8 1/2 Reasons My Kids Have The Best Cousins Ever

The kids and I recently got back from our yearly trip to upstate NY to visit my family.  We always have a wonderful (and busy) time staying with my sister and her kids as well as connecting with the rest of my siblings and their families. This year, we had the added bonus of being part of one of my other niece's weddings, making this one of the most looked-forward to trips ever. We've been making this trip for the past 7 years and it is one of the things we look forward to the most each year.  My nieces and nephews have grown up so much through the years and I continue to be more and more impressed with them as they mature.  Even though there is a bit of an age gap between my kiddos and their cousins, they have the best time together.  As I sat back and watched the interactions this year, I couldn't help but think that a) we really need to see them more than once a year and b) my kids have the best cousins ever.  Here's why:

1.  They will repeatedly lock themselves in the dog crate with (or without) the kids time after time for (more than) a few laughs. 

2.  They volunteer to go on rides that spin, scramble, rapidly and repeatedly turn to give me a break.

3.  They wake up HOURS before they normally would to get in some extra play time with the littles.  (We're talking a COLLEGE kid getting up at 8:30am. On his own.)

4.  They willingly become tow trucks, turtles, slides, jungle gyms or countless other things to entertain their younger cousins.

5. They were always up to take a morning/afternoon/evening swim with Liv (or be the lifeguard) when I couldn't do it myself

  

6.  They take them on adventures and do things with them that I can't do, like lifting them up to touch the ridiculously high street sign.

7.  They incorporate them into their exercise routines with no hesitation or complaints.

8.  They don't *seem* to mind having an "y" added to their name, even though at 18, 16 and 14, no one really calls (or should I say "called") them "Zachy", "Greggy" or "Kimmy" anymore. 

8 1/2.  They don't mind when the 3yo accidentally gives them a new nickname that has no sign of going away anytime soon.  "Greggy" = "Gravy"

AND a bonus reason my kiddos have the best cousins...

They are asked to be in their weddings, get all dressed up and dance the night away at one of the best days of their lives. 

We love you guys!

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This post was written in support of Michele and Mel's "Blog Post by Number Month" .  Are you game? Just write a listy-type post with a number in the title and you're good to go!

Can You Name 7 Types of Berries?

Living out in the middle of nowhere as we do, we have to spend some quality time together in the car to go to any major store, the doctor, church, to visit friends and family, etc.  The kids keep a stash of books on the seat between them to keep themselves occupied when they aren't looking out the window staring at ... fields.

Every once in a while, we come across a good billboard to get us talking. The other day as we were driving to the store, the kids and I saw one that read:

Liv read it out loud and started rattling off berries:

1. Strawberries

2. Blueberries

3. Lingonberries

4. Mulberries

5. Raspberries

6. Blackberries and...

She had barely finished saying "and" before Joe-Joe triumphantly piped up with:

7. "aaaaaand LIE-BERRIES (libraries)!"

It took us a few minutes before we could compose ourselves as we were laughing so hard.  And, of course, when we did big sister was quick to point out that the LiBRARY isn't actually a "berry," and that she was going to say "huckleberries," which is an equally fun word.

This billboard definitely made for an enjoyable trip and made us ready for summer and berry season.  Who's with me? (And would you have listed other berries?)

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This post was written as part of Michele and Mel's "Blog Posts By Number" for the month of June.  The premise is easy - and fun.  Just write a quick post with a list and a number in the title.  It's so easy I can do it.  And if I can do it, so can you! :)

6 Things My 8-year-old Wants To Do this Summer

The other day, Liv's writing assignment was to jot down some things that she wanted to do this summer. Brian and I were both curious to see not only what she would come up with, but how it would be phrased. Would our upcoming vacation to New York to visit my family (and be in her cousin's wedding) make the list?

1. Have less school

This homeschooled child is concerned about having school every. single. day. 

Relax, child. I don't see that happening.

2. Have more free time

Heading in to third grade, she already has cause and effect figured out. 

I think that earns her some extra days off.

3. Swim at the Rec Center

No surprises here. My girl LOVES the water (the boy, not so much) 

The water slides and being outside are an added bonus.

4. Go to a Buddy Walk® in Georgia

While I'm proud of this one, it isn't happening. No Walks in GA this summer.

(But she can go to the Cleveland Walk with me this summer and 

we'll go on a girl's trip to a Buddy Walk® this fall.

5. Go to the Cleveland Zoo with Papa and Joe

Who doesn't love a trip to the Zoo? 

Mama's not invited since she knows I need to work.  (See #4)

6. Be outside

If she could, she'd be outside 24/7 reading, playing with the animals

climbing trees and just exploring.  Here's hoping the weather (and mosquitoes) cooperate.

In her own words:

5 Ways "Kids" Are Like Kids

Apparently, June is "Blog Post By Numbers Month, " and I'm going to do my best to play along.  The premise is pretty simple, as Michele breaks it down for us novice writers: "each day, write a 'listy-type' post with a number in the title." I think I can handle it, at least for a few days.  Here goes nothing:

5 Ways "Kids" Are Like Kids

1.  They have no concept of personal space. At all.

2.  They will use you as their personal jungle gym / climbing wall.

3.  You can never get all of them looking at the camera at the same time.

4.  They are messy eaters, take bites that are too big and/or chew with their mouth open

5.  You think they're so cute that you can't help taking video of them doing ordinary things. 

And then you show them to everyone you know (and a few people you don't)

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words - and a Good Caption

Not long ago, Liv celebrated her First Communion.  She was so excited. She could not WAIT to get dressed (Joe Joe said she looked like "a princess"), have her hair done and get to the church.  She did NOT want to be late or miss out on any aspect of the day. Joy and pride radiated from her face throughout the whole ceremony.  She didn't stop smiling until we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house and it was time to take family pictures.  Luckily, all the aunts, uncles and grandparents who were at her party got very nice pictures.  Our family picture looks much like the one below. Of all the photos that were taken, this one is my favorite and definitely deserves a spot on our Christmas card this year.

I hope you'll agree with me that this picture is worth 1,000 words - and that you'll also help me give it a caption.

Caption me, please

This post was written for Ketchup With Us, the brainchild of Michele and Mel. June's theme is "Blog Post By Number" and we're encouraged to write a numbered post in 10 minutes or less.  I'm also going to try to keep up the daily number-themed post for the rest of the month.  Here's hoping I can make it a week! Thanks for the inspiration, ladies. You're both #1 in my book. :)