Cousins

All of Melissa's kids have gotten so big!  They almost don't look like the same kids.  Amanda is tall and such a huge helper.  Cooper adores her to pieces.  The two of them would play together every minute.  Dillon has grown too, and he and Jaxton became quick buddies.  They both love Legos and spent a lot of time building together.  Spencer and Kaylee are close in age and it was fun to see them play alongside one another.  He has such a cute personality and tries to keep up with all the big kids.  Baby Bella is an adorable, chubby one year old, a little bit sassy.  She is very partial to her mom, and gives cute dirty looks to anyone in the way.  It was fun to see Dawson and Bella crawl and toddle around together.  

One day the kids went to open gym at Amanda's gymnastics place.  Cooper was excited, but got super nervous when he saw all the teenage gymnasts doing all sorts of crazy flips and tricks.  He warmed up after a few moments as he watched other smaller kids like him just playing on all the balance beam, bars, ad mats and jumping in the foam pit.  I couldn't get them to leave.  They stayed for 2 solid hours till the very end and helped put away all the equipment at the end.  It was a blast to watch them and boy were they tired! 

 The big kids had a fun slumber party at Amanda and Dillons house two nights during our stay.  They were up super late, but had a blast.  I'm not sure all that they did at their slumber party, but I am sure that they made some awesome memories with their cousins.   I'm so glad that their friendship could continue where it left off two years ago.  And I pray that it will continue the same for when we come out again next time to visit.  

When we had to say goodbye to Melissa and the cousins, both Amanda and Dillon broke down in tears.  Cooper was a little caught off guard.  I think he didn't know exactly what to think.  I don't think he fully understood what was happening.  Jaxton understood and got teary eyed, but was trying not to show emotion.   On the airplane, it finally hit Cooper.  As the plane lifted off, cooper started to cry and said, "we won't see them for a long time." I told him he was right and gave him a hug.  He truly was sad.  As for Amanda and Dillon, they don't have cousins that live close by that they can play with and make super close friendships with the way that the four of them really bonded.  The four big kids grew to love each other like family.  You can't love other friends that much.  So this was very unique for all the kids.  They definitely will miss one another, but we are determined to stay in touch.