It’s a Wrap – Cousin Camp 2025

Well, it’s a wrap. Cousin camp 2025 is in the books. I have 12 grandchildren and I had three that were able to come this year. Some of them are growing up and have jobs and are having to be adults now. That’s so sad for grandma . Some are involved in all kinds of activities and have jobs too for the summer.

I am so thankful for the three that were able to come. We were able to meet up with one other grandson for an evening meal as he was home from college for a couple of weeks. Grandpa and Grandma are very blessed to be able to spend this time with these precious kids as we see our grandchildren are growing up.

” Some family trees bear an enormous crop of nuts!” -Wayne Huizenga

We had a great time and Grandpa helped them in the woodshop to make some beautiful bookends and Grandma kept them busy with all kinds of crafts. We painted with our toes (this was a special request from a couple of years ago) and got some masterpieces! They did a turtle, penguin and a star fish. They did better with their toes than this Grammy can do with her fingers! We did some beading pictures with beads and double stick tape. This was an idea from my niece and was a real hit! This group is a talented bunch. I was amazed at their creativity as they came up with some really neat projects.

Time with a few additional cousins.

We played some games, went swimming at the pool and enjoyed the waterslides at the pool here in Quinter. We also went to a trampoline park in Salina and we played putt putt golf in Hays so all in all, it was a successful time. I think the kids and grandpa and grandma were tired at the end of the time together, but it was a blessing to be able to have these cousins here.

We shared some great devotions in the morning and some prayer times. Nothing no nothing could make us richer than be able to spend this time with these kids and our Lord. We’re going to keep declaring Isaiah 59:21. “The Lord says that my spirit is upon you and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants or from the mouth of your descendants, descendants Says the Lord forevermore.”

“Family. A snug kind of word.” Fannie Hurst

What a precious friend we have in Jesus. And what a precious time with this group. Just this last weekend we were blessed to spend time with six of our grandkids. We ate lunch for Grandparents Day at Addie’s school. She is the only grandchild we have still in elementary school. We got to watch her brother’s run in Cross Country. Luke took first in the fifth grade boys’ race. Judah and Jake ran very well in their races also. Then we drove to Kansas State University to have lunch with two grandsons majoring in Computer Science. It was a delightful lunch just hearing them talk about their classes and their time there on campus.

Have Crafts Will Travel

“The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well, and doing well whatever you do without thought of fame.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Grammie did you bring any crafts?” This is what I used to hear each time I visited a grandchild. I love to treat my grandchildren to a new craft or an idea to create something. We are all created in the image of God and since He is the creator we also are creative. I didn’t use to think that I was creative but I do have some creative genes in my system.

When my own children were young we were involved in 4-H and I do not know how this came about but I became the craft leader for the Saline Valley 4H club. I think it was because I couldn’t really fill any of the other leadership positions. As a young mother, I had tried my hand at a few things. I quilted a pillow top, made some ceramics, made some macramé flower pot hangers, and a few other things. Now that I was in leadership though I had to up my skills to lead a whole 4H group to success for the County Fair.

This experience led me to be the Grammie that always had crafts in her sack. I didn’t dare show up without an idea and a project. I also would have cousin camp every summer where the grands would make some great projects including tie dye, wood projects with grandpa and science experiments.

Now my grandchildren are in high school or college and Grammie’s stash of crafts are sitting idle. I have found a new avenue for my hidden talent (it’s really hidden!) and that is now I am teaching Kid Zone at church and I have a whole new group of children excited about my crafts. I think I will adopt some of them as grandchildren. Yes, I think that is my new plan.

“Crafting is the art of turning ordinary objects into extraordinary things.” Unknown

HAVE CRAFTS, WILL TRAVEL!

Cousin Camp 2023

In June the Farmer and I hosted my grandparents’ family here at the homestead on the prairie. All but four of my cousins were able to attend. It was just a special time of remembering stories about our grandparents and our parents. One of my grandsons and his dad made the trip to spend part of the day with us. As my grandson listened to all our crazy stories, I told him, “Do you see why I have Cousin Camp at my house for you and your cousins? I had such a great time with my cousins that I want you to know and enjoy your cousins!” I think he understood. We even reenacted an old picture that I found of my cousins and I on the lawn tractor pulling a wagon load of cousins. We spent hours doing that!

“Cousins are different beautiful flowers in the same garden.”

-Anonymous

The first of August this grandma traveled to Olathe to gather the four cousins that could come to cousin camp. We were short eight cousins this summer and we acutely felt their absence. Four had to adult with jobs and internships, three were on a family vacation in Mexico, and one was involved in Cross Country practice already. Grandma still can’t believe that three chose the family vacation in Mexico over some great fun on the prairie!

On our way home from Olathe, we stopped at a Russell Stover shop and indulged in some chocolate! Nothing starts off cousin camp better than chocolate. The two youngest ones got caramel apples which they really enjoyed at the next stop, the zoo. The afternoon was warm, but all agreed it was a fun time. We got wet wherever we could find water. It was nice and cool in one area, but the two girls could not take the smell! They desired the heat over the stench! PU! The boys were undeterred by the smell.

“Cousins are people that are ready-made friends, you have laughs with them and remember good times from a young age, you have fights with them, but you always know you love each other, they are a better thing than brothers and sisters and friends ‘cause they are all pieced together as one.”

-Courtney Cox

Highs, lows, and buffaloes is one thing our daughter’s family does every evening at the dinner table. This makes for some great sharing and discussion of each family members’ day. It was such a great idea that the Farmer and I incorporated it into our evening meal. Each member of the family shares their “high” of the day. This is something that was the best part of their day. Then they go around the table again and share their low of the day, and then their funny, silly, or weird thing of the day (this is called a buffalo). Grandma was delighted to hear what the kids enjoyed every day about cousin camp.

Our youngest grandchild thrilled us when she wanted to pray at each meal after grandpa prayed. She threw her arm up in the air and sing songed, “Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you for our food and all the things you do. Thank you, God!” I know the Lord was so pleased with her enthusiasm!

We always try to make a trip to the local soda fountain in town for some extreme ice cream treats. This year a gentleman from Ohio was there and he paid for our ice cream. I don’t know his name but would like to send thanks. We also went swimming at our local pool and tried out all the slides. It was decided that the purple slide can be pretty painful so should be avoided but the green and blue one are so much fun.

“God made us cousins because he knew our mothers could not handle us as siblings.”

-Anonymous

The farmer had a woodworking project for the cousins. They made a wooden tablet/phone stand. They had fun staining, sanding, and finishing this project. They used the router to make some nice edges. Grandma had them tie dye pillowcases and hair scrunchies. We also did other crafts. A scavenger hunt around the farm is always a must and using the lawn tractor to pull a wagon load of cousins is, well its tradition!!

That’s a wrap! Cousin Camp 2023 is in the books and the pictures and hopefully in the memories!