J. K. Riggs Photography

“There’s something about cousins.”

A good friend of mine, one who was lucky enough to grow up with her own cousins near by, looked at me one day and said that with a smile.  And I knew just what she meant.  In my family, there were 4 sets of cousins on my mother’s side (who is one of four siblings), and while none of us were in the same state, we were at least all in the southeast.  We saw each other at Thanksgiving at my Grandmother’s house, and somewhere in the summer for a family reunion.  And if we were lucky, maybe there’d be another visit with a family or two at another time during the year.

There were 11 of us cousins, and I was neither the oldest (like in my own family), or the youngest, but fell comfortably in the middle.  I think I must have often attached myself to the oldest girls, who were kind enough to always make me feel included.  One of our traditions was to always hold a “talent show” which usually featured skits made up by pairs of cousins, and I’m pretty sure I thought mine were the funniest, most creative people I knew.   When they were coming to my own house, I remember sitting out in the front yard, or at the top of the street, waiting and waiting with impatience and excitement for them to arrive.

It’s harder to get together these days.  Most of my cousins have their own families, with their own school and practice schedules, and we’re also a bit more spread out now.  But this summer we were able to pull off a reunion – something that we usually can’t do no matter how far in advance we try to plan –  in a very short amount of time.   I was particularly excited for my own nieces (mostly the 6-year-old, as I’m sure the 1-year-old didn’t know what was happening around her, although she did get TONS of attention).  They have a few first cousins on the other side of their family, but haven’t had much of a chance to know their cousins on their mother’s (and my) side.  We are up to 11 children of the next generation – the same number of us that we had growing up.  And they were all together for the first time ever.  I think I was a little too focused on that – next time I’m going to be sure to take more pictures of the adults!  My niece had a rare shy moment when we first walked into the house, and heard all the unfamiliar voices beyond the foyer, but by the end of the weekend, we had to (literally) drag her out of there.  The poor thing was in the middle of a move out of state and had just left her own friends behind.  After a weekend of sharing a girl-rific bedroom with an older 11-year-old, and having so many playmates around her, she had a little break down moment when it came to going home.
But I’m glad she loves her cousins as much as I do.

These are some snapshots from that weekend; all at two Tennessee homes of my cousins who were incredibly wonderful hosts.

My niece was thrilled to be bunking with this 11-year-old cousin she just met. And she got a manicure out of it.

The 3 boys were outnumbered by 8 girls. And one of the girls gets a pool lesson from her grandfather.

All the girls (all but the very youngest).

Boys sticking together

Some recognition for the cook

Getting sunscreened

Another girl and her grandfather.

I got really wet a moment after this was taken.

catch-up time for the grown-ups

My cousin Taylor takes control of pool games.

My niece asking my cousin to pull out her tooth.

This baby got spoiled.

hmm… one of these things is not like the other. Trampoline evidence.

Yet another girl with her grandfather.

Baseball in the back yard.

The baby couldn’t be happier. And if you listen really closely, you can hear the dog pleading for help.

They actually came up with a little mini talent show. Theirs featured more singing than ours had.

All 11.

I did at least get this one of a few adults.

My niece imprinted upon my cousin John. I hope she always has such good taste in people.

The big girls taking pictures with the littlest one. (Who is on her way to taking over the dog bed.)