MEMORIES OF A LIFETIME [Monica Brown, Fort Walton Beach Photographer]

Happy 80th Birthday Great Grandpa!!!

What a wonderful day.

Again, I cannot stress enough how thankful I am to live near family. We had the pleasure of celebrating Jake's grandpa's 80th birthday with him today. Everyone together. Around one table. It was great. As soon as I got the camera out, Reagan wanted me to take her photo. Jaw dropped! I love how warm and fuzzy this photo makes me feel. Nothing posed. Nothing moved out of the shot. Just how it is. Happiness. And cake, of course :)

What a blustery winter day it was. Early rain. Windy and overcast. Just like January should be in Florida. I caught a quick snapshot of the kids in the wagon that Grandpa was pulling around the house. Around and around. No time to frame. Sorry Grandpa. You got cut out! And check out Reagan's skirt. Compliments of Great Grandma. She is amazing with a needle and thread!! This is one of the simpler things she makes. I will have to post her other masterpieces.

Great Grandparents with ALL of the grandkids and the two great-grandkids (my two). Jake is the oldest at 36 and the youngest is little John Ryan at 3! Just a couple of months older than Reagan. Great grandkid #3 will be here in just a few weeks....can't wait!!

I just love the movement in this photo.

Of course, none of the kids are still. And thanks, Jo Ann, for dancing behind me to make the smiles so big and believable!

I L.O.V.E. how Great Grandma is smiling down at Great Grandpa.

So happy. So happy.

Here they are with just their "kids." All grown up. Looks like a little one snuck in there too.

And here is everyone (except me - I'm taking the photo!) What a beautiful family. Congratulations you two on making such a wonderful family!

I love a good close-up, but this is the same image below, just not cropped, and it is my favorite. I love how Great Grandpa is sitting in the swing. The center of the family. And the branch curves over above - supporting him, and covering his family and their home. I love how the winter Sun is barely breaking through the clouds in the background above the roofline. I think this will be my favorite family photo of us always.

We found a tripod, so here we all are. The last shot of the day. Very last. We didn't even know we were taking it until Jake ran back toward us after pressing the shutter again. Everyone get back in!!!! We all ran back, somehow got still, and smiled happily. With just a box on a stick, I am surprised my kids are looking in the right direction!

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okay, so NOTE TO MY FAMILY. Do not print these!!!! They are LOW resolution and will NOT print! Email me and I will send prints to your mailbox :)

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So here is hoping that everyone reading this has as wonderful a family as I do. And that you can see them frequently enough to have a good relationship with them. Because really it is people that make our lives wonderful.

delightfully,

Monica