Thursday, August 1, 2013

cousin camp 2013

chris' parents live in syracuse, new york.  his sister (aka bff) and her family live in rome, georgia.  every summer my sister-in-law's family retreats to syracuse for an extended summer vacation.  we join them as often as possible.  we missed a syracuse trip last year, which made this year's trip extra special.  
here are the hits:
1) my in-laws' back yard is fenced in naturally by the "forest".  The forest provides unlimited entertainment to the kids who are endlessly trying to solve a mystery, play house, protect their fort, and kill "bears".
 2) the most focused blueberry-picker honor goes to caroline.
 the most creative blueberry-picker is our nephew jack who decided to pick berries with his foot.
 the worst blueberry-picker award goes to my hot mess.  the picture explains why.
 3) the best pout award goes to crosby.
 4) the award for the family having the most fun in greatest need of a snack goes to the dallas bonners.
 5) best pirate impersonation goes to jack-a-rooski (as ben affectionately named him).
 6) the best sport award is a tie.  papa wins for his loving patience in build-a-bear.  and nana wins for having to sit in the back-back.  poor nana.

 7) the most beautiful scenery award is also a tie.  green lakes state park looks like a scene straight out of dirty dancing (or more like the sequel where baby and johnny have married, had a few kids and gained some weight.  life happens, you know?)
tied with chittenango falls.  gorgeous.
 8) the big-daddy-dinner award goes to chris for not f-ing around and ordering the lobster.
 9) most independent goes to crosby for insisting that he hike the falls unassisted.
 10) the best aunt award goes to karin, no doubt.  she is the best book-reader, snack-maker, kiss- smuggler ever.
 11) most creative obvious name for a build-a-bear goes to ben's "cammo bat-bear".
 12) the "hot-mess" award goes to none other than, crosby bonner.  why does he keep winning?
 13) the best uncle award is also a tie.  chad and chris wrangled these children in the rain, creating a memeory they will never forget.
 14) the best levitating toddler award goes to crosby at the zoo.
 15) the best sense-of-humor award goes to nana for providing these glasses for everyone.

 16) the best tradition is easily celebrating all of the kids' birthdays at once.  since nana and papa live far away, when we are all together they buy cupcakes for the kids and sing to them one by one so each child can blow out their candles.  so sweet.
 17) the most expressive award goes to sweet caroline.  i wish i could bottle her up and keep her with me.
 18) best neighborhood take-over goes to our crew.  if there was a turf-war, we would win.
 19) best attempt at photographing the cousins goes to me.  i try, i try.



i hope you have been able to slip away somewhere this summer.  and if you did, i hope you were surrounded by family or love or laughter or all of the above.  it sure does make for a great vacation.

love,
coco



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