Myrick's First Haircut

While in SC, we decided with Dad's okay, that it was time for her first haircut. In truth, Myrick's do was a mullet, just the way it grew in. But it was a beautiful, blond mullet with baby curls at the ends. My biggest fear was that by cutting it, the curls would be gone permanently. It was a good cut done by pros who cut only small people's hair, and Myrick did great. While it is still adorable, I miss the curls. I almost cried, but walking out with a baggie of her hair was a small consolation. It's hard to let go and watch my baby girl become my little girl.

Cousin Camp: Day 5

Pretty mellow day recovering from the biggie the day before. The boys went off to the mall to run around and stay cool while we girls (plus Pender) headed off for our own errands, one of them being Myrick's very first haircut (more on that in a separate post).

This was our last day of camp, and I think we were all pretty well pooped (see pitiful kids in photo at left). Chris and the boys drove home the next day, and the kids and I left the day after that. As they pulled out of the driveway Myrick was yelling, "Come back Maddox and Nixon, come back!" Oh, my heart.

I'm sure we left behind plenty of chores for Akie and Poppy to do to restore order to their home. We're already talking about next year. Sounds like we might have a "destination" camp at the beach.

Thanks, Akie and Poppy, for an awesome Cousin Camp! You helped the kids begin building a bank of summer memories this year.

Cousin Camp: Day 4

This was, I think, my favorite activity of Cousin Camp. When Chris and I still lived in Greenville, we made frequent trips to our downtown library. It was a three story building with this fantastic, huge rotating globe in the center of it. And although the cool globe is no longer there and the building no longer houses the library (a new one has been built), the space has been turned into the Children's Museum... and it was the best ever! I cannot say enough about this place! The kids had a fantastic time and were just pooped by the end of our two hours there. There were three full floors of hands-on exhibits and there was no way we could've gotten to everything. Which means... we'll have to go back again, and again, and again in visits to come. And while there was so much to see and do, my favorite moment of the trip was completely unexpected. One of the memorable parts of that building when it was still just our library years ago, was that around the globe in the center of the library was basically one long curved bench that wrapped around the entire room for sitting on and reading. Chris and I both have good memories of standing on them and walking the circumference of the room. At one point in our visit to the museum, I look up to see Chris holding the hand of one of his boys while he walks the circumference along what used to be the benches we walked on. Chris and I looked at each other with big smiles - what a great moment!

After much needed naps, the Carters came over with their granddaughters, Alley and Suzie for a little evening playdate in the splash pool. It was just so hot during the day that playtime after the sun was beginning to set was the best time for running around the yard.

Great day - tired and happy kids!

Cousin Camp: Day 3

Day 3 was jam-packed with lots of photos, hence the need for the slideshow. Our morning was spent playing in the driveway with sidewalk chalk and strolling Pender. Sandbox time and picking flowers in Akie's garden with her rounded out the afternoon. You might notice in the photos that although Pender had a slow start here at Cousin Camp, he's really starting to get involved in playtime and is even enjoying the garden!

After nap, Kayley and Gail came over and off we headed to downtown G'ville. Chris and I kept saying how much our town has changed - none of this was around when we lived there. I guess it has been 18 years since I lived there, but it seems hard to believe that much time has passed. There has been a lot of development along the Reedy River, and this is where we spent an hour before dinner - at the splash pad letting the kids cool off and run around. They had a fantastic time, and it impressed me that Greenville isn't just catering to young adults with a great restaurant/bar/music scene, but also to young families with so much to do in the area (more on that later). A lot of the photos came from snapping the kids as they splashed in the shooting water! We had dinner at Barley's Taproom, a great pizza joint right around the corner. Pen was a trooper through it all - what a long and eventful day!

Cousin Camp: Day 2

Short on photos for day 2 due to the professional photos done in the morning. The boys still don't like having their picture taken, but we managed to get one with all of us in it. None of the adults were dressed or ready for the occasion so I think it turned out pretty well! The other picture is of Akie singing "All Around the Mulberry Bush" and dancing with the kiddos. Long day - glad we all made it through no matter how ungracefully!

Third Annual Cousin Camp, 2010: Day 1

For those who don't know the back story, Cousin Camp was officially begun in 2007, the year my parents became grandparents of 3 all in the same year! Myrick was born in March in New Hampshire, and Maddox and Nixon followed six months later in October in Florida. Since it seems unlikely that we'll ever live in the same state (although we are getting closer!) we needed to have a time during the year that could be dedicated to the new cousins, thus the birth of Cousin Camp. This is the 3rd year that we've gathered them together and now with the addition of Pender! It also seems like this is the first year that we can actually "do" stuff. Akie is the director of Cousin Camp and the creator of the menu and the schedule, and boy, has she packed it in this year! Day one was held around the house creating our tee-shirts and washing the car - a nice mellow start.

All done - time to play!

Poppy the supervisor

Maddox detailing the front bumper

Nixon helps out

Washing Akie's car

Pender taking it all in

Cooling off in the SC heat

Maddox playing in the tent/tunnel in the living room

Handprints in puffy paint!

Making our camp tee-shirts

SC Visit 2010

Putting those swim lessons to use!

Helping Akie water her lawn

Playing with my feet

Bro and Sis

Old friends :)

Joanne, Zachary, and John come for a play-date

Beky and Gabby visit us!

Kaylie and Myrick in the splash pool