Cousins

Cousins are a foreign concept to me. I don't have any cousins. But when I married Andy, I became a part of cousins. Not only myself, but my girls. They have cousins. Lot's of them. And they are all so very special. I watch my husband spend time with his cousins. Getting together with those that live 20 miles down the road and those that live hours away. It is the same for the girls. They have lots here and some miles away. Watching them interact with them is wonderful. It is like another set of siblings. From teenagers to babies, they range from big to little. One thing is for sure though. They all come with the same wrapped up package of love.

This past weekend was a weekend with some of those cousins. Andy's cousin and the girls cousins. We laughed, played, danced and found new partnerships. It was so much fun.

*********

My Bear is an explorer. She loves any bug or insect she can find. We have an old family cookie jar. It just happens to be empty right now. A couple of days ago, she came to me, excitement in her eyes. "Mom, come and look what I found." Oh my, a dead beetle in my cookie jar. I don't know how long it had been there, but by the smell that came out of that cookie jar when I lifted the lid, I am going to guess quite a while.

The Bean continues to fill our days with new experiences. She is developing a personality of her own. She is my baby, yet her grown up ways stop me in my tracks sometimes.

Our week is full of packing, organizing and planning. BECAUSE, we are leaving for the beach on Saturday. We are so excited and ready to visit, swim, play and love with some more family. Some more cousins.

Most  importantly, my first, my bear is turning four. We will celebrate. Twice, actually. So, stay tuned!

Be back in a couple of weeks.

Happy Week!

Almost a Month...

But not quite. That is how long it has been since I have been on here. Or even thought about it for that matter. You start off with good intentions, but life and two little girls with some mean virus just put blogging way back on a shelf even too high for daddy reach. And he can reach almost anything.

My stay at home adventure has been interesting. It is horrible when they are sick, but in the summer? C'mon. Just plain mean. I am usually good at limits. I know mine. I know my girls. But, by day 6, we had to push those limits just a tad. We had done every activity we could think of indoors and well, honestly, we were just burnt out.

Blow up boats while dressed in last years Halloween costume. Yep, we were grasping folks.

It was time to break out the craft tub and enjoy the warm sunshine and just hope and pray that the hives would stay at bay. They didn't, but a couple of doses of zyrtec later, and it was all good. So, maybe I pushed the limit a little too far, but the smiles and stories that came from our day of semi-normal day were worth each and every extra nose wipe and hive.

 Sarah "look mom, it is the crystal blue sea"

A little Bear just went and got all fish on me. She wanted the goggles and with goggles came underwater swimming. And to think that at the beginning of the summer, she wouldn't get off the steps at the pool.

Nana had a birthday this weekend and instead of baking her a cake full of sickness, we went for ice cream instead. I hate I didn't have my camera at the playground stop, because I could have shown you just how old she is. So, use your imagination and think of a Barney on springs. Yep, she and Sarah were bouncing back and forth. Laughter just rolling from their mouths. I did, however, have the camera at the ice cream stop. Looks like they enjoyed those cool treats.

My second cup of morning coffee awaits. Tomorrow(fingers crossed), we get back to our normal schedule. Whatever that may be. It certainly comes in all shapes, colors and sizes for us. Just the way it should be. 

Happy week.