Our West African children finally had the opportunity to meet their West coast relatives: My brother, sister in law, and 2 of their children. They were in town for a reunion with my sister-in -law's family. We had a great time at the hotel pool where they were staying...my other brother and his 2 teenage girls also joined us. Then we went back to our house for dinner and more cousins, Aunts and Uncles joined the celebration..sort of a mini reunion-but the 'patriarch and matriarch' of our motley crew were a little far away to join us for dinner as were 3 other brother/sisters and families....later in the evening, our big boys headed home with one of their cousins and 2 of the little girls stayed with us for the night.Our little boys were a bit 'put out' that their big brothers got to go to their cousin's , the girls were having a slumber party, and they had to sleep in their own beds! So, early Saturday morning they had a special date with Daddy- that seemed to take the edge off :) !! This same brother and family got 'bumped' on their trip back West (they wanted to!!) so they will be coming back East for Christmas with their 4 free tickets...Yippee- more cousin memories soon to come :)!! I'm so grateful for the blending of our 2 families and for the many memories we have been privileged to make together over the years since Mimi and Pop-Pop have been married (16+)!
Our gang with Aunt Irene and cousins Timmy and Alyssa swimming at the hotel pool~
Chicken Fights !!!
Back at our house for dinner... a pizza picnic on a Friday nite' with cousins...what more could they ask for?! :)
Believe it or not, this isn't the whole gang...we are still missing 12 cousins!! In the past we have actually rented church or fire halls to accommodate our motley crew for holiday gatherings!!
~Just hanging out with Daddy-O~
Odesco and Luke enjoy the view (and the fight) from Uncle John and Daddy's shoulders. On Saturday, we headed back to the pool... and had it all to ourselves.It was here that Daddy allowed all 3 littles take off their life jackets and guess what?! They are all able to swim without assistance :)!! By the end of the afternoon, they were all jumping into the deep end as Daddy watched over them.But they all know , life jackets prevail unless we say so!!
Mercy and cousin Timmy
Cute cousins back at our house after the refreshing swim :)!!
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