Cousins (once removed)

The kids were so excited to go visit Rosie and Austin and their kids! Due to some over-scheduling on Rachel's part (she's an in-demand kind of girl!) we could only stay for one night (Sunday, December 28 to Monday, December 29), but it was so fun! 

They have a great playroom upstairs. The kids love to get out all the toys at once. 

And then we make them clean it up. And they either get out all the toys again...or they start playing with the cushion fort pillows (and wrestling). They love those things (both the cushions and the wrestling)! Here they are continuing to play with the cushions while we were cleaning up and getting ready for bed (you can see more and more children appearing in pyjamas).

The playroom is a nice open space and the kids (for better or worse) just go...so...totally...nuts...in there.

In the evening Uncle Patrick and Uncle David helped facilitate our annual game night. We seem to only be able to coordinate such a thing during the Christmas holidays with five time zones and so many different family schedules we...struggle...to be all together. Poor Uncle Patrick agreed to start the game night at 3:00 in the morning his time so that we (at Rosie's house) could do it after we put all the little-littles to bed!

We played a trivia quest game (which Alexander loved and wants to do again) and a spy game, both on online platforms where players use their phones as a console of sorts. It was a fun night!

In the morning the little kids got up to play quite early.

You'll begin to see more and more of them appear in clothes rather than pyjamas this time. First Phoebe (7:00) and Ireland (8:00) got up, and then Oaklyn. Then Alexander and Zoë got up (because the girls started playing in the playroom). 

And that was it for a while. Ireland and Rosie both had appointments so they left me in charge.

But first I guess we did more snuggling...

...and some breakfasting...

There are still construction vehicles outside Rosie's back window, so Phoebe had to sit closest to the window so she could watch the action.

When Rosie and Ireland left, the kids decided they wanted to go for a walk, so we did, even though it was freezing cold. 

And then we came back home and played dress up and baby dolls and doctor before we started getting wild with the fort cushions.

And then we woke up Benjamin and then...well...things started getting really wild. And I took the little girls downstairs for a snack. And then...we went to get stitches for Zoë.

After we got home we did some...quieter...playing. Here are the kids playing the Bluey scavenger hunt game:

And here they are playing "memory":

When things started getting a little wild again, we went on another cold walk:

Oaklyn and Ireland were so good about sharing their scooter. Ireland would let my kids have the first turn steering and would say, "I want to drive on the way back!" She managed the driving schedule beautifully. 

Here we are chatting for a little bit at home after the walk. Andrew is asking Flynn (the dog), "What do you want from me?"

All too soon it was time for us to say goodbye. I wish we could have stayed longer but (a) we're kinda a lot sometimes and (b) the kids wanted to get home for the New Year's Eve dance and other things. Hopefully we'll be able to arrange another visit with Rosie in the future. She's having a baby in a couple of weeks though so...considering point A (above) we might lie low for a little while.

Here are some pictures of all the "kid cousins":

And here are a couple of pictures of the "little cousins":

And here are some pictures of the "big cousins":

And here's a picture of me with my niece ("the moms!") and my two oldest daughters ("the cousins!"):

As I mentioned in my last post, our generations get a little mixed up. Rosie and I are about as far apart in age (11.5 years) as Rosie and Rachel (10.5 years) or Rosie and Miriam (12 years). Rosie's twin siblings are just a year older than Rachel, so those girls probably feel of a sisterly age to Rosie. Meanwhile, Miriam is 12 years older than Phoebe, and Rachel is 14 years older than Phoebe. Is it any wonder our children don't understand who their cousin is (Rosie) and who their first-cousins-once-removed are (Ireland and Oaklyn)?

It doesn't really matter though. We don't count generations. We're just family.

Anyway...here's a picture Zoë requested she take with me.

And here are the kids starting to roughhouse again! We decided we'd better get out of there before (a) it got too dark or (b) anyone else needed stitches.

Rosie and the girls followed us outside to wave goodbye Conrad-style (wave until you can't see the car anymore). See you soon, sweet niece (and great-nieces)!