One of the reasons for heading for the red dirt of Oklahoma last week was so that Octamom Kids 2-6 could head up to Grand Lake O' the Cherokees for the annual MiMi and PaPa Camp. Mike's mom and dad host the kids up at their cabin for a 5 day extravaganza of boating, crafting, napping, reading, cooking, smore-ing and the like. Attendance at MiMi and PaPa Camp requires that you are of a certain mature age (as in, five years old or older--with a inclusion clause for if you are almost five...such is the mercy of MiMi and PaPa...)
The kids absolutely adore this time with their grandparents and their cousins. Mike's sister and her husband have three kiddos, bringing the grand total of campers up to eight this year. I headed up on Sunday afternoon to pick up my brood and breathe in the memories that the lake cabin brings.
This would be 5 of 8, my nephew CV and 6 of 8.
They're thick as thieves, I tell ya.
They somehow always seem to end up in this configuration, CV bookended by 5 and 6.
And 6 of 8 seems to have this need to lean on CV. Maybe it's because her brothers wouldn't allow this kind of girly affection. But CV is strong. He can take a little cousin snuggle.
That affection tolerance does not extend to me, however.
Understand that I have Aunt Superpowers. I am Extended Family Catnip to my other nieces and nephews. Except for CV. He is not won over by the power of my personality.
At all.
We have made a bit of progress over the years. He will now allow me to pat the top of his head.
Briefly.
And he will allow me to photograph him.
Yea, he's pretty much an intoxicating blend of blond curls and utter rejection for me.
All of which makes him irresistible.
It's always the ones that don't want you that you want so much. What an adorable looking boy. I thought James would have those curls...No such luck. Once they got cut off, they were gone forever.
ReplyDeleteI love those curls, actually I love all curls. Which is probably why I won't let anyone near Nater's head with a pair of scissors. :)
ReplyDeleteCamp MiMi and Papa sounds like so much fun!
Oh.my.word. Adorable. And I can totally tell in the picture which kids are yours and which are not. Its all in the eyes.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that the travels have been fun. I tried to convince my parents that the redhead should go to camp PapaNano for a week. They weren't buying it. I'll try again when Baby Homer arrives. (btw we decided not to find out the sex until birth!)
Back in the 80s when I was a little girl, my grandparents had a cabin in the woods of Oklahoma too, where we spent time with the grandparents, aunts & uncles & cousins!
ReplyDeleteIt's a far cry from the innercity where I live now--but great memories! :-)
How incredibly fun! Those experiences will make for a zillion awesome memories when they are older.
ReplyDeleteLove me some curls, by the way.
Oh he is adorable! No wonder you are drawn to him.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable bunch! You are so blessed! Mimi and Papa are blessed as well! Sounds like it was a fun week! Family fun is the best!!
ReplyDeleteCan I be a camp counselor there next year? Crafting, smoring, boating, smoring, are right up my alley of oodles of fun!
ReplyDeleteRoban
they totally gave me a toothache. It almost makes me think I could handle having kids... almost ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet memories!
ReplyDeleteHow great! I told my mom that when my kids start having their own, I'd just have big Granny Camp for a week during the summer. Do you think you'll be doing something similar when your time comes? ;)
ReplyDeleteHow utterly fabulous! And CV...already a heartbreaker, too cute! Of course there are no shortage of heartbreakers in your family, so why would that surprise me?! ;)
ReplyDeleteHow awesomely fun for your kids! And that little boy.... OH MY GOSH! SO stinkin cute!
ReplyDeleteFun pictures, great memories and some things in common... my kids also tend to line up unawares in a certain order around certain people. funny.
ReplyDeleteShe'll love him forever, I bet. I have a cousin who I had a bit of a crush on my whole life. Not a romantic crush, just that cousin affection. I love it. Those curls!!!
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