snapshots of our life.

Craig left this morning at four to go to work.  I wasn’t able to go back to sleep right away, so I was up looking through my scrapbooks.  I noticed a certain theme throughout the pictures was this kid.

And I just had to blog about her.  Just to have to remember when we both get older.  I share a really special bond with my cousins Steve and Kim.  They are both a good bit older than I am since my mom was the youngest of four and their mother was the oldest.  For three birthdays in a row (seven, eight, and nine), Kim took me to Six Flags to celebrate.  They spent time with me at family functions.  They picked the hell out of me when I was little (and still do), which I wasn’t used to on a regular basis because I didn’t have siblings (my half brother lived with his mom).  My skin thickened up a good bit because of their double teaming, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.  If they didn’t pick on me now, I’d think something was wrong.  I’ve grown up with them and I have always looked up to them.   Now I get to share that bond with their kids. 

We laugh because every holiday or family gathering I always get stuck at the “kid’s table”.  It never fails.  I can sit down with full intent of being mixed in with other adults at the table, but by the time places have been set and some things moved around, I’m sitting in the kid’s section.  And to be honest I wouldn’t want it any other way. 

I love this kid.   I think we relate to each other so well because some of our family have said that she is a lot like me when I was that age.  Shy at times, mischevious at others, always up to something. 

Last weekend when we were helping my aunt pack up her house, every now and then I’d feel Celia sneak up behind me and put her arms around my waist.  I made a comment to my mom when she walked away about what a cool kid she is.  And my mom said it probably has a lot to do with how much loves me.  But the feeling is mutual.  I think everyone should have a Celia in their life. 

I just feel really lucky to watch my second cousins, nieces, and nephews grow up.  To be even a small part of their life.  And I’m sure that’s what it feels like to have kids but on a much larger scale because they are your own. 

Just something that has been on my mind lately.  My Uncle Hank recently passed away and I think when something like that happens it just makes you appreciate what you have.  He was a strong presence in our family get togethers and now that he is gone I can’t imagine how different the next holiday meal is going to be.  But it has also made me appreciate the relationships I have with my family memebers even more.  I know a lot of people out there aren’t necessarily close with their extended family.  When something happens with ours we all pull together and rally around each other.  And I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of a family like that.