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!

Kindergarten Kick-Off

Ever since the very thought of Kate going to Kindergarten entered my head (several years ago), I thought for sure we needed to have a Kindergarten Kick-Off.  Then the time came.  And the summer had been hectic.  And I just threw together a little 3rd birthday for Maya.  And I was stressed about how I would throw together yet another party.  But my wonderful Mother-in-Law, Mary, convinced me I could do it and I'm so glad I did.  She helped with a ton of details and supplies and set up, so it really was a group effort!

And, since I officially decided the party was a go two weeks before the actual party date, I also decided a rainbow theme would be easiest - any color goes!!

What made it even more worth it was Kate had an absolute blast and has declared it BEST PARTY EVER!  Success!

Cutting out lots of colorful letters for our station signs!

I mean, seriously!  These scream Kindergarten!

A view from above to the left!

And to the right!

Build-a-Bag Station!

Game Station - consisting of a spinner where you could win prizes,
stickers, or cookies, and a guess how many skittles contest.

Craft Station - tie dye t-shirts, rainbows to color, and scratch
shapes with rainbow backs!

Photo Op Station - complete with "class of" signs for all grades
this fall and several for the next few years!

Maya models so I can test out lighting!

Mia, Kate, and Caiden - Class of 2031.

Mikey, Kate, Mia, Caiden, Rylee!

Kindergarten Kick-Off!

Games in action!

Snow cones being eaten!

Bags being built!

Taylor won the skittles container!  Most kids Kate's
age guessed either 100 or 1000.

The crew - Calvin, Sammy, Libby, Ella, Taylor, Maya, Kate,
Rylee, Mia, Mabel, Hazel, Mikey, Caiden, and Lacey.

Sylvia enjoys a snow cone!

The adults got snow cones with Malibu rum which was a
GENIUS idea on Brian's behalf!

Crafts in action!

Running and playing!

Kate and Lacey!

Malea and her daughter, Mimi, helped with
tie dying!  Malea is Kate and Maya's Spanish
teacher!

Mia wins a prize!

 

Games in action part II!

Sammy, Libby, and Kate have been friends since they were all weeks
old in daycare!

My Kindergartener!

Success!

It still shocks me that in 10 days Kate will be entering Kindergarten.  The last 5-ish years have flown by!  She still seems so small to me but yet so big!  She is going to move mountains that one!