Nadia Comaneci.  Mary Lou Retton.  Kathy Rigby.  Kim Zmeskal.  Shannon Miller.  From an early age, I was obsessed.  Every four years when the Summer Olympics FINALLY made their way back around, I was glued to the tube for every gymnastic event.  To this day, I'm still not totally sure why I love gymnastics so much.  I suppose the mesmerizing combination of incredible strength and creative movement set to classical music just makes me weak in the knees.  Those huge muscles on those tiny girls and their fearlessness as they hurl themselves into the air never ceases to amaze me.

Though I loved gymnastics, I only did it for a couple of years.  That sort of fearlessness and literally diving head first just wasn't anything I could ever really commit to.  I guess I was proud of my record of never having broken a bone and didn't want to mess it up.  Haha!  I was more into being the president of every club and being a general pain in my parents' behind.

Now, Millie has decided that she wants to learn some brand new moves.  Since she does ballet nearly year round and needed a break from swimming, she suggested gymnastics.  She has been taking classes with her good friend Marley and they are having such a fun time bending, twisting, cartwheeling and what not.  I am always impressed with her progress and what a strong little girl she is becoming!  Though it wasn't my idea to sign her up for gymnastics, I'm secretly really excited she wanted to.  Now, no matter if she continues with it or not, I know I'll have a buddy next summer to watch the Olympics with.  Bobby, you had might as well just plan to go find another tv.  The girls claim the living room!

Next stop for Gymnast Millie?  She moves from the Pre-K class to Level One.  The big time.  Hee hee!  I just cringe at the thought of her eventually taking the class "Tramps & Tumbling".  Before she gets to that one, I'm gonna see if I can persuade someone to rename it.  Trampolines are the bee's knees, seriously, but no daughter of mine is going to have anything to do with the word "tramp"!  Holler if you hear me!

For the past few years, my mom's side of the family has gathered in summertime for a family reunion.  They've been to Wilmington, NC and New Braunfels, TX and somewhere in Pennsylvania that I can't recall.  The reason I can't recall it is because until this past summer, I've never been able to attend.  Life as a wedding photographer just didn't allow for vacation during the summer months.  Seeing as I'm scaling back that part of my life, I decided to make the reunion a priority for Bobby, Millie and me in 2011.

This year, the reunion location was set for the Jersey Shore.  Being a Texas girl, I've always beached in the South.  Before I went in August, I honestly had no idea what the Jersey Shore was like other than what I had read about in the tabloids and what I knew of it from MTV.  You know...Snooki, GTL, booze flowin', fist pumpin', and general debauchery.  However, the town we visited was the definition of CHARMING.  Beach Haven, New Jersey is everything you think of when you hear "New England beach town".  It's chock full of cute cottages, has gorgeous crisp ocean water, the best root beer floats, clams for days, a quaint amusement park, and those adorably preppy bikes with two seats and a bell.  Brrrrring!  Brrrrring!  There was not a Snooki in sight for miles and then some.  Trust me.  I would return to Beach Haven in a heartbeat.

What made this trip even more special was FINALLY meeting my grandmother's brother.  I maaaaaay have met him when I was little, but CERTAINLY haven't seen him since.  "Uncle Bud" is sooo the boy version of my "Nanny" in looks and personality.  It's almost frightening.  It was great to get to know him and his children and grandchildren as they all live on the East Coast.  The reunion was also an incredible opportunity to grow closer to and make memories with my own mom, brother, and cousin Lis and her family, even though we all are from Texas.

We did so many fun things in Beach Haven, and I didn't always bring my camera.  I tried to be present and strengthen bonds and all of that good stuff.  It's kinda hard to photograph when you're boogie boarding or riding the Tilt-a-Whirl or eating fried shrimp or playing Skee-Ball or drinking the best martini ever, and out of a red Solo cup, no less.  However, I did love watching Mills bond with her cousins, and I managed to snap a couple of frames for posterity.  Here are just a few of my favorites!

My great friend Mandy and her daughter Sammy invited Millie and me to the circus when it came to town recently.  I about came unglued at the thought of glittery outfits and bright lights and bendy gymnasts...and the horses...and tigers...well, you get the picture.  I was more than just a little excited to go.  If I've ever been to the circus in my life, I can't remember it.  Mills and I both got to experience this first together...Mills as a 5 year old and me, very much in touch with my inner 5 year old!  It was a killer fun day, thanks to blue snowcones (that led to blue stained lips) and true-blue buddies.  Here are a few frames from our day.