I know today was "designed" to give Thanks and I often forget that as I'm usually concerned with travel logistics or groceries to pick up and dishes to prepare or buying an outfit my daughter will wear without negotiation and deciding whether Black Friday is the day I will do most of my Christmas shopping or deal with the exchange from Fall Decorations to Christmas Decorations throughout the house. Which reminds me, if I don't get my lawn cut within the next day or two - my dog may get lost out there! With that, today, I want to make sure I take the time to thank my immediate family and share our most recent family time.
So here they are... meet the Coopers!
We celebrated Thanksgiving early this year and met at Lake Travis - Austin, Texas. I had a wedding to photograph in Austin this particular weekend so it worked out that everyone was available and it was a "central" location for us all to meet! My Father flew from his home in Mexico, my brother (Jason) and his girlfriend came from Los Angeles and my sister (Christine) and youngest brother (Michael) drove out from Houston with their spouses and children. Having us ALL together for a Thanksgiving celebration has not happened since 1992 so it was AWESOME having everyone together again! I believe it was our BEST THANKSGIVING EVER!
My daughter and I arrived at about the same time as my Father's flight so when we proceeded to get the rental car my Dad said we could pick any car - IMMEDIATELY I eyeballed a HUGE Ford F150 pick up Truck and said "Does it have to be a car?" I was so excited to be back in the state I grew up in and very quickly felt like a kid in a candy store! A Pick-up truck would be PERFECT for our time in Austin - yee haw!
When we arrived at the house we rented for the weekend I was thrilled to see that the layout, location and amenities were better than expected! We had a pool and hot tub, we were right on the Lake, the outside had a flat screen TV where my brother-in-law hooked up Guitar Hero, a covered patio we could hang out under for hours and a fire pit for roasting marshmallows and making s'mores!
This was a little gift from my Dad when he arrived! I've been collecting photos of the number "360" and when I was visiting him in Mexico this summer the ONLY place the number "360" was found was when my friends were pumping gas and the total was 360 pesos... Thanks for thinking of me Dad - you're the BEST!
This was the view of Lake Travis from the patio dining room - gorgeous sunsets!
The first night we arrived and still unpacking - Mark (my brother-in-law) took some time well deserved time to play his acoustic guitar before the battle of "I'm next" with Guitar Hero began!
Uncle Mark set up this tent for the kids to camp out in - it never happened! Maybe next time?
My brother and our Father...
Aunt Christine and Julia pool side.
Bella, still thinking about jumping in with Uncle Jason...
Cody giving me her best "pretty pose" and showing off her tinker bell swim suit.
Bella just after our group family photo which was torture to the kids but it looks like she made it thru just fine!
ummm yea, so you can see the Cooper's can be clowns for sure so my nephew Mason wanted to show me specifically how we do it!
Jason and his beautiful girlfriend Jessie - thanks for the help with the family photos Jess, you rock!
My Father and Jason - ALWAYS being silly together, love it! Actually I should do a blog entry showcasing years of these two being RE-DUNK-ulous for the camera...
I rarely like being in front of the camera, WITH Julia, it's much better!
When Uncle "Fish" arrived (my brother Michael) the kids were ecstatic he was going to take them fishing on the lake. Mason was not as excited about holding the bait...
and Julia was not as excited about holding what she caught with the bait!
Michael, Misty & Bella enjoying family time.
Mason wondering why I was so low in the grass...
Guess who wants a skateboard for Christmas after playing with her cousins all weekend!
The weekend was one I'll definitely have fond memories of for a long time and I'm sincerely appreciative for every member of my family - you ALL keep my laughing and cheering on me dreams and for that, I love you! Happy Thanksgiving!
