Siblings and Cousins

My sister Andrea and her family were in town this week and we all(Julie and her offspring as well) got together yesterday for a little barbeque at our place. It was pretty amazing that just a few short years ago I could get together with my sisters' families and we could enjoy a nice, congenial, quiet dinner out at a nice restaurant. Now when we get the whole brood together, no fewer than EIGHT tiny little people, none over the age of five by the way, add significantly to the size and also the noise level of the group. Eight is a pretty intimidating sum when you're talking about little kids but, in fact, when you get them all together the effect is more like having about 20 - one of those things where the total is greater than the sum of its parts - because they're running all over the place, goading each other on, trying to see who can hit the highest decibel levels, etc.

Its amazing though that in just a few short years, all these additional people could be added to our family who weren't ever there before but who we now can't even imagine not being part of the family! And any excuse for us to all get together is well worth it! Gracie LOVES playing with her cousins!

I'd have lots of really cool pictures to post here but our camera broke so we don't. Ryck was taking a lot of pictures though so hopefully we'll see lots of them on their blog within the next few days (click on "Tanner Party of Five" on the left) :)

Heather and I ordered a brand spankin' new camera though and we're very excited to break it in when it gets here on Tueday or Thursday! Check back soon!!