Friday, June 28, 2013

Cousin Camp Day 5: Float My Boat

Shew. Day 5 of Cousin Camp is almost at an end. I won't pretend that I am not bone tired.

But. As you will see in just a minute, Cousin Camp ended with a bang. I am just one causality. My Mom and Dad have been limping about the house tonight.

I am also finishing up a review (or two) and working on finishing a really cool yearbook project (review coming in a few weeks). So tonight (while I wait for a few pics to download for the yearbook), I am going to share one last Cousin Camp update. I might post a few odds and ends. But, this girl is due a week long nap.

I also must warning you (once again) that I am including a ridiculous number of pictures. These children's parents have been reading my updates...I want to be sure to make sure I'm not voted off the Best Big Sister in the Whole World Island.

Just after breakfast Papa took the gang out to Treasure Hunt (once again) in the pasture. I think they found some cool stuff. Though I can't remember what that cool stuff was exactly.


I do need to admit something about the little one's hat. I got it at the Thrift Store for .97. Only problem is that is personalized. It says "Brandon." I started to remove all the stitching, but got sidetracked. Oopsie.


While the Treasure Hunters Hunted, I piddled about the house. Nothing like good ole piddling. I also enjoyed this. An iced coffee. I can tell you I deserved every last drop.


After a morning of Treasurer Hunting, the Cousins gathered in to make a batch of Ama's famous Pulled Peanut Brittle. We used to make this when I was a kid. The deal is that this Peanut Brittle is a little painful to make. After it cooks, you must pull the hot candy and cut it with buttered scissors. We were only allowed to help pull it when we were 8 or 9...and promised we wouldn't cry. Nothing like a little bit of snot in the peanut brittle. But it's well worth the pain.

The Cousins have been begging for several years now to actually get make it themselves. 


This is line to stir the pot. All manner of craziness is going on in that line.


The Pot. The End of the Rainbow. The Final Destination.


We also had to butter our fingertips. Payge wasn't allowed to pull the peanut brittle (she is most certainly too young to be burnt willingly by hot, molten candy). She did get to butter her fingertips. Which was so much fun. If you don't believe me, try it.


Ama demonstrates the technique.


And so it begins!


These kids were troopers. Not a bawler in the bunch!


I did have to lay down the camera to help mom finish pulling the last little bits. There was a lot of "eating on the job."

  

Look at that tongue!


The finished product. 

That's some good stuff!

Cousin Approved. 

After we gorged ourselves on peanut brittle, Ama got out her old doll collection. Some of these she has had for years. The girls got to come in (one at a time) and pick out dolls to take home.







It was very sweet and precious. I also took a few dolls. One of these days I'll get a picture of my babies.

After a lunch of PB&J, applesauce, and some very yummy cupcakes my Aunt Phyllis brought over, the Cousins gathered outside for the Great Boat Races across the Big Pond.

They really just paddled across the shallower end of the pond. And everybody had a life jacket. I'm telling you. These kids could have done this everyday, all day.

Though I must confess something. We are just a little bit Redneck. And Cheap. The paddles were actually little plastic ping pong paddles. If you can paddle a raft on the Big Pond with Ping Pong Paddles from the Dollar Store....Let's just say that these kids are going places. 

Chris went first in his boat.  Dude had to have a few practice runs before we allowed him to carry passengers.


Kalynn had a bit more successful first run.


Ama sat on one side of the pond and Papa stood in the water on the other. I sat on a chair and laughed. That's just I way I roll.


Josiah is a seasoned Water Guy. Though he's a bit more comfy in the water than on it.


Cade  paddled that boat like a champ.


Alex in her boat. She was a pretty good little boater.


Maddy Paige. She's a hoot. 


Payge went for a pleasure cruise with Kalynn. At one point she yelled, "I need something to drink." She then insisted on taking a few turns around the pond. She's four. And we just all kind of do what she wants.


 Brynn and Kalynn. Brynn was just a bit to short to paddle her own boat, but she is just so stinking cute!


At one point it was all too much for Josiah. He swam his way across the pond. Keeping his head up the whole way. I wouldn't want to put my face in that water.  Don't worry. He had permission.


Payge did a little bit of sunning.


Ama got in the boat.  She grew up on Lake Taneycomo in Branson. She just couldn't help herself.


And all the Cousins got in the water. And proceeded to have a wonderful time. It almost looked like a good old fashioned Baptism service.


We are considering building a dock. Just for Ama. She had a little bit of trouble getting out of her boat.


Notice our fancy dancy paddles? I guess the good thing is that at least you can color coordinate them.


That's all for now, friends. Night!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Cousin Camp Day 4: It's Hot Out Here!

Hello from Cousin Camp. It's Day 4. Well. At least, it has been Day 4. All day, in fact.

The Cousins have piled on the living room floor on a variety of cushions. The Jammies are on and a movie has been put in the DVD player. And as soon as I've finished with this post I am going to bed. I'm honestly so tired I don't really care who is still up. I'm just hoping everybody eventually falls asleep.

It's been a long, hot day. We had a heat advisory today and had to miss some of our outside adventures. Ama (my mom) did take most of our annual Cousin Camp pictures. I'll share a few of those in just a minute.

Today in Cooking School we made cornbread. We knew Company was coming (my aunt, uncle and my very own cousin) for supper. I had Cowboy Beans on the menu. And what goes better with Cowboy Beans than cornbread!

I'm not sure what Maddy was discussing with Kalynn. It couldn't have been the cornbread!


To cook cornbread properly, a man must wear an awesome cowboy hat.


I divided the Cousins up into 2 groups. Each group made a pan of cornbread and each Cousin got to take turns adding ingredients. 


This group looks a little guilty. I'm not sure what might have gone into their pan of cornbread.


Now here is an expert Baking Soda Measurer.


I guess my Cornbread Making Class is a riot. At least I hope I said something funny and she wasn't laughing at my morning attire.


During this particular part of the class I instructed the Cousin to add bacon grease (in lieu of oil). Bacon makes everything better. I don't think they trusted my culinary choices.


But what do you do? I'm bigger and older. And I had access to a rolling pin or two. The bacon grease went in.


And nobody suffered in the process.




We did have an awesome stirring contest.


We left the Kitchen Aid on the counter. What did us old folks ever do without one?


It was a lazy afternoon. A movie. A ferocious Just Dance Battle or two. I played Beauty Shop with a few of the girls.

My Uncle Paul, Aunt Phyllis and my Cousin Crystal came for supper. The kiddos played some tether ball after we ate. And proceeded to take turns smacking each other in the face with the ball.


We gave Crystal a tour of the Farm. Isn't she cute? The Cousins thought so, too. She went home with plunder. A few of the girls shared some of their precious findings from our panning for gold activity we had yesterday.

Crystal was introduced properly to the Chikins. And to the BBD (Big Black Dog) Solomon. I'm thinking Crystal and I need to plan our own Cousin Camp. I'm pretty sure pedicures and chocolate would be involved.


I want to share some pictures with you that my mom took. She has been taking her grandkids' pictures since they were babies. I haven't been to an actual photo studio in years and years. You will see why in a minute.  She was worried about me sharing them right away. She has barely had time to go through any of them. I just wanted to share a few. I had a hard time choosing. But then again, I am so tired right now I am having a hard time deciding whether or not I need to get up to turn off the light before I go to sleep. Decisions, Decisions!

Madalyn - Age 9




Alexandra - Age 10



Brynn - Age 8



Payge - Age 4



Kalynn  - Age 16



Josiah - Age 11



Cade - Age 11



Chris - Age 16




The Whole Silly Bunch


The Twins


What a group! 

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