Cousin Fun - Spring Break

We had so much fun with my brother and his family.  The kids loved having 6 more choices in playmates and Gary and I loved rocking out with the parents when the kids went to bed.  We may have developed a slight Rock Band problem.  Hey, we can quit at any time... just not now.   

We discovered that Bodie has a previously untapped talent for the drums.  He mused aloud about putting that whole pesky IT career behind him and going on the road.  The mother of his six kids wasn't terribly amused.  Stick to Rock Band, Bod.  

The kids played inside and outside and then we did some field trips.  We went to Kangaroo Jac's for some bouncing fun that didn't involve couches or beds.   

               

Grace races Ben  Melanie & Dan - Eli goes AWAL      Aaaahhhhh....

   The real picture!

We hit the beach to gaze at the ocean.  The temperature was in the 50's after all.  That didn't stop the kids who charged full speed into the surf up to their chests!  The water was frigid! 

        

Fearless Kids Josh and Melanie Danny shows us where he's going

        

If pirates could babysit??   Bodie did cool kit tricks  Brave Ben

              

Grace & Eli warming up??       Ruthie freezes          Ben & Sam - did I mention it was COLD?!!

There's nothing like denim when it is soaked through and freezing cold.  Everybody had to strip down to their undies for the ride home... except for some (who shall remain nameless) who hadn't worn any in the first place!!!  

 

We did D.C.  for the day.  A late start, a change of plans, a questionable map, and traffic all conspired against us to give us a "scenic" driving tour of D.C.  We arrived  late, hungry and lost. Did I mention it was cold and raining?   This will be one of those experiences that sounds better when you laugh about it later "Remember when we ran from exhibit to exhibit in the Smithsonian museums before they closed?  Good times!"  We did one day while their family (some would say: gluttons for punishment) when back again the next day.  

  

Cool!       Hiking to Lincoln Memorial   Natural History     Minsters at the Capital

I'm sure it's some sort of cosmic parental karma that ensures that you'll drive 3 hours in the rain while dolling out fractions of the lone granola bar to hungry kids and breaking up fist fights only to run into the Air and Space museum, have a 10 year old boy finally gaze upward at the huge, cool exhibits and exclaim "This is stupid!  I want to go home!"   Insert my parents laughing here... 

   

Time to go  Grace asked for a piggy back ride and this is what she got!

   All in all we had a blast and we're so glad they came.  It turns out that playing Rock Band until 2 am and then getting up with kids in the morning isn't conducive to good health after the age of 25 or so.  I totally lost my voice!   As for Bodie & Melanie,  they say they had a good time, but we'll see how they feel after the 18 hour drive to get back home.  

Wish we didn't live so far away!