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All Together Now

So, picture this: a warm summer evening, the sun lazily setting in the sky, and this gorgeous family all gathered together on their deck. Yep, you heard that right – all of them. A rare occasion indeed, especially with the older two away at college. I have one away at college and can tell you that I can’t imagine how we schedule anything once I have two or all three there!

Now, what’s a family gathering without some good ol’ BBQ? Burgers and Wisconsin brats sizzling on the grill, corn on the cob roasting away—it’s like a scene straight out of a backyard cookout dream. And let me tell you, this fam knows how to grill up a storm.

Father works the grill while his adult son and daughter converse and snack on dried fruit and rootbeerAdult son helps his mother take sausages on the grill

As the warm summer breeze swept across the deck, the youngest sat focused, his hands skillfully carving away at a piece of wood. Meanwhile, his family sat around the table, trading jokes and sharing stories. Amidst the laughter and banter, the rhythmic sound of the whittling knife provided a comforting backdrop to their bonding session, creating a moment of simple yet profound connection.

Younger adult son widdles wood with pocket knife at the unset dinner table as dad observes Top down, youngest brother widdles small piece of wood with pocket knife as wood shaving fall to the groundFather and mother work together preparing burger patties on the grill while their three adult children look on from the patio tableCurds? Yes, please! Father arranges "grill charcuterie" with grilled bratwurst, cheeseburgers, grilled corn on the cob, grilled asparagus and cheese curds Wide shot: Father arranges "grill charcuterie" while the rest of the family prepares table for the meal at the patio tableEldest brother and adult sister converse at set patio tableEldest son and adult daughter begin putting food on their plates just before meal "all together now"Eldest brother, adult sister and dad select food items for their plates at set patio table with large backyard in the backgroundFamily begin their meal together, "all together now"Family converse together during their meal, two adult sons, one adult daughter, a mother, and father. Black and white: family begins eating their mealFamily members all laugh at serious faced youngest brother during their mealFamily member eat, laugh, and converse at grill dinner on patio, "all together now"

But the fun didn’t stop at the dinner table. Oh no, this crew is all about the activities. Basketball hoops came out, skateboards were dusted off – it was game on. And let me tell you, they invented a new standard of combining both skateboarding AND dropping baskets.

Black and white, diptych: youngest son and father skateboard in their front yardEldest son in foreground watches as youngest son drains layup while on skateboard in the outdoor basketball hoop in their drivewayWhole family looks on together as oldest son attempts moving skateboard layup on outdoor basketball hoop in their driveway, "all together now"Eldest son attempts one arm contested floater with father in defense on outdoor basketball hoopYoungest son attempts moving skateboard layup on outdoor basketball hoop with late afternoon sun in the background

Now, what’s dessert without a little DIY action? Homemade ice cream cookie sandwiches, people. I’m talking scoops of creamy goodness sandwiched between two warm, chewy cookies. It’s enough to make your mouth water just thinking about it.  I should know because Mom sent some home for me to share with my family. Seriously.

Lucky me she shared her cookie recipe and it’s now our go-to fav! I digress….

Two adult sons and adult daughter indulge in dessert inside of cookies and ice creamTop diagonal: homemade cookies and Dean's ice cream as daughter passes scoop to mother in backgroundEldest brother eats a cookie while adult sister and brother secure their desserts Family laugh together and toast their desserts at their kitchen island "all together now"

But the fun didn’t end there. With bellies full and spirits high, the family retreated to the rec room for a rousing game of ping pong. Paddles clacked against the table, accompanied by laughter and friendly banter. It was a moment of pure joy, where the worries of the world melted away and only the present moment–and,  er….friendly competition mattered.

Eldest and youngest brother play ping pong with youngest brother in foregroundFather returns ping pong shot while adult daughter, mother and youngest brother browse the TV in the background, "all together now"Youngest brother plays a game with a VR headset while mother and eldest look at edest's phone, and dad and daughter play ping pong in the background

Black and white: mother does dishes after evening with whole family

In the end, it wasn’t just about the burgers or the games or the ice cream. It was about the simple joy of being together – of cherishing each moment and creating memories that would be appreciated for years to come.

xo,

Jen

5 star review for Jen Lucas Photography

“With our oldest two kids away at college, their time at home is all the more precious now. Jen did an unbelievable job of capturing the essence of our time together this summer, especially when it came to the older ones interacting with their younger brother who is still at home. She put us all at ease so that we could portray our best, true, candid selves effortlessly. We will cherish the photos from our session for years to come.”

 

Read all of Jen’s 5 star Google reviews!

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