Summer Cousin Time

 Stormy weather and tornado warnings were a new experience for my older granddaughters who were visiting from California for ten days. The sirens were a bit unnerving.......but no worries and no damage; just rain and wind and then a rainbow! Mostly the weather cooperated and the girls and their cousins swam in our neighborhood pool morning, noon and night! Even swimming in the light, cool rain some afternoons was great fun.




This is the 8th year they have spent summer weeks with Grandma and Grandpa in Georgia. It was their first time flying alone and of course it was NBD....and it saved us all some money! I enjoyed this year's visit more than ever because.....there seemed absolutely no distinction between little kids and big kids! All my photos and videos just show the FAB FIVE enjoying playtime, summertime and kid time!
















My Flower did five underwater somersaults with one breath!  My Sunshine climbed our front yard tree.......which she's done every year since about age 4! My two grandsons rocked every tune with their enthusiastic dance moves and happy voices! They are just as tech savvy as their older cousins and my sweet 5 year old granddaughter, claiming they are really her big sisters; gave as good as she gets when it came to hair, make-up and fashion know-how! Notice her blond hair extension in the dancing photos!




As we prepared for our Hawaiian Hula and luau, all jumped in to explain how to use/find music on Pandora and how to spell Hawaiian.  The 8 year old got it right first....two i's together! We had a few things planned for the "all five sleepover night"......like baking cookies....(which really means eating the cookie dough) and all snuggling on the living room floor.

 

As the afternoon slid into dusk....Grandma remembered some old glow bracelets in a drawer......would they still work? In the backyard to try them out.....the first lightening bug appeared. Mad dashing for the nets and bug cage and they were off. I was left fumbling with how to take night photos. My yard looks so beautiful after dark with the garden lights.....wonder why I never get outside after dark unless there are children around?

The younger kids were delighted to hang with their cousins; the older girls relishing these carefree days where "no one knows them" and no pressure to be "cool" middle or high school kids! I love that the girls wanted to do the things they've always done here at G & G's house: sandbox, tea party, blue Kool-Aid and "macaroni with Joanie!" (Grandpa does all the cooking in our house.....but the girls have loved saying this every time they eat it!) They love the tradition and the security of knowing they can just be kids again when they're here! That is exactly what I remember from summer visits to my Grandma's house! Playing tag and hide and seek in the dark..... in bare feet......and no one cared; no one said no!  (I did put bug spray on them....annoying mosquitos can spoil a good time!)

It was a blast for me...the highlight of my summer! I laughed so much, rolled around in the grass, tried flips in the pool, wished upon a star many nights, danced and sang and learned new chants......but mostly.....clapped and giggled at their joy over and over again! I took our teenager driving a few times, and we visited the Titanic Exhibit here in downtown Atlanta. I spent a couple hours roaming Target and the Dollar Store with my preteen; gathering pool toys and Grandpa Day cards. Oh.....and how lucky we were..... an impulsive check-the-clearance-rack at a nearby shoe store scored a cute pair of sandals for mon fluer!



Every year I try something new when playing/hanging with the kids; but darn it.... I bailed at the last minute at the trampoline park! I was gaining confidence observing 'older' folks jumping; but just as I reached for my wallet.....buses full of  campers and day care kids pulled in, parked and pushed through the door all at once. Good decision! I captured some great pictures while hurrying back and forth to calls of "watch ME, Grandma!"  Here's my oldest grandson doing a flip!



The girls are back home now and enjoying their friends and beach community. But there are still three adorable kiddos here who keep me on my toes; amazing and amusing me with their words and actions. I loved having the cousins together.....giving them my full time and attention for ten days. I played hard and kept things going/changing up and pulling out new things to keep them busy and excited. I'm still feeling worn out....but savoring......like laughter....is great medicine.  As I share these words and pictures with you and compile another Gramps and Gramcracker Book for Summer 2013, I can feel the tiredness slipping away and smiles and contentment filling my face and heart.

Posting on the following Linky Parties/Blog Hops:  Sat it Saturday, The Grand Social and Let's Get Social Sunday .