SOME TIME IN THE SUN

we're back in new york after a really, really really quick weekend in arizona for a family reunion. too really quick. looking back at it now, a three and a half day trip involving two full travel days + fifty family members all staying at various places all over the valley, that was maybe never going to be too relaxing. i guess it'd never be possible for me to get as much time with the people i love as i want, i always leave even more homesick than before, and more than a little teary eyed. it was a bit of time travel this weekend, a peek back at the days when we all lived just a few blocks from each other, all five million of us, and i don't think i'd ever appreciated what an amazing way to grow up that was until just now, but more on that later.

first, the pool! my top five list of things to do this weekend included roasting in the sun and gaining at least two pounds of chips and salsa (check and check). we stayed at my aunt jen's in mesa and took serious advantage of her pool. the water was still cold but my mom, my aunt nikki and her kids, and my sister amanda and her family, all came over and we braved it together. 

this is amanda's husband, zach, and my uncle darren's kid, graham. huck was strictly a pool steps dude until watching zach make this dive, and then he looked me square in the eye and said, "mom, i'm gonna jump too." it was just a mild heart attack, watching huck go from the shyest guppy in the pool to full on daredevil flying fish in under thirty seconds. he launched himself off the side of that pool without blinking, no encouragement or prodding needed. as much as a lovin clone as this kid can be most of the time, every now and then this huge brandon streak comes through, and i'm so glad. this move was all dad. i still get timid hopping off the curb onto dry land. ;)

he knew it, too.

and then we graduated to the paddle board... and then we were doing jumps, no floaties needed. pants falling down and everything. this kind of stuff is dad material. by this point i was really working hard on my tan. (nope, skin's still see-through.)

my sister amanda and her fat baby silas. spending time with amanda as an adult has been so, so good. we need to get our act together and just move in next door to each other already.

when the goggles came out things got really great, really fast. i've got a million of these on my instagram if you want to check it out. (worth it.) 

attempting to stave off a case of hypothermia. we finally lured him out of the water with donuts. you know, parents of the year.

p.s. henry holbrook before the pool / henry holbrook after the pool:

update: my sunglasses! amanda's suit is tbd. i'll have to text her. :)

update update! it looks like this is her swimsuit HERE. she got it during an end of summer sale. good luck!