Cousin Weekends & Counting Blessings

An attitude of gratitude...that's what I try to have.  I count my blessings all day long, it's a coping mechanism that I've adapted through the years to get through challenging times.  It works for me.  THEN there are days that it rains blessings, days that everything just feels good and fits right.

A few weeks ago, we got some of the family together to celebrate Dad's birthday...Dad hung out for lunch and a while afterward but then had to get to work because as any old farmer (or farmer's daughter knows) "you gotta make hay when the sun shines" which I've found is Dad's way of saying that he can't bear to not be doing something productive if the weather co-operates.

So what was Dad's birthday celebration turned into a cousin play date with Marsha and her boys.  And play they did.  These boys have phenomenal memories and plot out how they are going to share toys when the get here, who will play with what and when.  This is ridiculously amusing to me because they are truly their mother's sons.  Planners.  But so am I so I can't poke TOO much fun :)  We played upstairs and downstairs, in the front yard and in the back.  There were minimal tears which I think is an accomplishment when talking about 3 kiddos under the age of 4 having to share toys!

That look right there kills me.  I love it.

Some of my favorite moments of the day were the quiet little moments that they shared.  All sitting around on the lawn together sharing a pitcher of water, drawing out our own little city on the driveway with sidewalk chalk, hearing the harmony of three sweet giggles.

It was ironic, life has been busy, it is always busy for everyone but this busy kept me from hanging out with Marsha and her family for most of the summer.  Not good.  But then, as fate would have it, we saw each other for the last THREE weekends in a row...first for Dad's birthday, then last weekend when Marsha needed an Internet connection and quiet time to get some tests for work done (do not be confused, she and Kris swapped houses with her in-laws and they watched the kids for them - our house is not the place to come for quiet and solace :) haha) but was swayed to meet Ryan and I out to help us celebrate our six-year wedding anniversary.

Anniversary dinner out on the town :)

 And once again, celebrate we did!  Super fun night, we played games, danced, were just carefree knowing that if we had sore feet and headaches in the morning thank goodness for kind in-laws that spent the weekend with their grand babies.

Finally, this past weekend we had Marsha, Kris and the boys up to the cabin with grand plans of going on an adventure to Jim Peck's Wildwood Park.

Nay and Daddy hanging out by the musky pond

It was a really fun but C.O.L.D. weekend.  If you haven't been to Jim Peck's GO.  It was really fun and huge compared to what I remember from a long ago third grade field trip.

Hoisting Naomi up a bit higher so she can see into the tiger cage a bit better

Naomi really likes snakes.  I know, it's weird.

See that snake slithering up the glass?  Ick.  But Nay thought it was great!

I don't hate snakes per se but they give me the creeps.  I try (some days harder than others) not to subject my opinions or feelings about things on to her because I would rather she form her own opinion but sometimes it's hard NOT to get the heeby jeebies when there are huge snakes all over the place.  It was a great time overall, the kiddos got to run around and feed animals and the weather actually somewhat co-operated, we were all bundled up and when you were in the sun it was beautiful.

Marsha and Sam :)

Ryan wouldn't stop laughing after seeing this picture, Naomi's face clearly says, Mom, are you REALLY taking another picture of me? haha

After Jim Peck's and lunch we all took naps.  It was great.  Weekend naps are one of my favorite things.  The rest of the weekend brought playing around the cabin, one craft project that literally ended up with the kids playing with puzzles in one area and Marsha and I completing the projects.  Super funny.  Sunday we took a short and cold pontoon ride then played some more before it was time to pack up and head home.

Naomi and Sam snuggling - super funny!

It was a raining of blessings kind of weekend.  Memories were made, laughter was shared.  And it was good.

Much love and many blessings.