Monday, August 20, 2007

A weekend of memories.

It's Monday again. I guess I always say that but it never ceases to amaze me how fast the weeks go by especially the weekends. This was one busy weekend with the family and what a great time we all had.

It started out with the much dreaded, whoops, I mean much anticipated family portrait. Try getting 42 people together in a small inside studio because the outside shoot was rained out! So much for the beautiful backdrop of the Maine forest. It was impossible for all of us to be in the one room so it was decided we go to a restaurant with a nice big banquet room and set up there. We all grabbed our umbrellas, headed back to our cars and drove to the restaurant. Our three hour time schedule was already off by about an hour when we all we finally lined up with our best smiles on.

Being the Hot Flash Queen I insisted on the air conditioning being on -20* but there were only a few people with their jackets and knit caps on. The children were happily racing and tearing around so they were nice and warm. The photographer finally had us all in position, no one was crying, I think we all had our eyes open so we are anticipating a pretty good picture.

After that we decided the least we could do for the restaurant owner who so graciously let us use his room was to go downstairs and have some lunch. Can you imagine springing 42 people on a restaurant without prior notice????? Especially our clan, we do like to tuck away the food, which will show in the size of some of us in the family portrait.....ahem...... Some of us got a little antsy waiting for the food so entertained the rest with amazing feats:



Two hours later we were finished and everyone headed home or to the lake where our southern relatives are staying. Our three hour schedule turned into five hours but we all had fun talking and catching up on each other's lives.

Yesterday after church we all headed to The Lobster Pound Restaurant on the coast where we go every year for a lobster feast. It is a gorgeous area, we have been going there for over 30 years and are never disappointed.





To say that there was an abundance of food would be a huge understatement! The lobster stew is to die for as was everything else that we partook of. We all look forward to this meal not only for the food but for the time it gives us to be together as a family. We have a big part of the family here within a ten mile radius but also have family from different states so we don't get to see them as often as we would like. We're always amazed at how much the kids have grown and love how the cousins pick right up from where they left off a year ago when we were there.
My niece dcrmom and I had our picture taken together. I was hiding behind a fake plant as much as possible as she is reed thin, beautiful and young and I feel like an old wet hen beside her! heehee! I will have to somehow import that picture from her blog and put it on mine next time. She has always been very special to me and I think she is hilarious. With three little ones she has lots of good bloggy fodder plus she writes about some thought provoking things as well.
Well Blogger has decided to be ornery and won't let me upload any more pictures so I guess that's it for today. I'll just say Continued Next Time! :0)

12 comments:

the moose buyer said...

now that's a great family and the reunion sounds absolutely wonderful. The foods sure sounded super too.

Frazzled Farm Wife said...

Sounds like a lovely weekend. Lobster stew...never had it.

Anonymous said...

I had read DCR Mom's post about the family picture and saw your pic with her! Y'all looked great...not at all like an old wet hen!

You tickle me saying your "southern relatives" like they are from my part of the South. I'll have to record my oldest daughter talking for you to really hear Southern. Maybe I can get that on my blog!

BarnGoddess said...

42-holy smokes! I hope your portrait turns out perefect :)

it sounds like you had near perfect weekend. The photos of the coast are beautiful.

Carole Burant said...

Will you adopt me so that I can be part of this big family gathering next year??? hehe Oh how wonderful it all sounded!! Isn't it amazing how much we can eat when we're visiting like that? lol I just had to go over to your niece's blog and see the picture of you and her...goodness, you're beautiful, why hide in the plants??? lol If you want to hijack that picture from her blog, just right click on it, save it to your computer then download it to your post! hehe Shhhhhh don't tell her I told you! xoxox

Myrna said...

Even with the long photo shoot it sounds like your family had a great time.

I went over to dcrmom and saw THE pic! Lovely of both of you!

Joan said...

Wow...that must have been one incredible family portrait! I am always envious of folks who have such wonderfully large, closeknit families...it sounds like so much fun!

Oh...and yummy, yummy, yummy.

Susie said...

Your reunion sounds wonderful :)
Loved the picture of you and your niece!
Is lobster stew sort of like chowder, or more like stew with vegetables. Sounds delish either way!
xo

KC said...

OH please I saw that pic of you and dcrmom and you look great.
Sounds like a great weekend
I love the pic you have on your post they are really pretty

palmtreefanatic said...

wow! beautiful your pic is as I seen it on your neices blog;)
sounds like quite a day! I cannot wait to see that big family photo, you will be posting it wont you?;)

never heard of lobster stew but i would def try that;) sounds great!

Gretchen said...

Looking forward to seeing that big family photo. :) We need to get a new one taken of my clan.

Tammy said...

Oh, this was so fun to read! Wow...42 people for a family portrait and then lunch! My husband is one of 12, and we've been meaning to have our family portrait professionally done with all of us for ages, but so far, it's only been snapshots at gatherings or weddings.

I would love to visit Maine sometime...especially in the fall! And of course, I'd have to have some lobster if I were there! :)

Off to check out your niece's blog...
Blessings! :)