Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Big ol' yard

As I've mentioned before, I live in the country. I literally have cows, chickens, and horses right behind my house. I also live next door to my mom and my sister. If you put all of our yards together, we have a really good-sized playground. The kids love it because they have a big wide-open space to ride their various vehicles. And also a good ballpark when they need it. All seven of them (my 3 and my sister's 4) were outside Monday having a little ball game. I pulled three of them away to share a picture with me here.

Sometimes I wish that we lived in a real 'neighborhood' where the kids could ride their bikes and mingle with the neighbor's kids. But then I remember what a fun childhood I had, growing up in this very spot. I, too, used to play with my cousins who lived a few houses down. We would play ball, swing, swim, make our own secret clubs, etc; the same things my own kids do now. I think of all my great memories from back then, and I know that my children are making their own memories now. They've developed a special bond with their first cousins that hopefully, will never be broken. We're here to stay, all of us, and that's something you don't find just anywhere.

So, in the early 1970s with Todd, Kelli, Renee, and Jamie to the present day, with John, Anna, Katie, Emma, Andrew, Jenna and John M., the "big ol' yard" holds a special place in all of our hearts.

12 comments:

Nicki said...

Oh, that is just so neat! Great picture too!

My sister and I were just talking today about our dream of someday buying a bunch of land together. Then, building three houses on it...One for them, one for us, and one for our parents. I would LOVE IT!

So neat, Renee!

chesneygirl said...

That is so neat, Renee!!

I grew up in a subdivision. My husband, like you, grew up in the country and now we live next door to his parents where he grew up and now, where our son will grow up...there aren't any neighbor kids or cousins though. Although his only two cousins live less than 3 country miles away!!
:)

Great post and great picture!!

Anonymous said...

You have the most beautiful family! I think you are very lucky. I grew up in the country but we now live in a subdivision about 45 minutes away from cousins and grandparents. (although I'll admit sometimes I LOVE having that distance...LOL)

Anonymous said...

How neat! When we were at my FIL's the kids loved playing on all that land. Now that we are back home they cannot even step foot in the front yard without fear that a "bad guy" will snatch them up.

I hope someday we have a 'big ole yard'

hollibobolli said...

um no - you pretty much just described my dream neighborhood. Family rocks - regular neighborhoods be damned.. that's where the bad stuff happens. You're so lucky!!

Ex-playgroup mommy said...

I think that is great. I wish my family lived close by. Neighbors are not always wonderful...;-)

DaniGirl said...

That seems like a lovely setup from my perspective, too. How lovely for all your children to grow up in the busom of an extended family!

My folks live a 20 minute walk away, which I love, but my brother and his family are a 5h drive. I wish they were closer, although I might not feel that way after our first-ever group camping family event next week!

Lala's world said...

I would love to live in the set up that you do!! like really love it!! my sister who is closest to me in age lives across the country and our kids hardly ever get to see each other!! love the pic too....looks like you are having loads of fun!

Julie Marsh said...

I miss the yard we had at the house where I grew up. Although it was in the suburbs, in a traditional neighborhood, we had tons of open space. Finding a house with a decent patch of grassy space was one of my top priorities when house-hunting here.

Sounds like you and your kids have a lovely place to play.

Rob said...

My first cousins grew up 1300 miles away from us. We would visit every summer and re-establish the connections. There was a kinship with my cousins that I only saw once or twice a year that I never had with my friends that I saw every day. Growing up near cousins is awesome.

JeepGirl said...

Cool! We're set up similiar. Our yard is connected to my husbands parents. So between them we have about 6 acres (intown). We are on the edge of town but no cows come into the yard. An occational deer, turkey, chicken, skunk. My mom & dad live 2 blocks away and my husbands sister lives on one of the three family hobby farms. I love growing up in a small community and a family setting. People are always there if you need them. I'm not even going to mention all the cousins that live in town and in the country around us. Whew !

JeepGirl said...

Cool! We're set up similiar. Our yard is connected to my husbands parents. So between them we have about 6 acres (intown). We are on the edge of town but no cows come into the yard. An occational deer, turkey, chicken, skunk. My mom & dad live 2 blocks away and my husbands sister lives on one of the three family hobby farms. I love growing up in a small community and a family setting. People are always there if you need them. I'm not even going to mention all the cousins that live in town and in the country around us. Whew !