instant average family

Loved Christian's Facebook update recently, "instant average family, two kids and a minivan."  We took care of my fav little guys for 4 nights and 5 day as a Christmas present to my awesome aunt and uncle (who so kindly hosted our wedding and so much more).

We had a blast. Check out our weekend fun photos.  We went to my other cousins' hockey game to see them play Friday night.  Deanna and Seb came down late Friday night and stayed with us and the kids until Sunday.  My dad came over to make dinner with everyone on Saturday.  We took the kids out for a 'day of fun' on Sunday including brunch and Grand Slam for mini golf, laser tag, batting cages, video games etc.

These kids are such good kids, can only hope we have kiddos half as cool someday!

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4th of July is better with family!

With no real intentions of going home for the weekend, I bought a train ticket to Philadelphia last Thursday for the holiday weekend. Best decision, ever. It's so nice to spend the 4th with family and I haven't done that in almost a decade I bet.

I watched fireworks with the fam on Friday night, made s'mores and promptly passed out with the children at 11pm. Saturday I got up and ran a 5k with Jack and my aunt. Yes they both beat me. Yes I got beat by a 7 (almost 8)-year-old. But we all know I'm a slow runner.

The rest of the 4th was spent poolside and I got to throw Maya around in the water because she ways a feather in water. My back would beg to differ but it was worth it. I got to swim around like a kid again. So impressed with Jack and Maya and their pure athleticism at such a young age. I'm thinking Olympics 2020 for them both? ;)

I also got to spend some QT with my padre, time I don't get very often. It's nice when we can get along amicably in each other's presence! No... just worry about him sometimes. Great to spend some time with him, though.

I also got to see my fabulous Crisi ladies on Sunday evening before leaving town. They're finally moving to Malvern after all these years, can you believe it?! So strange but very happy for them.

My weekend came to an end as I took an overnight train from Philadelphia to Boston with a layover in NYC. 8 hour trip and I slept most of it... though not very soundly. Totally worth it, though!

It's raining here again in Boston. It's dark outside. I want to go back to sunny Philadelphia and play in the pool again! Back to work it is, though...

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cousin jill is so proud!

Jack and Maya, the loves of my life (aside from Christian of course), never cease to make me so proud of them!

Jack, now nearly 8 years old (gasp) just won the machine pitch championship in little league. Only wish I could have been there! I am so happy for him and not the least bit surprised, I already knew he is #1 ;)

Maya just performed in a dance recital that I also wish I could have seen. She's definitely the tiniest one in the crew and it only makes her cuter! I do wonder how my aunt got her hair in pigtails, though. Maya refuses to put her hair up the last I checked ;)

As most of you know I have a really close relationship with these kiddos despite the distance between us. They make me so happy and proud even as a cousin!

These kids rock and so today's blog post is dedicated to them both!!! I love and miss you SOOOOO much Jack & Maya. xoxo