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You are here: Home / Lifestyle / Just Be Cousin

September 6, 2022

Just Be Cousin

Cousin Weekend this !

Cousin Weekend

My sister and her fam came to visit us over Labor Day Weekend. We had such a nice time hanging out. And the cousins played nonstop! 

Thomas with niece

I love that they are all the age where they can play real games. Four is a great number because if one isn’t feeling a game, there is another to play with.

Kids Cousin Weekend

toddler cousin weekend

Even big Mazen wasn’t too old for lots of make believe. Here he is carrying Prince Ali to the palace! 

kids playing make believe

Mom & Dad were there too

Mom and dad came up to meet us for the day on Saturday. They stayed at a hotel in Cville and did their own thing some of the time so we got to have “young people time” too : ) 

I had lunch with them on Friday while the boys were in school! 

kath younger parents

Friday Tacos

The Allens arrived on Friday just in time for dinner. We had margaritas and a cheese board for nibbling. 

margaritas and a cheese board

Taco Buffet

Taco Buffet Taco Buffet at home

You should hear their conversations!

Little Kids Cousin Weekend

Saturday 

I took Matt to my favorite workout class on Saturday morning – he did great!!

cousins having breakfast

Meanwhile Uncle Thomas made pancakes for all the kids. 

pancakes and strawberries

We debated going to a park, the pool, or splash park, but the kids had so many toys at the house we kept the morning under scheduled. 

house dog Birch with grandma

Lunch at Kardinal Hall

For lunch we met the Donnes at Kardinal Hall. There is lots of space to spread out there! 

Lunch at Kardinal Hall

I had the most delicious crispy quinoa salad with salmon. 

crispy quinoa salad with salmon

And a beer!

Kath holding beer

And THE BEST FRIES EVER! So crispy!

Best crispy fries

SURPRISE Birthday!

Nona and I snuck out early so we could set up a surprise party for Mazen!! Since the cousins and grandparents were here, we had a small family party. We set up a loose fishing themed party with some favors. 

surprise birthday party

With cake of course!!!

I got gluten free for my sister from Caked Up Cville and everyone said it tasted as good as any cake they’d had. If you need a gluten free cake in Cville, Norkeita has you.

Caked Up Cville gluten free cake fish themed birthday

She was a beaut!

Caked Up Cville birthday cake

Mazen was the last car to leave lunch and they “got delayed” taking the long way there, so everyone else was inside to say surprise (except for those in the car with him, of course). 

Cousin and Birthday Weekend Cousin and Birthday Weekend

Mazen was surprised, but he said he saw hints, such as our favorite cake baker in the driveway.

Cousin and Birthday Weekend

Nona and Grandpa gave Mazen a new Ugly Stick fishing rod with a fish balloon tied to the end.

Mazen Birthday Weekend

Grammie and Pea got him a Lego and this fantastic Bald Head Island print with his BFF alligator on it! (Remember when they saw the monster on the golf course?!)

Bald Head Island print

“Everybody say caaaaakkkeee” 

kids saying cake

Leftovers!

birthday cake leftovers | Cousin Weekend

A DECADE OLD!

Mazen 10th birthday

Rest + Pool

After the party, we all rested until the dads took 3/4 kids to the pool. Let’s hear it for the dads!

Date Night

Mom and dad offered to babysit while us big kids went out to dinner. Let’s also hear it for grandparents ; )

grandparents babysitting Cousin Weekend

We got the toddlers to bed, and then headed out. We had hoped to get in to Mas but that fell through, so we went to Bang! 

drinking at Bang adults holding cocktail glasses

This was the only photo I took of the food – everything was great! 

parents' night out

Sunday Hike

On Sunday morning we had breakfast and took everyone to the Monticello Trail for a hike. 

bagels breakfast

Of course the highlight was playing on the giant poplar trunk. 

giant poplar trunk Cousin Weekend giant poplar trunk Cousin Weekend child standing on giant poplar trunk | Cousin Weekend

Lunch + Rest

We went home and made salads and sandwiches for everyone’s lunch. And took a little rest to watch Aladdin for a bit. 

salad bowl for lunch

North Garden

After rest, we caravanned to North Garden to Thomas’s parents’ house. They have a new zip line and a great sandbox. 

zip line at North Garden Cousin Weekend

Loving Cup

Nona and Grandpa watched the kids for a bit while we went just down the road for a wine tasting at Loving Cup.

wine tasting at Loving Cup

Laura can only drink organic wines due to being super sensitive to wine ingredients, and so we were excited to take her to Virginia’s only organic winery. 

organic winery in Virginia

Carl, the owner and winemaker, used to babysit Thomas! He greeted us and taught us all about organic winemaking. We bought bottles of the sparkling, Loving Cup White and Loving Cup Red. 

organic winemaking

Love these bug paintings!!

bug paintings

Brazos + IX Art Park

We headed back to town for an early dinner at Brazos Tacos!

Brazos Tacos

This is such a great spot to take kids because they can play in the grass and IX Art Park after eating. 

kids at IX Art Park Cousin Weekend

The cousins had a fabulous time playing Aladdin some more, including Prince Ali’s arrival on elephants and going in and out of the “Cave of Wonder.” 

IX Art Park Cousin Weekend IX Art Park Cousin Weekend IX Art Park Cousin Weekend

Can’t wait for the next cousin weekend

Although realistically that will likely be Christmas!!

Emerson said “Mom and dad, I’d like to move here. It is such a nice village.” HAHA! It IS a nice village and they should move here! 

little cousins playing at home | Cousin Weekend

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Comments

  1. Cyn says

    September 6, 2022 at 9:06 am

    Happy Birthday to Mazen! How can he possibly be 10?! Have I really been following your journey for 10 years? Also, you always have the best cake:)

    Reply
    • Kath Younger says

      September 6, 2022 at 12:14 pm

      Thanks for continuing to read!!

      Reply
    • Sara says

      September 8, 2022 at 5:55 am

      I thought the same. Have I been following you for over 10 years?!?

      Reply
  2. Gillian Jenkins says

    September 6, 2022 at 11:30 am

    ‘Village’ parenting with family or friends is the best!!

    Reply
  3. Tracy says

    September 6, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    Double digits?! That’s a big deal! Happy Birthday, Mazen!!

    Reply
  4. Kate says

    September 6, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    We have the same play kitchen, and now I know that that peg on the side is for the cutting board!! I just ran to the kitchen to put it on, with the kids in bed. Lol. Happy birthday to Mazen from a long-time reader!

    Reply
    • Kath Younger says

      September 6, 2022 at 9:27 pm

      Haha!!

      Reply
  5. Julie says

    September 7, 2022 at 6:12 pm

    Happy birthday Mazen! I remember when he was born and your BERF posts really helped me when I had my son a year later! Time sure does fly by.

    Reply

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    hi! Im Kath.

    I'm a Registered Dietitian, healthy eater, and mom of two from Charlottesville, Virginia. Here you’ll find a healthy mix of real-life meals made from whole ingredients balanced with the pleasures of life, including buttercream frosting and good wine. Plus a sprinkle of nutrition, home life, beauty, parenting, and travel.
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