Cousins

Dale, Yours Truly, and Jarrod (**Please note, Dale is rocking that white t-shirt look, even back then LOL).

I read somewhere, recently, that cousins are typically the first friends that we have. This could not have been more true for me.

This week as I was looking for those baby/watermelon pictures that I posted yesterday, I stumbled across this gem.

When I was a baby, my Aunt Angie (AKA “My Hannie”) kept me. Her two sons were my first two best friends. Honestly, I don’t know how she kept up with us.  She was, and is, and will forever be, Wonder Woman.

My childhood is filled with memories that are forever bound with those two boys.  We did everything together. 

Me, Jarrod, and Dale at a petting zoo.

We were raised before parenting books had become commonplace; back when parents were just "winging it."  Back when a toddler walked around with sweet tea (Or "Hannie's tea") in their bottle; when they drank straight from the water hose; when they jumped on the trampoline without a safety net. 

Our sunny days were filled with making forts; and riding around to see the cows; and going up the road to visit Granny Betty.  Rainy days were filled with Huckleberry Hound, and Charlotte's Webb, and mid-day dance parties in the living room.

We were raised with vivid imaginations, back before all toys were electronic.  To kids these days, they would probably think it was boring.  But...People can say what they want to, but I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything.  I had the very best time with my two best friends and my Hannie.   

Me, Jarrod and Dale going to school (my first day of Kindergarten...I had to ride the bus like a big girl...mom and dad met me there).