Like many of you, I’ve had a lot of family time over the last few days. Tomorrow is the start of something I’m incredibly thankful for: the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Haiti. Until I return with some [hopefully] moving stories and photos, here are some shots of family pets I took at Thanksgiving.
This Sunday I took family portraits for some of my favorite people: my cousin, her husband, and their five kids. And I now have a favorite place to shoot portraits … Parkville, MO. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the town, but the huge park, river, quaint downtown, railroad tracks, and beautiful Park University all make great backdrops.
Last week my extended family attended Purple Light – a vigil to honor & remember loved ones who have faced pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network hosts the event to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and how desperately funding is needed for research to learn more about the deadly disease. Survival rates are the lowest among all cancers and haven’t improved over the last 40 years.
We had a big family get together at my parents’ house this weekend, using my cousin’s 30th birthday as a great excuse to hang out. With 10 little ones in the family, we were grateful for a gorgeous day so we could play outside. As usual, I couldn’t pick one favorite photo. All of my cousins are so cute!
This weekend we traveled to my in-laws’ to celebrate the 4th of July a little early. Holidays are ranked as follows in this family: #5: Birthdays. #4: Easter. #3: Thanksgiving. #2: Christmas. #1: 4th of July. In fact, we had our very own $600 fireworks display. My father-in-law says, “This is a man’s holiday. We get to drink beer, eat, and blow stuff up.” I hate to burst his bubble, but this female really likes the holiday too.
Yesterday I had the privilege of shooting portraits for a family who was reunited after seven years. I loved getting to know the three generations of George’s and the rest of the family!
This weekend we experienced both ends of the spectrum when it came to holiday parties – from the bar scene to church, and from the young to the old. Friday evening Jerod and I went to his work holiday party at Howl at the Moon Piano Bar. Bright and early Saturday morning we made the drive to his parents’ house to celebrate four Christmases. (Gift opening with immediate family, Christmas with Grandma, a Christmas concert, and a celebration with extended family.) Here are my favorite photos from each day.
My husband and I celebrated Thanksgiving with our families on Friday and Saturday. That’s why I’m thankful for our big, extended families and all the time we have together. I have seven cousins and 18 second cousins. Nine kids running around, playing, and decorating cookies at my parents’ house was definitely loud and entertaining, but we wouldn’t have it any other way! And my husband has three siblings, so we have a big immediate family on his side. They had me take a family photo yesterday – the first official family photo that included me and our 2-year-old nephew.
I am so grateful for my little immediate family: my husband and my cat. My cat Esme is sweet, loving, and playful. My husband Jerod is sweet, loving, and playful too … and so much more. He forgives me every time I mess up, and he loves me even when I may not deserve it. I’m a lucky lady.
I had a great time shooting family portraits Saturday morning. The family joked around, laughed constantly, and willingly tried some of my goofy portrait ideas. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did!
Photographic Rhodes 