Summer of Siblings!

 As we've all gotten older, my siblings and I have spread out over the whole US. We've got folks in the Midwest, out West and also Hawaii. This sort of distance (plus the recent pandemic) has made getting together very often, in-person, a bit challenging. 

Then, this summer, serendipitously, things all came together to make it possible for me to see all seven of my siblings, while not all together, but over just a few months time! 

First, in June, my brother and his sweetheart came to the mainland for a (belated) wedding reception. They'd gotten married last October in Hawaii, but travel was rough then, so they held off on a Wisconsin reception until the summer where we could gather outside. 

#1

The trip in June was a really quick up and back and so, in the end of August, I popped up to Wisconsin again, but for a little longer visit. Since I was there for several days, there was lots of time for lots of fun...

#2

 ...and games...

#3

...of course, ice cream...

#4

...plus time for some outside fun!

#5

Now, over the last couple of years, COVID has derailed my travel plans a few times, this has left me with a fairly large credit with the airlines that was just sitting there, begging to be used. As I was considering where I might go, it occurred to me that if I took myself out West, I could see the last two of my siblings on the list! So, it was that I flew out to Utah to see my family there.

This trip was extra exciting for me. Since it'd been so long time since I'd seen this branch of the family, there were a couple new additions that I'd never met in person. My youngest nephew was one:

#6, plus the nephew

Another was a brother-in-law.. they've been married almost 2 years, and we've chatted over Zoom, but it was cool to be able to hang out and get to know him a little better, face to face. 

And, finally, the last (but not least) sibling on the list, another of my brothers. He's actually got a little girl who I'd never met in person before either (and she's 3!), so I was very glad to be able to spend time with him and his family for a few days. 

#7!

Big crowd, big fun!

Now, summer's done and school's back in session and the hustle and bustle of life has returned in full force, but it was a wonderful summer that fed my soul!