Patience, my dears....

I think there's a rule for some actors and professional photographers
that says...
"Never work with children or animals".
I think the phrase was coined by W.C Fields back in the day.
So when it came time to get a photo of all the cousins,(except my daughter Aja who's in Toronto),
youngest to oldest...
Well, lets just say, I can understand why...
...take 1...remove tiny spider from head of nephew...alerted by nieces.

...take two...the aunt tries to line up the youngest, who isn't the least bit interested in height restrictions...

...take three...just about there except..."can someone move that big black furry thing from in front?!"

...take four..."That looks great kids! Everybody say CHEESE!"

"Alright!! Okay, everyone take 5..relax and play around until the next shoot."

Remember when....

The house is quiet now...

The nieces and nephews gone back home...

I hope their hearts are filled with those kind of memories which come back again and again...

".....oh yes, in the summer we used to go visit my aunt and uncle in the country...

we'd have picnics in the orchard..."

"....and then we would pile into the van and head down to the lake...."

Even the little ones, braving the jump off the wobbly wharf!

I've been there since the day they were all born and now I see them growing up...

It's a rare occasion for them to see each other but time knows no boundary's for cousins...

Getting along like a house on fire!

Chattering and giggling all along the way...

Already making plans for the next time they are together...

Right at home...

She's a teenager from the city.

She hails from the land of shopping malls, iPods, cell phones and laptops.

What could be more awkward than visiting her boring Aunt and Uncle who live in the sticks?

Well I say.....balderdash!

This girl fits in like an old saddle on your favorite horse...

Whether its taking the horses for a walk...

Or hanging out for hours at a time with the orphan rooster, whos become somewhat of a pet...

Or seeing the cousins for the first time in a year and getting along like a house on fire...