7 under 11

Suddenly our annual family beach trips have turned into a bunch of big kids. No one brings diapers. No one needs an afternoon nap (except me). There are no diaper bags or changes of clothes when we go out to eat. There are fewer meltdowns, and keeping everyone fed helps prevent them. It was once 2 under 2. Then 4 under 4. Then 6 under 6. Then 7 under 7, then 7 under 8 and 7 under 9.  Last year was 7 under 10. Now we've quit adding kids (I'm pretty sure) and they keep getting older.

These people have always had their own opinions, now they have gotten better at expressing them. One of my sisters in law said "I don't know how we ended up with 7 alpha children" and she's not wrong.Every one of them loves to be the boss, and they create games just so they can make up rules for the others. There are jumping into the water competitions, complete with a judge and elimination rounds. There are shooting water into other people's faces games, there are you have to find this specific kind of shell games, and I will ride you on the paddle board games. It's kind of like if Dr. Seuss had written Green Eggs and Ham, but with kids bossing each other.

I will boss you on a boat 

I will boss you while you float. 

I will boss you in the air

I will boss you everywhere. 

                                                

Best friends we will be

As long as you're listening to me

Things are good and then turn sour

Thirty times in half an hour

See us sitting? Sitting out?

See us crying, see us pout? 

"You must sit out" said your mother

When we tried to drown each other

 First she screamed and then jumped in

When we were fighting in the deep end. 

We would not apologize

We're not big on compromise

See us playing at sunset? 

I do not want to share my net

Share the net or you'll regret

I do not want to share the net

A seagull just ate my food

It ate my food that is not good

It swooped down and flew right by

It took my food back to the sky

I do not want to share that shovel

Share the shovel or you're in trouble. 

I shared the shovel yesterday

I do not care what you say

You pick her up

And I'll pick him up

And I'll pick them up

We've had enough up

We'll jump up high

No hesitating

Number six

is levitating

Serious face

And hands on hips

I'll be the boss

of this whole trip

I'm the king 

Of this hill

I'll push you off my hill

I will. 

You cannot pass

You can't go through

I'll stop you now

I'm bigger than you

You'd think because

I am the oldest

I'd boss them all

But it is hopeless. 

We might spend all week

Acting like banshees

But we will smile

For Papa and Bebe. 

Fighting, bossing, 

No doubt about it

It wouldn't be cousin beach week

Without it

But nothing makes our parents

Forget it quicker

Than seeing our annual 

Cousin beach picture

The Boy is 8

I am behind in posting, because life. The Boy turned eight last month. We have noticed more maturity and responsibility in the last year, though he's not ever going to be a kid who allows responsibility to hamper his imagination. If I had to guess what he'd be as an adult based on his current skill set and interests, I'd say a musician. Maybe a free spirit who is more into the creative process and having fun than punching a time clock or working for the man.


He exists on a diet of primarily bread and cheez-its, and he does not mind telling you no way he will not try something new. He is confident and steadfast in his belief that "weird" foods like cheese or eggs are gross, and he needs not even try them. Somehow, he survives.

He got a keyboard for Christmas and his Bebe has been teaching him some songs. He also experiments with it on his own and can teach himself how to play some basic songs by ear. I am amazed by that ability, one he did not get from me. We have asked Bebe to give him formal lessons, she says no. She reminds us that after she gave The Husband just one lesson as a child and it went so awry she swore off ever teaching piano again.


He spent his birthday in the forest again with his favorite people. He has been hanging in the woods with Delia and Joel at his favorite camp since he was four years old, and there's nowhere he'd rather be. I think he is mostly disappointed to come home to us and sleep inside in a bed. This year he learned about and made a tool called an ATLATL (rhymes with rattle-rattle). I had to look up what it even is, and here's a short video about them from Live Free or Die.

Joel, pictured here with The Boy, was on season 3 of Live Free or Die, so he's a wealth of knowledge. Sometimes people ask "so you just leave your kids in the woods with strangers?" and I answer "he's way safer with them than with me." Plus I think there's something about communing with nature and living in an old school bus in the woods that makes them ooze patience and unconditional positive regard. Who wouldn't want their kids there? Joel even hand carved a little wooden cup for The Boy for his birthday. HAND CARVED A CUP for my kid! It is now his most prized possession.

I asked The Boy our annual birthday questions, and he answered "sausage" for every single answer. When I pressed him for real answers he provided those below, but "sausage" is par for the course of where we are in life right now. PS. he doesn't even like sausage.

How old are you? 

Eight

What’s your favorite thing to do? 

play the Nintendo

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

nothing

What’s your favorite food? 

sweet Hawaiian crescent rolls

What’s something you’re good at? 

playing the Nintendo

What makes you laugh? 

farts

What’s something scary?

Annabelle the doll

Who’s your best friend? 

Liam and Ryan

What do you like to do with your family? 

go to Bebe's house

Where do you like to go? 

to Bebe's

What do you like to learn about? 

math