Lifestyle: Fanning Fam

Family. I feel immensley blessed to be apart of a big one. One where cousins act as sisters, friends, fellow troublemakers, and in our case, bomb-weilding mermaids.

{Bomb. -verb (used with object)
1. To hurl stockpiled stuffed animals in the direction of younger sisters/cousins while they sleep.}

I'll just preface this by apologizing for any confusion regarding this post. It's just that when you've known people since birth, stories and experiences take on new personalities the more time passes, the more you reminisce. Many of these memories are only hilarious to us. Because we lived it, understood it, and took it very, very seriously. Playing Little People, being the Little Mermaid. Competing for the sacred title of Ariel. Annual Bombings of Ridge Side and Sylvan Drive. You-just-had-to-be-there memories. Moments we constantly re-live at every family gathering, where eating whatever deliciousness our mamas have prepared and laughing until our stomachs ache is just the tip of the fun iceberg. Oh sure, we can be adults. Grab and beer, catch a Blue Jackets game. We appear normal, put together, mature. But you better believe that once we're settled comfortably in our seats, we will immediately begin counting lady mullets. Normal people might wonder, but fortunately, we have no reason to hide. After all, we share genetics. And therefore, have an lifetime pass for ridiculous behavior. The Excuse of Our Ancestors.

A couple of weeks ago, my Aunt Molly corralled her crew so I could shoot family photos before the school year begins, the college girls leave, and life's hectic stride picks up. My aunt also needed a few new headshots for her business, and I was so excited to do the honors! For more on Doncaster, head over here: http://www.doncasterstyle.com/ . We did the shoot around their home, laughing, posing, and enjoying a sun-drenched evening. This was a new level of fun for me. I was able to step back, camera in hand, and freeze moments of a family I've known since birth. Removing myself and the cousin aspect allowed me to see the love these six people have for one another, laughter radiating through photographs. A beautiful family. Six people I'm blessed to be related to...

...unless one of the lady mullets catches us. Or only one of us can be Ariel. Or another bombing occurs. Then it's everyone for his/herself! Love you all!