A Bushel of Berries

My cousins and I grew up close, gathering together quite frequently.  Whether it was a family party, which we have at least 10 a year for various holidays, a 4-H meeting, or just stopping over, we all became very close throughout the years.

My mom has a sister and two brothers. My mom’s sister, Char, married my Uncle Jeff and they have three girls, Shelby, Jayci, and Sofia. My mom’s brother Larry married my Aunt Kari and they have one girl, Miranda. My mom’s other brother, Gary, married my Aunt Stacy and they have two kids, Matthew and Ellie. I am the oldest of all the cousins.

Shelby comes second to me at 17. We’ve been especially close because we were born consecutively and we are so similar. Shelby is very hilarious when she opens up to you but when you first meet her, she is shy and quiet. She’s played volleyball for quite a few years now.

Jayci is the middle child of the Cain family. She’s very involved with equestrian at her high school. She is also very funny but in different ways from her sister Shelby. Jayci is more of a “let’s party it up” person. She’s always looking for something fun to do, some way to get out and have a good time with her family and friends.

Sofia is the youngest of the Cains at nine years old. She is also one of the feistiest kids I’ve ever met. She’s not afraid to introduce herself to you. She’s also not afraid to be extremely bold. If you want to know what I mean, find my blog titled “Obtaining skills from a hippie.”

Miranda is also extremely involved with equestrian. She’s too young to be showing for the high school team, but she travels to different shows. She’s an only child like me. She spends a lot of time with her animals.

Matthew is in seventh grade this year and he’s been playing hockey for a long time. This year he’s decided to try wrestling as well. He, being the only boy cousin in the family, is crazy respectful to all of us girls. We always joke with him that when he gets a girlfriend, he’ll have to bring his girlfriend to us so we can approve of her. I worry that once the girls realize how sweet of a guy he is, they’ll be all over him.

Ellie, Matthew’s little sister, is the same age as Sofia. Ellie is always wanting her bigger cousins to play with her. She’s sweet but a little blunt to be honest. She loves wearing skirts and loves doing her nails. She is your usual little girl, wanting attention and love.

Shelby, Jayci and I showed pigs together at the fair for many years before we got everyone else to join us. This past year, even the young girls were able to show with us. It was amazing because we were all united in something. It was also awesome because it was my last year and I got a chance to show one more time with everyone involved. We all love getting together and hanging out. We’ve mastered the game of Bloody Murder and we all trade candy like a stock market after the annual Easter egg hunt.

I love all my cousins so much, each for their own reasons. They make me who I am today. Point taken, I couldn’t ask for a better family.