Cousin Friends

I feel fortunate to have grown up with cousins who were not just random relatives we saw for two hours once a year at Thanksgiving, but people we got to know and love on a much deeper level.  My brother and I had (and still have!) sibling-type relationships with our cousins - who are not just family but also close friends - and we both feel so lucky to have that.  And probably because we did have that, we also both want that for our kids. Unfortunately, living 7 hours away, we do not exactly have tons of opportunities to get the kids together. We definitely try to make the time though, and when we do get our kids together it is a complete love-fest. 

Elise and Lucas adore their cousin Eamon (and Lucas said the other day "Eamon is not my cousin - he's my friend!" which I thought might be the most adorable thing ever). Luke loves playing with Eamon - who also loves super heroes - and Elise loves mothering Eamon like he is her own child (side note: she does not really treat her brother this way but that is probably because Eamon is super sweet about it and Luke typically responds to her nurturing by hitting her).  Because Eamon and Luke are so close in age (just 3 months apart), it has been fun to watch their relationship progress - and watching them play and have conversations these days is always hilarious and entertaining.

We were fortunate in March to have the opportunity to get the kids together twice (in one month!) which was really awesome.  First, we got the families together in Ocean City for a fun weekend (with great weather) where the kids had a chance to play and have a blast together for two days.  Then they got together just a few weeks later for Easter, where they not only got to hang out with Eamon, but they also got to see many of their second cousins (some of my cousins kids) and the whole gang always has so much fun together.

Elise and Lucas are also lucky to also have cousins who live closer to us who they also got to see a lot of in the past month.  We got to see both Abby and Nate at Gram's birthday party, Grandpa's retirement party and then again for Easter.  So much quality cousin time! 

Lucas completely idolizes his older cousin Nate (who is 18) and follows him around like a puppy and calls him "My Nathan" (when he is not calling him Maurice Sendak - which is an inside joke from last summer that Luke still hasn't stopped thinking is hilarious) and Elise jumps up and down at the mention of Nate's name - he's like a rockstar in our house! 

Since we moved last summer we have also been getting to hang out with Abby a lot more, who now lives pretty close to us, which absolutely thrills both kids.  The three of them have a great time together (when the girls decide to include Luke that is) and there is not a weekend that passes that both kids are not begging for Abby to come over for a play date or to spend the night.  Abby had a "bring a friend" to tae kwon do class last week, and Abby adorably chose Elise as her friend.  Watching Abby teaching Elise various martial arts moves, and Elise hanging on her every word and instruction was too sweet for words.

I hope that our children continue to be as close to all of their cousins as they grow older, the way that my brother and I are close to our cousins.  From the look of things now, I definitely think they are on track to be friends forever.