Cousins

We love, love some family around here. For your reading pleasure, I have crammed 3 separate family visits in this post. First up-Visit to Uncle Zack's house. I have always loved my brother and sister in law, but once I had kids I realized how lucky I am.They are the people you want to be related to your kids. They spoil them rotten and actually enjoy hanging out with them...I think they might like my children more than I do at times. Amanda had all of the baby gear ready (swing, etc.) and lots of stuff for Anderson to play with including some of Kyler & Noah's old toys and some brand new stuff for him, too!

Fireworks & lacrosse in the backyard.

An entire package of oreos as a snack and a little couch jumping. Shout out to Izzy!

My oldest nephew, Kyler, is so funny. He wore those boots to dinner. It was a nice fashion statement with the car seat that I made him carry. I cannot believe Kyler is going to be a senior next year! What on earth. It is truly crazy. 

Getting some loving from Aunt Manda.

I am going to hire Kyler & Noah as his personal lacrosse coaches if he ever starts playing.

Fuzzy pic, but they bought him this Batman scooter as a gift, which I thought was awesome. Then, Amanda said, "Since it it supposed to rain, we thought he could ride it around the house." I TOLD YOU!

First experience at Hibachi. His obsession with fire made this a fun outing for him, I think. I love how intently he is staring.

He literally stalked Noah the entire weekend. It was amazing for me because Noah is awesome and played with him. Always a lacrosse stick in the pic...

Shooting some hoops with Dad.

They are baby whisperers, too.

A trip to see Monsters University! This was Anderson's second attempt and he did much better this time around as the first try resulted in Brandon leaving with him in the middle of the movie because he did not want to sit still. (shocker...)

Visit #2 was time with Lily! How smart is this girl? I love her little handwriting.

My parents are ridiculous and amazing and plan all kinds of things for our kids to do. They seem to enjoy these little people, too...

Max loved Lily! I keep forgetting that they are cousins, too. I associate Lily with Anderson, not Max. I can't wait to see how their relationships evolve as they grow up.

These 2 fights a.l.o.t., but they sure love each other, too.

You have to watch Lily in the dance contest! Part of the reason Lily came to visit was to attend cheer camp at Farragut. This is the same camp that I was in charge of for 6 years as the cheer sponsor and it was so surreal to see Lily participating! She did awesome; I was so proud of her!

As a part of the Lilly & Aunt Sissa time that I try to force on her, I took her to have her hair and makeup done before the "performance." (It was free, so I am not a Dance Aunt or anything)

Last year in anticipation of her going to cheer camp this year, I ordered her a cheer uniform. The real cheerleaders wore the same one on uniform night, so she was totally official!! I love, love the girls who were her "teachers" and am so happy that she got to be a part of something that was such a part of me. 

While I was spending time with Lily, Nicole hung out with Anderson and played really awesome games like, space monster. She totally got the worse end of the kid swap. 

 Visit #3 was to Nicole's to see Aunt Paula, Shannon, Jon, Jacob & Morgan!
*We grew up with our cousins (Shannon & her brothers) literally next door to us, (as in, the house next to us, not down the street), so we spent a lot of our childhood with them. It is always so great to spend time with Aunt Paula & everyone and I just wish we could do it more than once a year!

 Max loves his Aunt Paula! She is the Aunt of the infantsee fame, too. Without her telling me to take Anderson to the optometrist for a free visit when he was 8 months old, I don't think we would have found his cataract until too late. Shudder.

 Love this booty.

 In true aunt form, Aunt Paula brought lots of gifts, including a Superman outfit!

 The sisters.

 Lots of jeep riding, rocket shooting, swimming in the lake, playing on the water slide, shooting fireworks and, of course, eating!

The girls on the tube. 

*Note: a few minutes later, I was still taking pictures and did not realize the frantic waving from Shannon because Morgan wanted to get off. Poor Morgan was crying and I was taking pictures and waving, totally oblivious to the world, which surprises no one.

 These 2 make me laugh so much. They are hilarious and such great friends/cousins and everything that is right about our family's coed cousin combination that we have going strong for 6 sets so far!

 Love this fearless boy.

Biology teacher: "So, the children of identical twins share genetic material and therefore will look alike."

Real life: "Except, not at all."

Lucky, lucky us to have such a wonderful family!!