Most of our vacation was spent with these 9 whipper-snappers and their parents. Andrew’s side of the family grows at an exponential rate every year. His mother is one of 9, and each of her siblings had at least 2 (more often 3 or 4) children, and so on and so forth. We didn’t attempt to get together with the whole family, but it was the first time we gathered together with all 3 brothers and their families since we all stopped reproducing! It was the first time I had met Andrew’s youngest nephew Gabe, and the first time all of our kids were together at one time. We met up at Gina and Michael’s house (Andrew’s mom and stepdad) and had a really great time.
Yes, there was a lot of noise and chaos and children running in a pack all around the farmhouse, but it was also all smiles and very few tears. Emil clearly enjoyed the baby role, as his older cousins rushed him around in a baby doll stroller and fed him gigantic cookies. Oh, wait. That was his uncle. Ryan and Kristin (who claim four of these rascals as their own) made a fantastic dinner which we all devoured. They even treated us to homemade cheesecake with blueberries from their blueberry bush at home in NC (I did not hold back my state of envy). The wood stove heated the entire downstairs so well that it made Andrew and I revisit our desire for one. And the kids got along so well that there were tears when it was time to leave for the evening, even though they knew they would all be reunited at Bill and Annie’s house in the morning.
We self-timed the camera to take this family photo (and others), and were shocked to see just how many kids we had between the four families! When did this happen??? (Answer: oh, around 8 years ago… the below picture was taken a couple of years before any of us had kids in 2002)! 
This family is so amazing, and I am reminded of the fact every time I am lucky enough to visit with them. Warm, welcoming, relaxed, and full of life and fun. One brother in particular may have shown his bare bottom to unsuspecting sisters-in-law one too many times, and the little green looking child may have vomited a couple times before insisting she was “fine! just fine!” but the light-hearted nature of the night carried us through.
We set up camp at Bill & Annie’s house (where we always seem to land), and they put up with us and our rambunctious boys for several days, as well as letting Milo sleep over every night. He was beyond thrilled to share a room with his buddy Reina.
Emil quickly showed Annie his new favorite tricks: throwing stuff into the toilet and climbing onto tables and up on counters. I’m sure they are beyond exhausted and happy to have their house back!
And the last night we were there, Bill, Ryan, and Andrew went to the Bengals game (another family tradition) while the ladies held down the fort. We met up with them downtown for a dinner filled with laughter and just a bit too much food, then headed over to a concert which only 1/3 of us got to see. But that, my friends, is a story I will have to share with you tomorrow…
Wowsers that is a whole lotta’ kids! I’m sure the boys had so much fun with all of those cousins- looks exhaustingly delightful 🙂
Your boys are cute as can be!
All of those group photos are so much fun. It looks like you all had a wonderful time.