The Brood

I just returned from a much needed break, a weekend in the Berkshires with my family. While there were elements of this mini-vacation that were less than ideal (6 hours driving each way with my parents, sharing a hotel room with my parents, spending a lot of time with my parents), the plus side was catching up with the Ukrainian branch of my family and hanging out with my nieces and nephews. Man, are they adorable.

I have four Ukrainian cousins all of whom are married, plus the four children aged 1 and a half to 3. Quite a rambunctious bunch. Dinners were an event. Fortunately I got to just hang out with with the kids and play hide-and-seek, Uno, Good Robot Vs. Bad Robot (an awesome game made up by my brilliant three year old nephew, I swear he will be a millionaire one day), plus caught crickets, crawfish, and frogs. I never really had to be responsible or play disciplinarian. Plus as the aunt they never see, I was a hot commodity and was fought over constantly. There is a beautiful irony that I only find the adulation I seek while visiting my own family.