anatomy of a group picture

When I was a kid, my family used to take the same picture, 

at the same restaurant in Florida, every single year.

Those pictures are stacked on my Mom's refrigerator,

and to this very day, I can look at those pictures,

and be reminded that I wore the exact. same. shirt. in at least three of them.

Seeing a visual record of your unusually-long-lasting jr. high awkward stage 

every time you walk into your parent's house is just... invigorating.

Moving right along...

My cousin Lydia is a photographer, too.

This year, on our trip to Minnesota,

we pulled over a giant trash can,

set the cameras on timers,

told everyone, "Go stand over there,"

and took pictures.

Maybe you won't appreciate these prep shots as much as I do,

but allow me to point out a few details that might make you smile :)

First, note that my sweet Irish grandmother (front and center, all in red)

has her legs daintily crossed, and is smiling in nearly every picture.

Because, that's just how she is.

Second, note my great-uncle (also Irish), on the left, in the blue sweatshirt,

leaning against the tree.

He's a hoot, and tells some incredible stories about Vietnam.

He's also a slightly awkward Facebook user.

Judging by their faces, 

most of the guys are upset about this whole group picture thing.

They're putting up with it 'cause the womenfolk would uproariously protest if they didn't.

{Case in point: my brother Edward's face, front and center, just to the left of Grandma.}

Here's the first picture we took: 

notice that Anna and Steve have popped up on the left, over by Uncle Martin. 

{They were in the middle of frying fish for everyone when we decided to do this whole thing.}

There I am on the far left, squatting next to Marty and Charlie,

and photographer-cousin Lydia is the pretty blonde on the far right.

And... now, picture #2.

Can you spot the couple making out?

That's how it goes in this family.

Awesome.

By the way,

we taped the whole thing on a Flip videocamera 

set up on the garbage can right next to the cameras.

Here's the last two minutes:

FYI: Next year, if I catch myself wearing a purple tank top 

and skinny jeans to our group picture fiasco...

I'll be excited that I can still fit into skinny jeans, and we'll call it a day :)