A Week With Cousins

My brother and sister in law (Brian's brother), Mike and Jill, live in New Jersey.  They have two kids - Audrey (7) and Carter (5).  Kate and Maya see them a couple of times a year but when they do their time together is jam packed!  This week with cousins in town was the busiest it's ever been.  I saw a tiredness in my kids that I have not seen before, but it was a good tired.  We did so much with family in town including playing at a splash pad, going to the zoo, going to Zoombezi Bay, spending A LOT of time together (including two back to back sleepovers!), and two cookouts!  Maya and I missed one cookout because she had a bit of a fever, but the point is it was a packed week and I think I got that across!

The kids loved spending time with their cousins and are already planning their next visit together!

Easton splash pad!

The splash pad crew!

Ready to play!

Kate & Audrey!

Mellow Mushroom for lunch!

Thank goodness for that stroller!

Camel rides at the zoo!

Kate and Audrey!

Carter and Jill!

Me and Maya!

And we're off!

Like Mother, like daughter!

Carter and Mary!

Giraffe feeding!

That giraffe tongue though!

Maya LOVES giraffes but likes to keep her
distance while feeding!

Her faves!

7 year old Audrey!

Mimi and Carter!

Mimi and (4 of) her (9) grands!

Waiting for the train!

Train ride!

Choo-choo!

Lunch time!

Frog hopper!

Those expressions are of pure joy on this ride!

Loving life!

My kids aren't going to be able to go to the zoo without riding
rides now...

Another train!

Zoombezi Bay day!

Lunch bunch!

Complete with mouths full of food!

Including cheetos which were a completely cheesy hit!

General shenanigans at Mimi and Papaw's house!

Ben, Carter, and Miles - more cousins!

A visit to see Ben's chickens!

And swing, obviously!

This swing just screams summer!

And childhood!

Hanging with more cousins at the cookout Maya and I missed!

After a second sleepover, the kids when to
Uncle Joe's to enjoy some boat time!

Audrey is driving!

Such a happy girl!

Carter takes the wheel!

Kate is captain!

We also met baby Colton at the 2nd cookout!

So this is what life with three would look like...
Maya was infatuated with the baby!

And I just can't get over Maya's laugh right now!  Kate can get her to laugh like this and so can Carter.  It literally melts my heart!