Siblings Day Isenbarger Style

Siblings Day was this past week, and my social media feed began filling up with pictures that my kids posted of themselves together. It made me a bit teary, but it was also interesting to see which photos they selected to share.

Here are some of them. (I'm grabbing the tissue box as I get started.)

Urbana, Illinois, 1991. Kyle, Sarah, Curt (doesn't he look like Lukie?), Jessica (holding a box turtle), and Lisa with Cole in her lap. They had found that turtle wandering our back yard and after keeping him for a few days in an outdoor enclosure, we drove out to a woods and released him.

Jessica and Andrew's wedding, Draper, Utah, February, 2012. Sarah, Craig, Kyle, Lisa, me, Cole, Curt, and the bride and groom in the middle.

Urbana, Illinois, 1992. "We gotcha, Dad!" Lisa, Kyle, Jessica, Cole, Curt, and Sarah with Craig. 

Probably my favorite picture of my children ever. This was taken by Emily in 2006 here in Indiana just after we'd moved in to our current home. No other homes were around us then. It was snowing enormous snowflakes and so naturally the kids headed out (sans coats) to take a photo. They're in age order, left to right. Sarah, Jessica, Kyle, Lisa, Curt, and Cole. This picture is framed and hangs in my bedroom.

1991, Urbana, Illinois. The whale! A community treasure in Urbana, the whale resided in the mall for several years. Because kids kept climbing on it and then falling off onto the hard terrazzo floors and getting hurt, it was moved to Crystal Lake Pool a few blocks from the mall. Lots of rubber mats were placed around it so the kids could climb it and not get (too) hurt if they slipped off. Lisa, Cole, Kyle, Curt (looking like Lukie again), and Jessica. (Sarah was at another activity.)

2008, Purdue Memorial Union, West Lafayette, Indiana. A family photo session ("Everybody wear grey and teal!") gone crazy. Cole, Curt, Lisa, Jessica, Sarah, and Kyle.

1989, Urbana, Illinois. We were tight on money (I was a stay at home mom then) but when Sears, Olan Mills, or JC Penney offered a special on family group shots, we took advantage of it.  Craig, me (I made that dress), and from the back, Sarah, Kyle, Jessica, Lisa, Curt, and Cole.

August, 2010, Chicago, Illinois. Curt and Vanessa's wedding. Typical Isenbarger shenanigans afterward. Ever since he was little, Curt has made this pose where he bent a knee forward and then stretched his other leg back behind himself. Why? No idea. Here his siblings are honoring him by posing with him. Kyle, Sarah, Curt, Cole, Lisa, and Jessica.

During the eclipse, Pony Pal Susie was caught on film imitating her Uncle Curt's pose - her parents, aunts, and uncles thought this photo was hilarious. (So did her Boompa and Grammy!)

June, 2018, West Lafayette, Indiana. My retirement celebration. Everyone came home to celebrate with me. Curt, Lisa, Kyle, Craig, me, Jessica, Cole, and Sarah.

Is it any wonder that sometimes I really miss the days when I was a stay at home mom and had all my children around?

Truly I am blessed. And, I need more tissues.