I was born almost thirty-four years ago in a small town in Ontario by the name of Brantford. My family lived in Paris (Ontario, not France) but as there was no maternity ward in Paris, I was born in Brantford.
(Home of Wayne Gretzky! Yay hockey!)
(For any American readers who have not a clue about Canadian geography, Ontario is on the EAST side of Canada.)
Mere months after I was born, my Mom and Dad moved us out to beautiful British Columbia (BC). Not just to BC; to the north coast. About as far west (and north) as you can go in Canada without diving into the ocean.
I grew up with all of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…clear across the country. We would see them, oh, every five years or so. I would hear tales from my friends of weekends spent with grandparents and extended family. Of large dinners with cousins running around and partaking in all sorts of shenanigans. I could not relate to it at all. It kind of sucked.
Matthew and I met and married each other in the big city of Vancouver. Shortly after our wedding we decided that the time had come to move back to his small hometown for a number of reasons:
1. Who wouldn’t want to live in a place called Summerland?
2. House prices here in 2001 were far cheaper here than at the Coast. That is not the case now, but it sure was then.
3. Matthew’s parents lived here. Hooray! Grandparents close by!
Those Grandparents then moved to the Coast almost two years ago, which means that my kids have been having the same extended-family experience that I had (or did not have). The upside is that they are only a four-hour drive away, as opposed to a five-hour flight away.
September 1st (a mere eight weeks ago), the extended-family situation changed for the better. Matthew’s brother, his wife, and their two small boys moved back here. Cousins! An Auntie! And Uncle! Added bonus: We like our in-laws! Hooray!
They have been busy getting their home set up and also having a steady stream of company coming to visit them here in the Promise Land. We have made an effort to get together with our two families when we can and Saturday afternoon was one of those times. They came out to our place in the sticks and we went for a walk down along the creek.
Let me introduce you to Daniel:
I have a bit of affinity for this kid because HE LOOKS LIKE ONE OF MINE.
He was wearing Graham’s (and also, Nathan’s) navy pea coat that they each wore at that age, along with that same hat. I feel like I am looking at a glimpse of Graham four years ago.
I WANT TO SMOOSH HIM.
Emily thinks he is pretty neat as well, though getting her to cooperate for a photo took a few frames.
Daniel is on the ball.
Then Emily was looking…
She’s so fierce. Heaven forbid that the two of them look at the camera AT THE SAME TIME.
The other cousin is a lad by the name of Caleb. He is three years younger than Graham (almost exactly), and is a rad little dude.
Caleb and Graham shared a ride for part of our walk.
Caleb looks up to his older cousin, and Graham loves kids that are smaller than him. I think they will be great friends as the years go on.
I almost forgot about Nathan! He was with us too. See?
Oh, for lashes like his. Sigh.
We are beyond excited for the opportunity that our kids will have. An Auntie and Uncle nearby, cousins to play with, family dinners.
Part of it may be me dreaming about the ideal put out there by Hollywood, but a bigger part of me just wants more of a family experience for my children.
I just want them to have so much more than I had. What I had was more than enough, but I want them to have more. To have an even fuller, richer life experience.
Complete with aunts and uncles, cousins and (Sometimes!) grandparents. For while we consider many of our close friends to be family, it will be nice for our kids to know their own kin.
You know?
*I should note that the only kissing done by the cousins is in a purely familial tone. The kids all like to hug each other and there is the occasional kiss on the head. Just wanted to clarify that we love our cousins but do not LOVE our cousins.
Cousins rock! I have dreams of my sister and her family living close by some day so I’m totally jealous but very glad for you all – enjoy!
Robyn’s last blog post..Moving slowly
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I grew up the same way – no close extended family near by and I sort of felt like I was missing out on something.
karen’s last blog post..Melbourne..
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Sounds like fun!!! And what sweet little guys! I have always grown up with my Nana and Papa close by and I don’t think I would like anything different. It is so much fun to have family get togethers!
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I know exactly what you mean about having family nearby. I grew up in Omaha, with almost all my dad’s family in the same city. I saw my many cousins on most holidays and often on weekends and weeknight dinners too. My mom’s family was in California and Minnesota, but we managed to see them often enough (and talk on the phone and write letters and look at photos) that we felt like those cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents were all a big part of our lives too. I loved growing up with so many cousins. It makes me a little sad that it looks like Annalie will only have two first cousins, and we live so far away from them. I am glad that she has many second cousins (my cousins’ kids) and that we get to see lots of them on a regular basis, even though we don’t live in the same city. Family is family, right?
Enjoy having Matthew’s brother and his family close by, and spend as much time as you can with them! Your kids will cherish these memories when they grow up.
bethany actually’s last blog post..Home safe
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I grew up with family as my neighbors, but I can sympathize in that my stepdaughter is growing up here instead of California where all her family is. So happy you finally have family nearby.
Kimber’s last blog post..Link To The Past/Family History
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I just have no extended family at all (one aunt, married several times no kids and my dad had a tenuous at best relationship with his siblings) so I feel your pain.
slynnro’s last blog post..Don’t gay people like figure skating or something? I don’t know.
