Fun with second cousins

My aunt Helen hosted a big bash in her backyard last weekend. It was MY chance to have "Fun with cousins." And my kids got to have fun with their second cousins.

I do have a big group picture with everyone in it. But I promised Uncle Grant he wasn't in any of the pictures I was taking. Oops--because he definitely was in the big group picture with everyone in it. Fortunately, I also took this picture, which includes about two-thirds of the crowd. And, thanks to the fortuitous placement of Aunt Marie's head, I can post it without incurring a growl from Uncle Grant.

We had a great time being together. Mary enjoyed hanging out with her little second cousins, like adorable Elinor here. (There was quite the crowd of little girls to meet.)

Helen decided to do a little clutter control in her house, and instead of dropping off a load at the good old D.I., she wrapped the items in gift bags, and we each got to take home a special surprise gag prize. ("You get what you get so don't throw a fit" would have been a good motto for the game. But I will say there were plenty of laughing fits.)

Mary was pleased with the contents of her choice of bags:

David shamelessly went for the biggest bag, which, to his joy, contained this giant bear, who was promptly named "Snuggly" and rides around in the car with us, except at nighttime when he's smothering David in his bed. (A huge thanks to the guy who asked my cousin to the prom with that bear--I think of him every time I'm reaching around that stupid ginormous bear searching for seat belts in the car.)

I have to note that, at some point, David attached himself to Luke (to the left of David), my cousin Andrea's oldest. Luke was so kind and patient. David should have been born with older siblings, and Luke should get a BIG GOLD STAR for filling the void that evening.

After eating and discovering the various treasures in the gift bags (I got an LDS joke book from the 60's which is shocking for its lameness and remarkable for its cruelty), there was time to chat.

But with the K Family, it was inevitable that soon enough everyone would tumble down to the lower part of the yard...

...for some soccer!

I have to pause and point out that I have so many cousins with so many talents. I am related to really amazing people! (Hmmm...I certainly didn't get the athletic, charismatic, musical, skinny, artistic genes that circulate in other branches of my family! I guess I got the take-lots-of-mediocre-pictures-at-family-events-and-put-them-on-the-Internet gene.)

Can you spot Mary in the picture below?

Yes, there she is with legs crossed, plopped down smack dab in the middle of the field. Apparently, she thought she ought to have the ball the whole time--and that was her way of protesting.

Fortunately, this group is pretty adept at soccer, and could easily maneuver around the little protester.

Eventually, Mary abandoned the soccer game, and decided to follow these two kids around.

You might recognize that adorable little boy from our trip to Lubbock. My kids are big Ryan fans!

It nearly broke David's heart to leave the fun. And I was sad too. It was a fun time. (But, once again, we had to take Daddy to the airport.)