I grew up in a family of eight. Mom, Dad, Annie, Elise, Shandon, Jeni, Nick and Kimbee. I was the third of four girls, I was flanked by our family’s two boys, I was the middle child. I grew up independently as a result. I was the 7-year-old that could do her own hair, make her own lunch, and get off to school without batting an eye at anyone which was helpful to my busy mom — she had teenagers with homework that mattered on one end, and toddlers that needed reading time and naps on the other. The major pro of being in the middle, though, was being part of all of the action. My oldest sister took me to work with her at Pebbles in My Pocket, a scrapbook store in town that fed every ounce of my little creative soul. My second-oldest sister threw me in the car with her high school friends, wanting me to tag along like I was their age. My little brother was my twin. We climbed trees, won Super Mario on the N-64, and rallied the neighborhood for night games. My little sister, the threenager, needed someone to boss around in her make-believe world, and that player got to be me, too. I remember being so surrounded by my people that breaking off to be alone for a second was common — biking around the block, reading in my room, practicing the piano with my headphones on. But you couldn’t keep me away for long. I loved my family. I still my family! We’re a “grown-up” family now, the kind that’s become independent of each other since we have families and lives of our own, while still staying tight as our family. I think my siblings would agree with me that at the end of the day, if we counted our circles of best friends, we would be intertwined within them as sisters, brothers and in-laws. Lucky us, lucky me.
We all squished together in a white space studio in St. George right before Thanksgiving last year for a quick photoshoot by – surprise! – little old me. Our family is BIG and our option (due to weather) was to shoot indoors which was clutch, honestly. While waiting for all of my siblings to get into town, and while Ryan spent a couple days working remotely, the girls and I went location scouting all around St. George and we found some beautiful spots, but sheesh it was cold outside. And rain was in the forecast, making the outdoor spots muddy (red-dirt muddy). So I was grateful for the studio, even while it made our big, group shot tight…
Pretty sure, though, that a family that squishes together stays together, yes?? (Somebody has for sure said that somewhere 😉 )
We broke off and shot little families real quick before our 1-hour studio windows was up, and my goodness, each of the girls in our photo melt me. Their smiles and expressions are VERY much them. I love it and I love them so, so much.
This number has to be included here too, duh. 🙂 CLASSIC family shot. Our grand-kid count is up to 16 now, which blows my mind. I remember when Annie was a new mom to her oldest three! Time is a sneak.
Forever grateful to be a Gubler. I was a blessed little girl to have the upbringing I did. I’m still riding on the coattails of it all, with people I cherish so, making me one blessed little woman now.
