Cousin Party 2010

OK, I must preface this posting by saying that I am 2 weeks late in reporting. I've gotten seriously behind in my blogging and am playing catch up.

Every year we, the Smith family clan, convene at the Clan Chieftain's Castle (aka Grandma and Pappou's house) for an all out cousin party. Parties in the past have consisted of parents dropping off their kids and running as fast as they can for the hills.... Technically, we've taken shelter in Uncle Brandon's family owned lake house, near Milledgeville, GA. For two years running, all cousins 3 years old and younger went with the parents to the lake house while the rest stayed at grandma and pappou's house and ran amuck. Past cousin parties have included candy necklaces, personalized with each cousin's name and worn to signify full rights and privileges to the candy drawer in between meals. This candy drawer contained a bag of each grandchild's favorite candy and was open for perusal as long as meals were eaten. We parents observed in wonder as the grandparents set rules and managed 6 grandchildren 8 years old and under. To say things got wild and crazy would be putting it mildly, at best. Each cousin party would conclude with relaxed and refreshed parents, candy crazed children and grandparents who very well might have fallen dead from exhaustion.

This year, with 7 eligible grandchildren ages 9 and under, the Smith Clan decided to alter cousin party parameters, including all grandchildren (9 total) and including the involvement of the parents. The candy drawer practice was abolished (whew!) and activities ranged from horseback riding to movie watching in the basement to swimming at the neighborhood pool.

I couldn't resist putting this one in of my nephew Max. He was trying so hard to be dramatic and pitch a fit, when in reality, all he succeeded in doing was looking cute!

                                         

I'm going to be selfish here and not post pictures of each cousin.... sorry everyone! Needless to say, horseback riding was a complete success on all accounts. Even the littlest of cousins got a turn on the horse (OK, so one more picture of horses after all!)

Other wild and crazy activities included such things as Dinner Time, which sounds simple enough, but when you have 9 cousins all 9 years old or younger, believe you me it is both WILD and CRAZY.

After two crazy and harried days of fixing breakfast, lunch and dinner for this bunch of hooligans, we decided to serve cafeteria style, rather than attempting to have a family style meal. We set up an assembly line on the counter, filling 9 plates (custom ordered, of course) and calling the children one by one to the counter to "order" their food. Whew, it was exhausting!

I think pool time was both my favorite and least favorite activity. I love swimming, love sunning and love being at the pool. However, trying to keep eyes on 9 kids at one time was more challenging than one might think! Here are some fun shots from pool time:

The kids all LOVED this daredevil slide that is new to the neighborhood pool. I gave it a whirl too and it is pretty fun.

Pappou was man of the hour at the pool. The kids LOVED all the attention from their pappou. 

Another favorite activity was the birthday party. Grandma hosted a birthday party to celebrate the birthdays of all the children because we are not together for birthdays. She let all 9 kids participate in making the cake from scratch and even helped each child write his/her name in frosting on the cake.

Kudos to Grandma for the patience of Job while managing this activity!

My lens was dirty, so the picture came out fuzzy - sorry! Grandma and Pappou gave each child 'birthday' $$$ to spend at Wal-Mart and we spent the better part of an hour allowing the kids to spend their cash. You'd be amazed at just how careful and choosy a kid is when they are spending their own money!

It was an amazing week. Although crazy and stressful, it was also wonderful. We loved having Grandma & Pappou, Ernie & Rebecca & co., Little Steve, Libby & Brandon & co. and me and my kids all under one roof. It was great to wake up each morning to smiling faces, breakfast pandemonium, Grandma and Pappou hosted fruit parties on Pappou's bed, trips to the park, swimming, grabbing Zaxby's for 10 people, hot afternoons where Uncle Ernie made Harry Potter wands for all 9 cousins out of tree branches using his pocket knife... we can't forget the many twice a day Sonic runs for Aunt Kitty (Large Diet coke, easy vanilla please), kids in swimsuits playing in the sprinkler, Braswell and his fluffles - OK, he calls it his Baebeeeee.

We got to see old friends...

And watch the talented Uncle Ernie entertain kids:

We were thankful that Grandma and Pappou opened their house so that we could make memories and share love. 

Next year Cousin Party 2011 will be a little different. With grandchild #10 (Go Libby, Go!) on the way, one house just isn't big enough to hold all the love and excitement and wonder of 10 grandkids, two grandparents and 8 parents. So, it is with a heavy heart that we bid Cousin Party 2010 farewell and adieu. Hugs, kisses and Sonic Drinks to all those we love in the Smith Clan. See you next year!