Hi friends!
I’m sorry I haven’t been around. Every year, beginning December 26th, my entire family gets together and rents a large house and we stay here all week…
all 31 of us.
it’s very loud, hectic, unbelievably fun. We stay up late, drink a lot, eat a lot and OHMYGOD, the laughter, it kills me.
The cousins reunite for a week of play. Whether it’s video games or dress up or fashion shows…
The other night, my sisters and I were sitting around, drinking out of our personalized wine glasses and I spilled my beer on my laptop. It was a small amount, so small that I didn’t freak out, but then my computer shut off.
and then I freaked out a little bit.
It died. But my husband, the superhero of all superheros, salvaged my hard drive and placed my hard drive in his computer and VIOLA, my computer appeared on his computer. So…
my computer is dead, there is no bringing it back and somehow, I’ll need to buy another one, but nothing is lost, so please, for the love of pete, back up your hard drives. Mine was 98% backed up, my biggest loss would have been the Christmas photos I took last week, so maybe start the year off right with a good back up of your hard drive.
So, it’s hectic here and unbelievably difficult to concentrate which is another reason why I haven’t been blogging.
But this?
Is so amazing, it’s hard to look away for even a moment.
What an awesome photo!!! I am in awe. 21 children???? All looking in 1 direction???? And the majority of them are smiling?????
Awe. Totally awe.
Ugh, sorry about your computer. Mine crashed last summer, perhaps I could mail it to your husband and get my info off of it.
That last photo is awesome, what a great family.
XO-Z
Gah. I know I need to back up. I probably need a new laptop this year (2011) as well. This one… is… grumpy.
I love that last photo. How amazing.
That pictures is awesome!! How fun to all be together!! Sorry about your computer!
that’s a lot of people. im very impressed by the coordinating colors and the smiling and looking at the same place all at once. sorry about your computer….i know what a pain that can be. you’ve inspired me to back my stuff up.
So glad your photos were saved! That photo is a miracle – how awesome!
Wow. How unbelievably awesome that your entire family gets together. That is the coolest! And that picture is amazing!
Sorry to hear about your computer. Boo
Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
I am so jealous of your yearly family vacation. I doubt that my family would ever go for this because we all live so close together already. I think it would be a blast. Glad Brian was able to recover your hard drive.
WOW! WOW! WOW! What a cool tradition!!!! 31 people under one roof for a week, you all must be saints! LOL!
I love that tradition!! I’m working on getting my dad’s side of the family together next year.
Do you have suggestions on where to back up photos and everything? Do you have a separate hard drive or do you use someplace online? I need to get my photos backed up quickly. I have from all the way back when my son was born (2006) and NONE of them are backed up. I would be devastated!
You must share your picture taking child whispering ways with us. How *did* you get all those children to look in the same direction?
Love the photo. Thoughts of a future photo like that with my grandchildren is what gets me through these hectic days of six kids in less than 9 years. Happy New Year Beth!
Oh no! Thank you for the reminder, I am not sure when the last time I backed up the computer was….probably too long.
Are you in Michigan City perhaps? We went there last year…stayed on Lake Michigan in the Beachwalk area and LOVED it…so much that we’re going back again this June! Looks like you all are having a great time and I LOVE the photo! you take such great pictures!
And yes, one of my New Years resolutions is backing up my hard drive! Thanks for the push!
So sorry to hear about the loss of your computer … but thank goodness for a tech-savy hubby!
And gorgeous photos, as always! It looks like you had a great holiday!
happy new year!
You have a beautiful family and I can only imagine the love that is flowing in that house full of 31 people. Enjoy your time with your family- those minutes are far more precious than anything else going.
And seriously, I think one year I may have to fly you to Phoenix to photograph my family… Think it over. I absolutely LOVE your photographic talent. Beautiful Beth- absolutely beautiful.
What a wonderful and blessed family you have. WOW. So glad you all get this time together.
Sorry about your computer.
I’m so sorry to hear about your laptop
A couple of weeks ago, BJ knocked my backup drive on the tile floor and it’s not working now. I was so diligent about backing up and now my backup is no more. Of course, I’ve been in complete denial, and haven’t had anyone look at it to see if anything on it can be salvaged. It has EVERYTHING on it. You know what I mean.
So my new year’s plan is to back-up with an online service from now on. Remind me, m’kay?!
The photo of all the grandkids is AMAZING. Just like you and your entire family. I wish y’all would just adopt me (and BJ & Mia) already
I love you!!! Happy New Year!
So glad you were able to recover all of your hard drive. I have lost files ect due to lack of back ups and it doesn’t feel good.
I think that is such an awesome yearly tradition!! I would just adore it if my family did this one year. We have a large extended family as well and there always seem to be a shortage of time to visit with everyone properly around the holidays. 
Happy New Year to your family from ours!
Happy New Year!
So glad to hear that you had (almost everything) on your computer backed up!
But mostly just wanted to comment on how awesome that picture is of all of the cousins!! I didn’t have a big family growing up, and am always envious when I hear people talk about having lots of cousins to grow up with. My husband, on the other hand, had tons of cousins! So far, R is the first of his generation…but he has two cousins on the way for 2011!
What an awesome group of kids you have there!! What a blessing to get to spend this time together as a family!! So glad your stuff was saved!!