Cousins!

2 Years, 14 Weeks.


We had the pleasure of having my cousins come over and spend a few days with us over the past weekend.  The children of my mother's sister in Washington state had flown down to spend a month here in Florida for the summer, and they, along with Lala and another cousin from Avon Park, came up to Orlando Friday evening through Monday to hang out with us.

It had been almost two years since we had seen them, the last time in 2010 to attend Mike's wedding in California.  The twins were only six months old then.  It's amazing to see the difference in height and development over that period of time, especially since we've only just been watching our own little kids grow up.  Now throw three high school kids in the mix.  It was like being the Duggar Family, having both teenagers and toddlers in the same household.

It was a lot of fun; the little ones were enamored with their older counterparts and loved being picked up and chased around the house.  Braelyn wanted to stay up as late as she could just to hang out with them; she ended up sleeping next to them in her sleeping bag.

It was a very full and busy weekend to say the least.  We definitely enjoyed having them over.

Here are the highlights:

• Friday evening attended the Food Truck Pod for dinner in Ocoee.  We were joined by many friends, and this was our biggest showing so far:  Us, Lala + 3 cousins, Z's minus Amy (bed rest as she is due any day!), Cochran's (including their newest, Devin), Grodacks + Duncan's parents (their first time there), Clarke's, Bergherm's minus Bruce, Adrian and Stacy Shepherd, and some new Westyn Bay neighbors Michael and Heather and their little boy.  It was very hot so we spread out under the shade and enjoyed the company and the food.  Alas, my Swedish Truck was absent so I had to settle for some Korean BBQ and Venezuelan tostadas.

Such a hot afternoon made us settle for the shaded grass!

Great turnout for some food and fellowship.

• Sabbath we attended church and then that evening had a bonfire (in July?!?) for a hot dog roast and some s'mores.

Loved hanging out with Cousin Yrah!

Isidro Matriarch watches over her grand-twinden.  

Nothing like a bonfire on a summer evening!

• Sunday morning I mowed the lawn while Tangie and Lala took everyone to the pool for some swimming and water play.  After naps and some afternoon thunderstorms we drove down to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge to see the animals and then had some pizza for dinner.  I took the older kids plus Braelyn for a few hours to Downtown Disney to walk around and people watch.

Somebody's excited!  Braelyn walking with Cousin Lyka.

Lala and Maddy walk up the safari pathway.

Only a wooden see-through stick fence separated us from the wild animals!!

The kids were so excited to see the zebras and giraffes, although they associated the animals with the movie
Madagascar, so they called them "Marty" and "Melman".

Hanging out and enjoying the resort's playground.

Maddy wanted a turn on the motorcycle video game at the arcade!

Braelyn and Arien dig in the fossils at Downtown Disney's T-Rex restaurant.

• The rest of the week returned us back to normalcy.  Um...sort of.

Being goofy at Costco!

Randoms:

Saw this Volvo and its license plate and thought of our friend Mr. Johnson!

Thursday was Target's toy sale.  Mommy stocked up.  At THREE (3) different locations!

Dish this week:

Beef tenderloin with bleu cheese and banana flower.

Quote:

• The twins were getting ready for bed, and we all knelt down to say a bedtime prayer.  We try and take turns so that each one can get a chance to say something:

       
          Maddy:  "Maddy's turn!"

          Me:  "Okay, Maddy, say good night to Jesus."

          Maddy:  "Dear Jesus, have a good nap.  Amen!"

Playing kitchen together.  Don't ask why Kohlden is shirtless!

Have a great week!