Taking Oprah's Advice

If you fell for that title, you don't know me very well. I don't really like Oprah much & I almost never like to take advice. Before I go on to list other things that I don't like, though, I'll get to the point. Once upon a time, the aforementioned former talk show person told the world about her gratitude journal. In honor of the month of Thanksgiving, not Oprah, I'm going to try it. One blog post a day in November, one thing to be grateful for a day. I assume that by December 1, I'll be simply flooded with cheeriness & love for all mankind due to putting my blessings on "paper" every day.

Here goes.......

Today, I'm grateful for cousins. When I was just a wee thing ---long, long ago---I had cousins to hang out with. I have pictures of all of us in under-roos to prove it. Though the cousins closest to me in age are boys, we still had some good times. Sleepovers and holidays and hanging out. The cool thing about cousins is that they're both friends and family. Though my big kids were around for a long time before any of my siblings got around to providing them with cousins, they are so lucky that I have cousins their age to be their best buds. At every stage, every holiday, every major (and minor) event, the Bakers have been there to party with the Wilsons. Nate Baker is the oldest of this group of cousins & we couldn't ask for a better guy to be at the top of the heap. What a good example!

The Bigs (Nate & Tanner) and the Middles (Chase, Chloe, Matt, Kaleb & Jessie) now have to contend with the Littles (Adler, Tate, Rylen, Cooper, Azzi, Carter & Quincy). Tate is blessed to be surrounded by cousins! According to Tate, Adler is his BEST, BEST friend and Ry is his best friend. Though Tate is far from his siblings in years, he's got cousins on all sides & now we're all living in the same town! How awesome is that!

Yesterday we did Halloween with cousins galore. First we hit Oldtown Auburn with the Littles to Trick or Treat at the businesses. Then it was Trick or Treating in a neighborhood with the Littles and the Middles. The Middles helped to heard the Lils. We were also joined by the honorary cousins, Anders and Savanna. Chaos & noise & candy & silliness & cousins. 

I'm thankful for cousins. I cherish my childhood memories with my cousins & I love the cousin group that my kids have. There's safety in family and so much FUN, too! I'm thankful for Nate Baker who leads the pack with his kindness, silly fun-ness & absolute faith. I'm thankful for Matt who makes the twins into triplets with his loyalty to Chase and his love for Tate. I'm thankful for Jessie who came to be a GIRL with my Chloe. I love her sweetness & talents. She bridges the 'triplets' and Kaleb. I'm thankful that Adler came to be with Tate. Everyone needs a best friend cousin! I'm thankful that Ry lives in Auburn now & that we get to see him often & figure out what's going on behind the quiet exterior.  I'm thankful for Cooper - especially for his lil grin. I'm thankful that Azzi showed up to wear pink & lacy tights & dress up clothes - Girl Power! I'm thankful for Carter Dude & his smartypants cuteness. I'm thankful for Quincy & can't wait to see what her personality holds for all of us!

My "one" thing is really a lot more than one. If I can count correctly, I'm thankful for my 16 or so cousins & the 6 (so far) cousins that my kids get to hang with. Numbers aside, I love all the cousins & am so grateful for each of them.