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!