Bigelows Through and Through

Today I was so happy to have the girls home for their first Bigelow Family Reunion.  I haven't been to one in at least 5 years myself, so that was before either of the girls were born.  It was so terrific to see everyone and spend some time enjoying each others' company.

The Bigelows are my Mom's side of the family, and we've always been very close.  Papa is one of 13 children.  One of his brothers (my Uncle Bud) married my Grandma's sister (Aunt Mary Jane), so all their children (Mom's generation) were double cousins.  This means they grew up doing everything together and were as close as siblings.  My generation has always called our second cousins "Aunt" and "Uncle" since this was how they were viewed.  I know its confusing, but these bonds are extremely tight and I have many fond memories growing up with our whole Bigelow family.  My cousin Holly and I were discussing it at the reunion today, wondering if we should further confuse our children by having them call our cousins "Aunt" and "Uncle" as well.

Eliza and Audrey blowing bubbles on the front steps, waiting for the party to start.

Top Row - Audrey, Sage, Isabella
Bottom Row- Lloyd, Kyrie, Eliza

We took these pictures before all the guests had even arrived because the kids were anxious to put their swimsuits on for the water slide.  We probably should've taken more later with Isla so it would be the whole generation - oops.

Sage, Isabella and Eliza.
Group shots are so hard to catch them all smiling, so this is one half of one of the pictures...

Lloyd and Kyrie
...and the other half smiling in a different picture - minus Audrey, who didn't smile for any of them.

Just Eliza

Aunt Amanda with Kyrie

The weather held off for most of the day, so we were able to set the tables up outside to eat and just catch up.

It wouldn't be a Bigelow party without croquet!  Matilda with both of the Lloyds.

This has been a rough year on all of us, watching Grandma's memory deteriorate more each day.  It's shocking to me each time I am home, since its so long in between visits.  Looking at this picture, though, none of that is apparent.  She is simply beautiful.