Here we are…..another week gone, marked off the calendar of summer.  I feel it slipping away too quickly but I am anticipating a lot of fun in the coming weeks!!!  So I keep telling myself to slow down, breathe it in because once it is over it is over and another school year starts…..  My kids will officially be another year older!

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

 

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

 

Saturday we were off to my Grandpas farm.  We visit every year and we call it “Christmas in July”.  It started because my grandparents wanted to skip off to the warm climate before it snowed and so now it is a tradition.  We are blessed because my Moms parents had 5 children and through them they have many many grandchildren so it makes for a fantastic day!  It makes for a day that we all look forward to every year.

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

Life has taken us all on different roads and paths.  We grandchildren are living all over the country now….some working in amazing jobs, and others raising families.  We all come back in July to the place it all started.  The place my Grandma and Grandpa raised their family, worked the soil to make a living and made a home.

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

He is doing the flying Jig….to the water slide!

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

There is something about that home….even though it is not my childhood home, it is home and I would have to think it feels the same for all my cousins.  We are very lucky to have our Grandfather around into our adulthood and our Grandmother for as long as we did.  Even though the roads of life take us all over the place we know that when we find ourselves back in central Illinois the house will be there and in that house our Grandparents.  Unfortunately now there is only one Grandparent left but he is strong and he is there.

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

Sometimes family events are hard to schedule…..life gets in the way and we miss them.  I have to say this weekend was good….cousins flew in and they stayed awhile.  The house was busy and full.  Just the way it was supposed to be.

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

I was lucky enough to photograph 3 models this weekend for Changing the Face of Beauty and I am so thankful!

Dominika is wearing a gorgeous pink dress from Blossom Boys and she is carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers from there as well.  Please keep them in mind for all your gift and flower needs and they are the other half to this wonderful movement!

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

Mia is ready for the 4th of July wearing the CUTEST red, white and blue dress.  You can find this dress and the skirt below at MJWART a designer right here in Chicago.

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

enjoying family at a reunion on the farm

Adi is wearing the CUTEST skirt made by MJWART as well. Her sweet little flower headband is from Indie Rose another designer right here in Chicago, IL.Changing the face of beauty; integrating special needs children in advertising

Changing the face of beauty; integrating special needs children in advertising

Changing the face of beauty; integrating special needs children in advertising

Please consider supporting these shops and designers as they are supporting the integration of all children and adults being represented in advertising!

ONE MORE THING…..we are all gearing up here in Chicago for the Buddy Walk in October.  This year Monica Blouin is fundraising to bring Rachel from Signing Times here to Chicago for this years buddy walk!  Please consider supporting her!  She is holding a family Bingo this Friday night.  The details are here.