My "Little" Cousins

Ryan and Kelsey are my Aunt Dawn's kids. I was 11 when Ryan was born, and remember waiting and waiting for him to come! I spent a ton of time with them as we grew up. I babysat them and spent a lot of time with them even when I wasn't babysitting. I loved being around those kids! I preferred to babysit them over anyone else because I knew what they were allowed to do, and what was expected of them. I never got the "but my Mom lets me..." because I did actually know what their Mom would allow. My Aunt and I have grown in our relationship into great friends, and the kids have well...GROWN!

Dawnie helps me at least twice a week with my kids while I work at the Boys and Girls Club. The kids LOVE going there, and I have heard rumors that Ryan and Kelsey both like it when the girls are there. Both Ryan and Kels (mostly Kels though) babysit the girls for Warren and me when we need them to. Funny too because Dawnie used to babysit my siblings and me, my siblings and I babysat Ryan and Kels, and now they babysit Ellie and Grace.

Dawnie and Paul, and the kids dad, Pat and his girlfriend Diane had a surprise party for Ryan and Kels the other day. We had so much fun planning (and maybe a little stress too for Dawnie) the party, Ryan is going to be 18 on December 19th, and Kelsey is going to be 16 on the 21 of December, so it was the perfect time to do it! It was a great party, and the "kids" were surprised (well Ry noticed some cars around the parking lot) so he got a last minute tip off, but Kels was oblivious (as I would have been) to the cars. Both of the kids were surrounded with friends who were excited to be there for them. It was really cool because both sides of their parent's (who are divorced)families were there, along with Dawnie's husband, Paul's family and worked together to make it all happen. I don't think a lot of families could pull that off, and kudos to Dawn and Pat for being able to do that!

Ryan is a senior this year (OMG), he is looking at colleges for next year and is being recruited because he is a stellar lacrosse goalie (and he gets some pretty good grades too). He also was the (kick a$#) kicker for the Orchard Park football team that was the best in the State this year. He is a genuinely nice guy, and when he isn't going to be at Aunt Dawnie's house for Ellie to pick on, she is going to really miss him! When Ry had to get a mohawk for the football team, Ellie called him Ryan giraffe head, she works on the insults before we get to their house some days, warming up her nah nah nah nah in the car.

Kelsey is a sophomore, getting ready to start driving as soon as she possibly can. She does really well in school, and I am sorry to say Ryan, I believe she wins the grades competition! Kels is a talented Dancer, she has really grown up a lot in the last year as lame as it sounds it is the truth to say that she turned into a young woman overnight! Kelsey has a strong sense of morality and part of that is being someone who is not afraid to go against the crowd. That's not an easy thing for teenagers to do, and I admire her for having the confidence to be herself!

Thanks for reading my brag rag about my awesome little cousins (who by the way tower over me especially Ryan who is probably around 6'3"), I think the world of them, and now you will too!