Edlund Family Gathering 2009

Today I had the opportunity to photography the Edlund Family Gathering. It happens every year and though everyone can't make it every year, every year is a BLAST! The kids rarely get to play together since everyone comes from all over the metro (and beyond) so it's really a treasured opportunity to get them all together. Though I can't upload every person who attended this year, I did manage to get all the highlights uploaded!


There were hot dogs and brats on the grill...

There were kids who were so excited to jump in the lake they wore their goggles on innertubes!


There were games of 'Keep-A-Way'




There was plenty of lake fun with jumping off the dock, wading in the water since it was muggy, and good spirits all around :)







There was sandcastle building competitions during the safety breaks.




Plenty of smiles to go around!


Sneaking donuts!



Wearing Frosting, isn't this the cutest picture ever? It brings such a smile to my face!



Brotherly love...


Have you ever asked a child a question and all of a sudden they are shy as can be? I love seeing them squirm!



I love this picture, you can really see the bond ;)

Be Like Mike 2009

This shirt says it all. Though others who read/follow this blog may have never known him, most of you know how his life affected mine. He was a bright light that you couldn't help but watch what was coming next. Mike, or as I called him, Mikey was my cousin, but we were all so close in age he was like a brother to me. Mike lost his battle with Leukemia on June 20th, 2008 and that day, was more significant than I could have ever forseen. My cousin's life was full of joy, of helping others, of being present and making a difference in others lives. Most of the time it started with a smile, just a simple kind guesture that had this ripple effect on everyone he knew, Mike was just different. Special. We often think now, What would Mike do? So to this day, we try to strive to "Be Like Mike".
To this day, we miss him dearly, almost as if it was yesterday. However, it was so important to us to get together, celebrate his life, and talk about the great memories he left for us. So to Danbury, WI we went. We laughed, we cried, we enjoyed all his favorite activites in his favorite spot, we just enjoyed the connection we all had. So here are the pictures of that glorious day :)










Just think "I've got Friends in LOW places..."





To the tune of Tommy Boy, "Fat guy in a little boat!" This was the tune he was singing as we left the dock!




Something about putting the antique touch on Camryn's photos makes me treasure her pictures!




Have you ever seen a ladder as a diving board? I just had to photograph this one!




"Higher next time!" This girl just couldn't get enough!!!



I don't know what made her laugh, but I just had to catch this! It just brings a smile to my face!