Circa 1999

Before the popularity of digital cameras and photo-editing software, all of my photos were taken with a simple 35mm camera and rolls of film. Remember those days?

Back in the summer of 1999, I thought it would be fun to experiment with a roll of black and white film. So I carefully chose my subjects (I only had a roll of 24), set up the shots and ended up with some great pictures that are still my favorites to this day, including this one of Spencer and 4 of his cousins.

They were sitting on a swing in my parent's yard, sipping on lemonade, on a very hot and sunny afternoon. How cute are they?

I was never sure if I should feel sorry for Spencer or not. You see in my family, he has 2 older cousins, John and Brandon (about 8 years older than him). Then there is Tyler, his older brother. No other cousins were born until the summer Spencer was born. Within a 3 month period, Danielle, Spencer and Olivia were all born. Soon after there was Emily, Sarah, Elizabeth and Hannah. Eventually, 6 years after Spencer, Jacob was born and then Patrick and Nathan. So there was Spencer, stuck in the middle with 6 female cousins!

On the other hand, he has never lacked attention when they all get together. The girls just adore him as their cousin and they all get along famously.

I will always treasure this picture - it reminds me of an old-fashioned summer day - free from cares. "I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June." -- L. M. Montgomery