(Girls Singing)

Last weekend, we did our annual family foray about an hour north of Kansas City to Weston, MO. It is kind of our kick-off for Fall and a wonderful time for everybody. Almost the whole crew made it (with the exception of my little sister Hannah & her husband, Kyle, who live in Hawaii and are moving back later this month).

It was not a good year for apples in this area. Due to 4 late frosts in the Spring, the apples were literally not available. Out of 1,000 trees at one particular orchard, there were only 33 apples harvested! They still have plenty to do around the farms (country store, tours, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, barnyard animals, and much more). At the Red Barn there was a beautiful wedding happening at the end of one of the barns.

Storms were rolling in as we got there and we were outside in the cool breeze for about 45 minutes and then the rains and hail came…it hailed dime and nickel-sized wallops of ice there for a little while! It was crazy LOUD under the metal roof of the barns and country store!

My newest niece (Lacey’s baby!), Ruby.

The girls. Lily Mae (my niece), Jillian Joy (my 2 year old) and Ashlyn Grace (my 4 year old).

There is a guy standing on the far right of the giant covered deck of the barn. I think he was the groom standing outside. There were about 100 people on the inside of the beautifully decorated reception hall. I would love to shoot a wedding out there. All I had was my 50mm, otherwise we could have had an amazing wide shot there, but oh well.

Dad & my brother-in-law, Danny (Lacey’s hubby). They were walking down from the barn you see in the background, admiring the new construction.

The girls! Nice directing by the moms. I almost missed the shots. The wind was beginning to pick up and the thunder had begun to roll.

My girls…

One cleanly and pristine princess, trying to control and keep the younger ornery one under control.

Chillin’ on a bench.

Great photo op idea, but right when we stuck them in there, the rain came…hard!

And it came…and came.

And came…

Mom and dad talking across the room. My mom had stuck my hat on her head! It cracked me up… You can see Ashlyn’s head next to paw-paw’s arm. The girls are never far away form them.

For those of you who would like to see the ultimate mother in a not-so-pregnant state.

Thanks for letting me share my family a bit.