Monday, August 3, 2009

Monday Memories—Rachel and Ande

My sister, Lynn, and I have kids the same age, in fact just weeks apart: Cali and Will (26ish), Abe and Levi (24ish), and Ty and Rachel (23ish). Ande was cousin-less, so Ty and Rachel included her when she was big enough to follow. We lived within 100 yards of Lynn and Fred and for a good decade the kids played together nearly every day—dress up, cowboys, school, forts, board games, jumping on the trampoline, Duck Hunt—and most summer Sunday evenings our families played Hide-n-Seek together. In short, there were a lot of play hours logged between our families.

One of my favorite pretend games that Rachel and Ande played was when they were orphans and would only refer to my sister as Miss Hannigan (from Annie). “Yes, Miss Hannigan” they’d whine obnoxiously when she’d tell them to run to the basement for a jar of green beans or to pick up the toys. And Calvin used to get so mad at Ande and Rachel because they’d drag his tools out of the shop to their forts. In fact, whenever we were missing anything we’d holler, “Ande and Rachel! Where’s the ______?” and one of them would run to their fort and retrieve it. But, one thing they seldom did together was take naps. We had quiet time every day, but that's where the kids parted ways.

Even though we moved 500 miles away, the kids’ friendships have remained strong. Cousin Rachel (not to be confused with Aunt Rachel) is staying with us this week. I went to check on her and Ande a few minutes ago and found . . .

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And a few years ago when we went shopping and I couldn’t find them, I eventually found them sound asleep . . .

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. . . on the display bed. And they weren't even ashamed when I woke them up. I wished they’d have liked naps when they were little, that’s one game Miss Hannigan and I’d have been happy to play with them.



10 comments:

Jill said...

How great to have cousins the same ages and to live so close (at least for some of the time).

That's a great picture of the girls sleeping, and I love both the books they're reading.

I have often tried to coax the cousins (and sometimes Eva) to take a nap. Just today I tried to get Whitney to take a nap because she was being so grumpy, and as I described all the wonderful parts of taking a nap she said, "That's what you like to do, not me!" Crazy girl.

Unknown said...

My cousin and I are 8 days apart. We also logged many play hours, joint birthday parties, and the like. His family is still our favorite camping partner, and now, our kids get along as well as we did. What a blessing . . .

Ande said...

We might not have taken naps...but atleast we didn't call you Miss Hannigan!

Anonymous said...

Have close cousins is awesome! I had close cousins, and my kids have close cousins. It's like built in friends because they (kinda) have to be nice to you....

By the way, they were both reading some great books!

Deidra said...

Cousins are the best. We still refer to one cousin as "Mother Dear" (from the Primary song) from our days hoeing beets. Still makes me laugh to think of our antics.

Marie said...

Having cousins to grow up with is so important. I hope the relationships my kids are forming now are as strong as your children's with their cousins when my littles are grown.

Barb said...

Children seriously undervalue naps!

Barb said...

Children seriously undervalue naps!

Alisa said...

Cousins as friends is such a blessing.

michelle said...

There's nothing like having a cousin around your same age! How lucky your kids were to be able to play with cousins every day, that would have been a dream come true for me.

I love the photo where you caught them napping! Reading a good book and then falling asleep is one of the great pleasures in life. Why can't my kids ever catch that vision??