Grandma & Grandpa's Cousins Campout

Every summer, my mother strives to be nominated "Best Grandma in the World" and holds a Cousins' Campout for all of her grandchildren. She started when Sarah and Rachel were small, and their two cousins their age, Shannon and Justin, were the only ones that could go. (Her rule is that the kids have to be potty-trained to come.) Mom and Dad used to take them to Bear Lake or Scout Mountain, and actually camp, but after being rained out several years in a row and having the attendee numbers grow to seventeen, Mom has had to simplify. So, now all the kids camp out at Grandma and Grandpa's, play together, do a craft, and play in the water. Her hope is that the plaque in her basement surrounded by the kids' pictures that reads "Cousins: Forever Friends" will hold true as all these sweet Dixon grandchildren build great bonds and memories through the years.

This year, all five of our kids got to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. Steve and I had a glorious night together with dinner, a movie, no kids to put to bed or wake us up the morning, and no babysitter to con or pay for our "vacation"! It was definitely as much fun for us as the kids!