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My parents are originally from Germany so I also didn’t have any other family while I was growing up in Toronto. I didn’t meet any of them until I was almost 16 years old and then only met them a few times at the most.
I always wanted my kids to have family within visiting distance and for the first few years we did. Hubby’s brother and family was a 7 minute walk away, my brother and all parents were within an hour. It was great!
Then we moved 8-1/2 hours away to the States
Now they barely know one of the set of cousins and history repeats itself all over again 
Helen’s last blog post..tall purple flowers
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Some of my favorite childhood memories involve summers with my cousins who lived not too far away. I think you’re dead on that it enriches a child’s life.
So glad for you (and your babies) they have cousins within spitting difference now
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Robin ~ PENSIEVE’s last blog post..Comment. Win stuff. GOOD stuff!
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This is exactly why we’re staying in Texas for the immediate future. I want my kid(s) to have what I never did, family at arm’s reach.
She Likes Purple’s last blog post..Because The Financial Advice You Gave Was Insanely Fantastic
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Cute photos of Emily and Daniel. Cousins ROCK! Our little girl is about get her first cousin in about 5 months.
orlund’s last blog post..Share The LUV.
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How wonderful that you now have family nearby!
I am still close with my cousins and I am so grateful that my kids have cousins that we see very regularly. It makes for good times.
Kami’s last blog post..Early Halloweening
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I think having family around is just about the greatest thing ever. I know The Dictator adores spending time with his cousins – and I love it too. And grandparents are always a total PLUS!!!!
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I love the pictures of Daniel – he’s so cute!
My family has always been somewhat spread out, so it was always a treat whenever we would get to see my cousins. One family lived in California, so we’d always visit them over spring break.
The funny thing is now my Dad’s side of the family all live right near my parents. I wish they had lived there when I was still living at home, but it is nice to see them whenever I go to visit my parents.
Sharon’s last blog post..Canucks Open Practice
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My situation growing up was similar to yours. My cousins all lived 9h drive away, and we only saw them every couple of years. Despite that, we are still REALLY close, which is neat. But for my boys, I wanted more. I’m glad Rob’s brothers and sisters (who all have kids) live either 10 minutes away, or at the most 1.5h drive away. My sister is yet to get hitched and have babies, but I know she’ll live close by when she does.
I love the photos your kidlets and their cousins. I hope they relish growing up together and stay close as adults!
Hannah’s last blog post..Random thoughts
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I know.
I grew up with around ~25 first cousins within 1 hr drive, lots of aunts and uncles, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, all over the place, from both sides of the family, holidays and non-holidays, relatives relatives relatives it was AWESOME. Then I left my home town (Minneapolis) and moved to the left (west) coast with my sister. Thank God she lives about 35 miles away, she and her hubby, and just found out she’s preggers – due in May!!!! My Kids will have cousins nearby! Oh Yeah!
Other than Jane, my closest relatives are 800 miles away. Hubby’s family mostly in No. California. Mine back in Minnesota. Sigh, I miss having them around.
But we love where we’re settled, so here we stay.
monstergirlee’s last blog post..Flowers of October – Again
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hahah. you little note at the end cracked me up.
you can love them but you can’t LOVE them. ha!
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I am so glad we moved closer to the cousins…it is so fun to watch them all together, and it is a connection that goes beyond friendship. Glad to hear that you have some close to you now. We have Friday night suppers together and it is so fun.
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I so love that little Daniel! What fun to have cousins around. Now if only I could do that for MY kids! I guess we’re the horrible parents who moved them halfway across the country AWAY from all my family, but closer to Noah’s. I’m happier, and I hope they will be too. Noah’s parents are a mere 2 1/2 hours north. Not so shabby.
Mrs. Wilson’s last blog post..If I HAVE to
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This is why I was so devastated when we moved from Indiana. It’s not that we had family in town, but they were only 5 hours away…great distance for weekend trips.
Now they’re all at least 8-12 hours away.
Boo hoo.
Glad you’ll have family close-by. What a treasure.
Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children’s last blog post..Three
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i love those pics!!!!
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That’s why I live in Texas
Tracee Sioux’s last blog post..Marriage is Hard, Dating is Worse
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I have to admit that growing up in Spokane with all of our family in the same city was pretty amazing. People grew and moved away, but for the bulk of my “formative years” I was best friends with my cousins Kyle & Ryan, and got to see both sets of grandparents on a weekly if not bi-monthly basis and with such a big family, there was no shortage of family gatherings to be enjoyed. That’s why I keep going back, I think, for holidays. There will always be such a large part of me that craves all of my family, all together, always.
Kerri Anne’s last blog post..Weekend Update, Fall Festivities Edition
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You didn’t miss much, we’re all nuts you know.
You’re little group of cousins also doesn’t have the disadvantage of our monster age gap.
Mostly they are all just way too cute though.
Hugs from the Eastern contingent.
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Oh my golly that child is cute in the coat and hat!!! And I LOVE your disclaimer at the end! HA!
Elaine’s last blog post..Napa/San Jose Trip Part 2
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Um, the little baby peacoat? CUTEST THING EVER
Rhi’s last blog post..Two Quick Stories
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*Sniff sniff* I miss those boys.
teresa’s last blog post..Family Photos
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