Fall Break Cousin Reunion!

We had the BEST Fall Break!  Every October we get a week off of school.  This past year my sister Emily (who doesn't have Fall Break) decided they were going to bring their family for a visit during our break!  My sister Beth started homeschooling so they were available to come as well!  And my third sister, Becky, also made the trip!  Sisters'/cousins' week at my parent's, woohoo!

I love the creative play that comes when cousins are united.  Eli and Ben were sliding their sleeping bags down the stairs!

Since my parents have a grandparent pass to the Children's Museum that covers all of their grandchildren, we made a fun visit to there!

Holly loved the broadcast news room.

Eli loves a fast race!

Emily and Dad played some putt-putt.

Clara and Kate rolled down the mini putting hills together.  :)

Inside the Playscape Ezra got scared and stuck on the climber and I had to go and rescue him.  The climber was definitely not intended for adults!

Growing up, a favorite Metheny family tradition was visiting the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Indiana.  We haven't been in years (none of my kids had been there before), so we decided to make a trip this year.  We always begin the day by eating delicious crullers and chocolate milk.  They did not disappoint!

My mom was kind enough to let each of her daughters and each grandchild pick out a little gift.  The older grandkids chose marshmallow guns (and pictures of the epic marshmallow gun fight are below).

It was SUCH a chilly and windy day!  None of us were prepared for that in our dress so we were really shivering!

We ate some yummy lunch (a big part of enjoying the festival is enjoying the good food), and then drove over to Billie Creek Village, an old-fashioned town.  Sadly it's no longer in it's well-kept condition and most of it was closed.  It also started raining so we decided not to bother to go through.  We parked for a while by this field while Beth fed Anneliese, and all the kids got out and ran around together and made all kinds of fun!  We let Ezra out for a bit and he crawled around like a cute lil' pup.  :)

Five minutes from my parents' house is a place called Kid City.  We had never been there before and it was super!  Only a few dollars/kid for 2 stories of fun activities!  Eli was in HEAVEN with the lego area!

Clara playing with a giant abacus.

Outside they had a musical play area.

Biggest lite-brite ever!

The epic marshmallow gun fight!  This was such a blast for all!

Boys hiding from Uncle Pooch.

Even Grammie & Grandpa got in on the fun, which the kids thought was even better!

Here's a video of the shenanigans:

I know these kids will always treasure the time their grandparents spent with them.

My baby-lover Clara sure loved doting on sweet Anneleise!  She was just shy of 3 months old during this visit.

It's not a complete cousin reunion at the grandparent's without a Grammie Tea Party!  My mom had fun bottles of lemonade that had Halloween stencils on them, chocolate pudding in mini cups, and an assortment of tasty treats.

These two cuties!  They were sure my favorite to watch.  Why is it that cousins make the best friends?  Rosie and Ezra (born 20 days apart) are just a barrel of fun!  We visited Uncle Steve and Aunt Paula in Terre Haute and the two of them were sitting at a little table for dinner.  Instead of eating much though they were putting on a "show" for everyone by putting their cups on their hands and giggling at everything.  I'm sure others thought they were being too rowdy, but I just thought they were darling!  How I wish they could play together all the time!

Another video of them together.  Alexis was playing some Mother Goose songs and the kids were dancing and singing to them.  Then Rosie started running around the upstairs and Ezra was copying every single thing she did. (poor boy got a hair stuck in his mouth!)

During some down time they worked on crafts.

Clara and Kate got to assist/watch Beth give Anneliese a bath in the sink!  They thought it was pretty great.  :)

Beth and Adam had Anneliese's baby blessing at my parent's home during the week.  Adam's brother's family also came from Ohio for the blessing.

We always make the best memories when we're together!  It always makes me so sad when everyone has to go back home.  I am so grateful for the wonderful family I have!  It's such a gift that my parents can house everyone and everyone makes an effort to come together, (though we missed Ryan's family this time)!