Sunday, June 14, 2009

VBS and Cousins


The boys and I had a busy, fun filled week of Vacation Bible School this week. I volunteered to help out and was assigned the 5th graders. I have to admit I was a little scared at first since I really do not know much about the age group and some of the kids are bigger than me! However, my friends at church kept assuring me that it would be a better fit for me than working with the little ones since I am so ginormous! I have to agree they were right... it was a fun week and I enjoyed working with the "big kids." The boys had a great time too and learned a lot and made a lot of cute crafts. They got to play in bounce houses, have lots of great snacks, N got to see April and the story barn, and they learned a lot of Bible stories and songs.



We decided to cap off the weekend with a trip to Orange to see Clay and the family. J had a business trip, so I thought it might be a good opportunity to drive down there and visit with our cousins since I probably will not be able to make the drive again for a few months.
We had a great time. The night we got there, Daniel was in a championship baseball game. The boys had fun watching our big cousin play ball and even pitch. They were a little tired and cranky at first after such a busy week and long drive, but eventually settled in. The game went into overtime and was pretty exciting!
We spent the rest of the weekend swimming and spending time with our family. We love being with Clay and his family and the kids are so good with my boys. It is so nice to have some family close by and it has been so special to me for my boys to get to know their cousins.


Clay's parents, my grandparents, both passed away by the time he was 11. My grandfather died before I was born and my grandmother (whom I am named after) passed before my first birthday. Clay lived with my family or my Aunt Judy's family until he went off to college and therefore is really more like a big brother to me. He is only 11 years older than me which makes us closer in age than he is to my mother who is 16 years older than him.
I have a lot of fun memories growing up with Clay in the house. He used to take us out in his mustang (which was super cool!) He would let us stay up late to watch Braves baseball and I remember celebrating with him when Dale Murphy hit a grand slam! We wrestled all of the time and I have a very clear memory of Clay and I breaking my bed and blaming it on Jamie :-)! Beth took me to her college one weekend and I had a great time. I remember the college girls all putting makeup on us and fixing my very curly hair into the perfect 80's "big hairdo." I was a junior bridesmaid in their wedding which was like a princess dream at the time... I was 10! I also remember Clay and his friend Tom trying to sleep in late and Jamie and I going in their room and singing the wake up song to them in our loudest voices. I thought this was hilarious until I was a teenager and Clay had some payback many years later.
I never would have dreamed that we would have children around the same age and that we would get the opportunity to spend so much time together. His wife, Beth, has been wonderful to me and I really look up to both of them like the older siblings I never had. His kids who are 13, 12, almost 10, and 4 are great kids and my boys love them too death. Thank you Beth and Clay for letting us come invade your home and taking such good care of us. We love you all!



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