Games with the Sun

It all started as a family picnic at Brother and Sil's place.  

Taco bar with steak, chicken, and ground beef too.   Topped with three homemade cheesecakes of raspberry chocolate, plain, and the pumpkin variety.  My sister-in-law is one amazing lady.  I do believe everyone enjoyed their eats.    

The weather beckoned us to all stay outside.  It was that perfect.  So game time happened.

Now it may appear like Sister Pister and I were on a team together.  But no.  No we were not.  Cheryl and I were.  Because we are the team.  The team of Shit and Cheryl.  Sorry for the profanity but sometimes it's necessary.  Like in this case.  Because she and I have been known to be more than competitive and have found ourselves in some more than interesting predicaments over the years.  Many times of, "Shit Cheryl...what are we going to do!?"  Hence we became Shit and Cheryl.  And we tend to win.  Just ask us. 

My cousin Brian was running my camera.  Taking shots of the festivities with some gems like these weaved into his mix. 

Then I heard him yell, "The sun!  It's time Amy!"  So I rallied all of the kids and told them to run.  To run up the coulee hill as fast as they could so we could get to it.  I did a quick change from heels to tennies and burst up the hill after them.  My breath rising and falling when I reached the top to take my camera from Brian.    

And so the kids took to the very edge of the hill and started doing their thing.

While Brian and simultaneously clicked our cameras and smiled from behind our lenses. 

There are moments when I feel very alive. The moment of being behind my camera with the setting sun shining on my face capturing my family and the new extras to the clan doing some life living and memory making of their own was an I'm alive for sure kind of moment.   

Punky baby was not such of a fan of standing on the hill so she went back to her mama's arms, but the rest of the crew rocked it out.  And can I say that I really really like Buckshot's girlfriend.  It's no secret where Sister Pister's boyfriend's page lands in my book.  So it's kind of a fabulous thing; seeing teenagers who are good people.  They are creating an example for those little legs standing next to them and that makes for happy. 

You know I couldn't stop with my boyfriend named The Sun then.  Oh no way.

The heifers joined us on the hill.  We were in their pasture after all and Easy Rider loves his cattle.  It's too early to say but I'm sensing his soul is already connected to that land he is standing on and to those faces he is looking at.   

After my camera and I did our happy dance on the hill, it was back to the rest of the family and the games.  And a water bottle.  Punky was into that water bottle.   

My nieces and nephews are extremely athletic.  I'm not saying that as a proud auntie.  It's simply a fact.  Let's be real, even Punky can work the water bottle game with the best of them.  But seriously.  These kids are strong.  Coordinated too. 

And this what their dad does for a game of basketball.  Finds himself a nice outfit for the play. 

Which leads me to think, more like know, they get their athletic prowess from their mom.  Because there's really not much she isn't a winner at.  Not saying my brother isn't a winner.  I mean look at that outfit.  That is a win all the way around.