Cousin Fest I (2009)

As I'm affectionately calling it, Cousin Fest I (2009) occurred over July 4th again this year. The occasion was my father's brother's side of the family's second annual visit over the long weekend. We had Uncle Allen and Aunt Dot, as well as their second son Bruce and his family. Bruce's sons are my girls' second counsins (yes, I finally looked it up). Their third son Sammy (the towhead blond), at three years old, has several inches and 15 pounds on Lee Catherine, as you can see in the picture below. They grow them big down in DC!

With their three boys, Deb's four boys, and Liam, my girls were certainly outnumbered. They were playing swordfight with sticks by the end of the weekend. Seriously. My girls have never played swordfighting before.

Lee and Charlie really hit it off.

The two Dots (my father and his brother both married Dorothys):

The boat behind which I learned to ski was called Two Dots.

Here's my cousin Bruce, who is just a few months older than I am. Look how gray he is (although he's got nothing on Bridges)! Wow, we're all getting older I guess.