Reunion Weekend

Last weekend I went to St. Louis to go to my 20 year high school reunion (how did 20 years go by so quickly?!). The best part of the weekend had nothing to do with the reunion (go figure). The best part was getting to see some of the St. Louis that I really enjoyed when I was a kid. I'd like to share some of those stories with you over this long and extended post. 

For starters, here are some photos of our fun but quick hike through Rockwood Reservations. I lived about 10 minutes from this awesome "park" and I would hike there all the time with my family. It was also one of the first places that I honed my photographic craft.

I have to say, I've never run through Rockwood Reservations. The hike was far from restful. But we did get some fun shots as we ran through the park.

I also have great memories of Rombach's Pumpkin Patch in West St. Louis County, and since I was in town for my high school reunion, I thought it would be a perfect time to introduce my wife and daughter to the experience.

Below, my daughter peeks through a scarecrow that you can have your picture taken with.

 

Xen would have gotten all the pumpkins at the patch if she could!

We had another mini reunion with Grace (below). She and Xen were in the same orphanage in China. They get to see each other about once a year and truly act like sisters whenever they see each other. (Isn't she beautiful?)

 

So here are some photos from the actual REUNION night. I brought a Canon with a 28mm to the party to grab some quick hip shots. I didn't shoot as much as I had meant to, but I did get some fun "in your face" portraits.

Did I mention that I did, indeed, survive the reunion… even though it was a little scary.

 

Another great thing about this reunion weekend was getting to spend some time with my best friend from high school, Bart. We hung out at the reunion together and met for breakfast the next day with his family and daughter Kate, who had just turned 9, and had come in from Indianapolis with Bart.

 

Kate's a real cutie and hammed it up for the camera.

 

I'm ending with a few bonus shots that don't fit well within any of the other categories, but that I really liked anyway.

I just thought that this was a fun shot:

 

I have a very dear friend who I got to visit with a little bit while in St. Louis. He was telling me a story while we waited for breakfast and I noticed his hands. I've always had a weakness for shooting hands and I just thought that these hands told a story that I had to shoot: