Cousins!

Last week my brother Jared graduated from his chiropractic program!  Hooray!  In a few months when all his boards are complete, he will officially be a Doctor (!) of Chiropractic.  It has been a busy time for their family as Jared finished school, and job searched, and Sarah sold or packed everything they owned, while being mom to two busy little people.  The day after graduation, they loaded a moving pod with all of their belongings, got in their car, and left Iowa.  Before reaching their final destination of Salt Lake City, Jared, Sarah, Camryn, and Judd stayed with us for a few days.  

We have not had many opportunities to see the Iowa cousins, so this was a much anticipated visit.  Camryn is six months old than Ezra, and Maren is six months older than Judd, so the four cousins are great playmates.  Ezra was so content and pleased to have the cousins at our house.  We have a fourth bedroom and bathroom in our basement that, though small, is a nice spot for visitors.   I think Ezra would have gladly invited Camryn to stay forever; he was tickled every morning when he got to eat breakfast with Camryn. 

One of our bigger outings was a visit to a nearby farm with animals (goats, rabbits, sheep, cows, miniature horses, chickens, kittens, and a donkey), old fashioned tractors, a straw bale maze, and a pumpkin patch.  Ezra loved the little red wagons that were available for pulling pumpkins and/or children.  He gladly volunteered to pull Camryn all around the farm.  The straw bale maze was perfect for little kids.  The bales were stacked two high, and encompassed an area about 25' by 25'.  It was large enough to be fascinating, but small enough not to be overwhelming.  I don't think the cousins ever figured out the way out, but they did have a fun time circling back and through the center portion about four times.  The adults could easily monitor their children's progress from two small towers.  At the end of our visit, we had snacks under a shade tent, and the kids were all highly entertained by a wandering farm dog/part-pig who ate anything and everything it found on the ground (like half an onion bagel).   

     

Ezra and a machine: perfect photo opportunity!

Uncle Jared pulling Camryn and Ezra in the wagon.  Maren rode in the stroller.

Sarah and snuggly Judd.

Maren in the straw bale maze.

Ezra, the willing driver, and Camryn, the ready rider.

Maren and mommy in the pumpkin patch.

Snack time. 

For family home evening, Ezra and Camryn painted a pumpkin, which was much more kid-friendly then the knives and scooping slimy innards required for a carved pumpkin.  On Tuesday, I taught preschool at my house, and Camryn joined our little group.  We talked about letter F, feelings, faces, friends, farms, and foil.  We watered the garden and played in the dirt (and then mud), we made puppets, and sangs songs, and had snacks.  It was a little crazy, but it was all the better with any extra friend to play with.
  

Cousins painting a pumpkin