I’m not going to lie: I laughed harder while going through these photos than is probably polite. There’s something about parents blasting their kids with water guns – or anyone being hit with water, really – that just makes me cackle.
I joined the Thompson gang at Bob and Helen’s home late on a beautiful sunny afternoon. We zipped through a quick, casual set of family portraits and promptly moved on to some serious fun. These sisters’ families had come from across the globe to spend time together with one another and with Bob and Helen and that, ultimately, was what I wanted to document for them.
A well-earned, post-portrait ice cream break during downtime in the backyard meant that everyone had a chance to settle in and get used to the idea that I wasn’t going anywhere, just because the family portraits were done. I laughed as the kids explored the hammock, the plants, the air conditioner and the kayaks, and before long the decision was made to don bathing suits. The inflatable swimming pool became the site of the afternoon showdown.
Four cousins with birthdays spread between over just a few short years means that you’ve got lots of development and growth happening all at the same time. It could be the source of immense amounts of trouble, but on that day, it ended up being the source of a whole lot of laughs. Thomas, Camden and Leah took great interest in putting on a diving show that resulted in bodies flying, arms and legs akimbo. Luke, however, was the first to enthusiastically take hold of one of the water guns and begin to quietly empty it, pointed at whatever captured his attention.
It was a very slippery downhill slope from there. There were a few tears, plenty of laughter, and some very soggy Moms.
I loved that the parents really grabbed hold of the element of fun within the water fight. It’s so easy for adults to focus on their clothes or their comfort and shun a bit of play. Not these parents. Once it was clear that they were going to have a hard time staying dry, they joined in wholeheartedly, managing to land more than a few direct hits straight to faces, while running and squawking in surprise with the best of them. I don’t know if any neighbours caught sight of the shenanigans, but I’m willing to bet this hoopla will have brightened many people’s day because the laughter and joy coming from the Thompson yard was completely contagious.
Bob was such a good sport and humoured all photo requests from his daughters so that he could be pictured with his grandchildren, particularly when it came to showing off the basketballs. Bob has run a summer basketball camp for many years, but this was the first year that all of the kids were able to participate. That photo on the tailgate of the truck when he’s kissing Leah on the head just stole my heart. When you don’t get to see your grandchildren very often and even more rarely all at once, I can just imagine that those days with them – noisy and chaotic though I’m sure they were – may have seemed too few.
Helen played matriarch with joy and gusto. It was no surprise to find her inside at the stove once all of the water fight excitement had died down. She’d gotten their evening feast ready and was quick to make sure that everyone had what they needed and that she had a few moments with her daughters. Despite an invitation to stay for dinner, I knew that this time together meant the world for this family and, as Leah got her first taste of squeaky cheese, it was time for me to make my leave.
To the extended Thompson gang, thank you for hosting me for one of the most entertaining afternoons of my summer. I hope that this little slideshow helps you relive a small amount of the fun you had this summer when you all descended on Bob and Helen’s house for a little bit of good-natured mayhem.
I’m Ang – a Cornwall, Ontario documentary family photographer with a passion for capturing light and photographing natural moments in life as they happen. My goal is to capture memories that you will cherish once your children are too grown up to curl into your lap for cuddles and the house seems oddly quiet at night. I love meeting new families in their natural environment and getting in amongst the bedlam so that I can document the perfectly imperfect realities of daily life. Please explore more of www.momentusstudio.com to see more examples from this Ontario documentary family photographer.
