Friday, June 28, 2013

Cousin Camp Recap!



I have had several people email me and ask for the details of Cousin Camp.
So, I thought I would put the details in one post.

I always begin with an email sometime around January with the dates I have chosen. We tweak those dates until we come up with two days that suit every family. We have done it now for four years and so far it has worked....probably because we pin the date down early. And also because most of the cousins are still young enough that their schedules are their mom's schedules too! The moms always think I am a little crazy and over the top when they get that email so early, but that's what it takes to make it work.

The next thing I do is usually sometime in March (though this year I was behind.) That is when I order the tee shirts. Last year one of the babies was due in June....just a few weeks before camp so the name on the shirt was *Baby D**** (his last name.) 

This was the shirt I chose for this year. The blue birds represent the boys and the pink...the girls.



I always rent a bouncy house/slide from a local company. I try to get this reserved about six weeks before camp. I usually do a follow up call the week before to make sure we are all on the same page. We have various ones every year. This is a picture of the cow we had a couple of years ago.



For the last couple of years, we have taken a golf cart ride through our neighborhood. We live in a neighborhood that we feel like we can do that safely in. We go so slow that the moms walk behind us for safety. We hold tight to the little ones and don't let them sit alone since they don't have helmets on. The kids (young and old seem to like this) and it's fun for Nonny and Poppy too. It goes without saying there is NO way I could do this without Poppy. He works for weeks to get everything ready!



We spend most of our time the first day in the back yard at our house. We blow up four or more baby pools and we have a play house, playset with swings  and various baby swings.  

We also have riding toys/bikes they can ride on on the driveway. 


The second day is spent at the pool. This is always a big feat to get all the kids in the bathing suits and get them all to the pool. It's worth it in the long run though and so far we have continued doing it. We eat lunch at the pool too and always try to get a group shot before we leave.


(missing a mom and her twins....too hot to be outside that long!)


I'll be honest....the hardest part is the food. Most of my family members eat very healthy. They try to keep their children away from fast food and dyes. We don't eat completely healthy at Cousin Camp and that's ok, but it is hard to serve prepared, quick foods of any kind to that many children. Lunch the first day is a Chick-Fil-A Nugget tray, fresh fruit, chips and salsa. Dinner is pizza. We have various snacks throughout the afternoon and evening. Breakfast is pastries and fresh fruit, yogurt, milk and orange juice. For lunch each mom orders for their kids off the menu at the pool. We make it all work and they are all gracious and understand the dynamics of feeding twelve little ones under seven!

We had a backup plan this year in case of rain....The Children's Museum. We didn't have rain, sans a thunderstorm after dinner, so we didn't have to use our backup plan!

The sleeping arrangements are interesting...to say the least. That's a lot of cribs and Pack N Plays. Again, we make it work but I think next year some of the four, five, six and seven year olds may all sleep together in the playroom instead of with their moms. They will love that!

I'm sure I have left some things out. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask here in comments or email me.

Already looking forward to Cousin Camp 2014. We will have at least one more baby to add to the group.....that baby's gender will be announced next week!


A shout out to my mom and dad who were so much help!!!


And to my baby sister and her big girls for all their help!

It really does take a village to have a Cousin Camp!

Love you family.




Thursday, June 27, 2013

Cousin Camp 2013...............



...........was WONDERFUL!



The trash has been taken out.

The baby pools are empty......

......the refrigerator is too.

The juice boxes are gone

And the beach towels are folded.

It sure is quiet here

And I miss them.

I miss the chaos and the spills.

The crying and the happy sounds.

Most of all,

I miss those cousins and their mommies.

Look what they left me.....


Love these cousins!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Fun Facts



I LOVE this dress.

Love it!

If I were to renew my vows,

 this dress is what I would wear!




I've never had a ticket.

Like, those blue lights have never come on behind me.

I think I would PANIC if they did!

Now I have to say

It's not because I don't ever speed.....

...though I DO try to stay as close to to the speed limit as I can.



I LIVE by a calendar!

How in the world do you people without one live?

I would miss and be late to EVERYTHING without one.

This year I decided to use my Ipad as my calendar.

I won't do it again.

It works fine....

I just still like a paper and pencil calendar.

Thinking about This one:



Ok, that's all the Fun Facts I have today.

How about you?

Do tell!!!


Thursday, June 20, 2013

June Catch Up


WOW!

And I thought May was busy!

The first weekend in June was Wells' (nephew) 1st birthday!

His mom had worked for months on his party!

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR!








The next weekend my niece, KiKi, graduated from high school!

She graduated salutatorian, so she had to make a speech.

Kiki was a Fabulous speaker!!!

We had a party the night before to celebrate her!

So proud of this girl!



That same weekend hubs did his 200 mile bike ride.....




....and the girls had their dance recital!





The next weekend was Father's Day.

We spent the day at my brother's house.

He lives on the lake and it was a gorgeous day!







In between all those weekends I tried to work a few days...

.......and I kept all the kiddos at different times!






Next week is Cousin Camp!!!

Then, Nonny might need a VACA!



Stay tuned...............


Sunday, June 16, 2013

The Best Dads



To my daddy

To the father of my children

To my sons

And my gift of a son

The children in this world are blessed because of you.

Not because you are perfect

But because you all serve a perfect Heavenly Father.

Thank you for the sacrifices you make as dads.

And for leading our family in His ways.

You are loved.




Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Birthday Birthday!!!


My nieces and nephews are a big deal to me.

They are all the same age as my grands.

We lump them all together at family gatherings...

And I adore them.

I wish I had more hours in my days to celebrate them.

My precious nephew, W, had his first birthday a couple of weeks ago..

......party pics to follow.

W turned one!!!!!!!


Serious cuteness!!


AND

Today our *M GIRL* turns six!!

She is actually six going on 12!

At her young age, she has a heart for Jesus...

and I love that!


Cuteness runs in our family...don't you think???

Monday, June 10, 2013

*Double Down to the Beach*...CRAZY Stuff!



If you have read my blog for very long you know hubs is a cyclist.

He started riding several years ago.

He quickly became hooked.

He did his first Century ride (100 miles) three years ago.

I did a post about it HERE.

He loves the outdoors and does not have a fear of riding on the road.

Plus...

He's a beast.

No lie.

THIS is what he did Saturday:

The ride was called *Double Down to the Beach.*

He rode with approx 125 other guys....

His first Double Century....

200 miles in one day.

He pedaled a bicycle 204 miles.

It took him 12.5 hours.

Yeah, I have a hard time driving a CAR for 12.5 hours.

Can you even IMAGINE pedaling a bike that long???

Plus....

He is 59.

As in years old.

Here he is at the finish with three of his buddies, that also rode over 200 miles.


Hubs is in the bright yellow shirt.

Give a shout out to these guys!

Proud of you hubs!


Sunday, June 09, 2013

Big Brother and his Twinkies


Gosh, I have so much to update.

Kiki's Graduation.

Wells' first birthday.

The hubs' bike ride....you won't believe this one!

But, for now, until I get pics loaded....

Here is some serious cuteness:

Big brother loving on his twins!

How precious is this picture?

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

The Big Girls


There's not much cuter than a little girl in a tutu....

Except for TWO little girls in tutus.




....with proud parents



....and a proud aunt and cousin



...and of course, proud Nonny and Poppy!

Love these BIG GIRL Grands!