Family Reunion

We are back to real life again. It's so nice to have a vacation from your PRoBlEMs, as Bob would say.


It was only a half family reunion. Jake called it an "outlaw" family reunion because it was the Roggias, Bartletts, and Antczaks---and no Schramms really. The Utah Schramms (that's what you will be called until you get out of that state, Ben & Cal!) could not join us at the beach. We missed them, but still had fun.

As per the last few family reunion posts, lots of sun, surf, sand, parks, and eating took place.

I took Amaryllis on a long (hot) walk every day on the beach.

There is a new snack shack about 10 minutes down the beach from our house. Now every time we get in the stroller, she thinks we are going to get an italian icee.

I've been taking a lot of pictures lately, but somehow when I'm scrolling through all hundreds of them, I always end up liking the bad/poorly composed/messed up ones the best. The ones where nobody is looking at the camera and they are just doing their own thing. Like this one--everyone is just chilling and playing beach style.

It was SO humid and SO sticky and the air was SO salty that every time anybody brought their camera outside, it would fog up:

But I kinda like the effect. I've seen some photoshop techniques that take a great picture and make it look foggy like this on purpose--mine are la natural ;)

Rome and Amaryllis got right into the swing of things. Here they are holding hands, cutie pies.

They have an instinctive dominant/passive relationship. Sometimes Amaryllis wins, sometimes Rome wins but it's usually without a fight (at least compared to other Amaryllis playdates I've witnessed).

Kensington was the most perfect baby, if you don't mind the bragging. Really truly she just sort of blends in.

I feel bad sometimes because she is often forgotten about---that's how good/quiet/patient/silently observant she is. As documented:

Wait, what's that?

We were done taking family pictures and everyone went inside. I went down to the water with Char & Jared to take some picts of her swellin' belly. I guess I assumed someone else would grab Kensington and take her inside--after all what kind of person would abandon a baby in a basket at dusk on an empty beach?

The child's own mother, apparently.

So like 15 minutes later, Char looked back and there was little Kenzi, as patient as could be in that salty wind, just sitting in the basket. I felt so horrible (obviously not horrible enough to snap some picts), I ran over there sure she would be screaming and she was just talking and cooing.

(I suppose I should admit that when I saw she was content, we left her for a few more minutes. That pushed it too far, because I came back to this scowl):

Well, that's about it. I'm sure Mel & Char will have more details. I really only got my camera out on family picture day. And most of our family pictures ended up with the backside of me running towards the group as I put it on timer and sprinted. Here's the best of the best...

See you next year everybody!

Our Future Is So Bright We Gots to Wear Shades

PS: updated my Crafty Affair post to include my new current favorite accessory. And I still have a bahzillion feather headbands--I have forced one upon everyone I come into regular contact with. Does anybody want one? It's light as a feather (haha, get it?) so I'll stick it in an envelope and mail it to you. Hey wait, this is a giveaway!!!! I'm on my way to awesome bloggerness! "so show me some love in the comment section and i'll pick one lucky winner, thanks to all you eBFF's!". I feel so cool.

Now for that crafty tutorial demonstration. Then my blog will be complete...

PPSS: Mel made a cute Family Reunion Video here.