 

My cousin's wife, Felisha, and their boys, Will and Drew.

 

My parents introduce my nieces, Natalie and Emily to my cousin Chris, his wife Dawson, and their daughter, Grace.

 

First it started with my grandparents, they then had four children, who then produced 10 grandchildren (pictured here).  Only one of us (Matt) couldn't be at the celebration.  L to R: Scott, Jill, Chris, Me, Allison, Jay, Stacy, Stephanie, and Vince.

 

And then all of us cousins got married and had children! :-)

 

Our children (minus one, Robbie, who couldn't be there).  The oldest is 21 and the youngest (for the moment, because two more will arrive later this year) is 7 months.

 

The professional photographer (can't wait to see how her pictures turn out!) makes the girls laugh.

 

Grace gives Natalie a hug.

 

You can imagine how hard it is to get a picture of children sitting still!  These are the girl second cousins.

 

Natalie and Emily

 

My family

 

My mom's sister's family (minus my cousin, Matt and wife, Kristen).

 

 The youngest in the family...Ben.

 

My mom's brother's family (minus one, Robbie).

 

My cousin's son, Trey, playing the piano for the anniversary celebration.

 

Dylan (cousin, Jill's son) and Jensen (cousin, Jay's daughter) read a grandparent poem to my aunt and uncle at the anniversary celebration.

 

Hailey and Renee (cousin, Allison's daughter) play on a tree.

 

My brother and his wife, Austin.

 

Clara and Delaney (my cousin, Allison's daughter).

 

The twins and Clara playing with a ball outside.

 

Delaney, Laura, and Hailey.  All three are 6 years old!

 

 

Me, Stacy, Stephanie, and Allison.

 

Me, Stacy, Stephanie, Allison, and Austin.

 

Hailey and Laura play with my Aunt Judy's great niece from her side of the family.

 

Clara sitting on the fireplace hearth.

 

Oh, hi girls!

 

If only my camera's shutter speed was a little bit faster. Clara was on her way up before it finally took the picture! :-)

 

Clara loved baby Ben!

 

He loved her, too!