lights, camera...

We had all finished a big pizza dinner, the lot of us, and soon heard the kids, who had for some time now been frolicking in the grass in their beautiful dresses (except the one boy) that weren't completely appropriate camp-wear, but who could convince 4-year olds otherwise? They were beckoning us all over to the little park's amphitheater for a "show".

All of us cousins followed our children over and sat down, followed by the aunts and uncles, and even Baba, the lone matriarch (or so we like to call her), made her way over with some help, and her chair, to sit and watch the little performance.

As we were gathering, the five 4-year olds and various other littler siblings milled about the stage, coming and going, hiding behind the large display board and emerging to see if everyone was ready. Amidst all this bumbling, Plava (yes, our timid Plava!) piped at the top of her lungs to the group of 30 or so family members, "EVERYONE TAKE YOUR SEATS! THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!!"



Where she learned these phrases is beyond me. She said them with such gusto, and volume, that I was left fairly dumbfounded as I watched her prance back behind the board and then emerge moments later and yell it again, with a big smile on her face.

When we were all ready, and for the 3rd or 4th time, responded to her call with "READY!!", the kids all got excited and sort of collected themselves in the middle for a moment before launching into "the show". Little Mana, with the sweetest of faces, ran around in large circles singing her loud song that was pretty much her yelling something like "WHEN WE RUN AND PLAY IT'S SO MUCH FUN!!!!" (again and again), while the others danced and moved around.

As they performed, the adults laughed and clapped and then Plava got an idea. She bent down, put her head on the ground, and did a sommersault. We cheered loudly, and when she realized it was for her, she got an amused look on her face, and did it again, popping up to watch our reaction again. Well it didn't take long for the other kids to catch on, and soon there were sommersaults happening all over the place!!

When the show started petering out, the adults clapped and applauded (and the kids tried to keep going...) and laughed again and the spectacle. This reunion would be one to remember, the first five kids were 4-year olds now, and how they had grown!!

The first reunion was when they were babies, Plava herself being only 4 weeks old. We sat them in a line and took a picture, and it was fairly easy, seeing as they were just wee babies. Not too much complaining.


The second reunion was when they were 2. Two was when Plava was in the height of her shyness, I believe, and the photo was a source of serious fear. At the very last moment, Plava, who was too shy to sit on the couch with the other kids, was hoisted into her spot by a cousin and burst into screaming tears.


This time, it was utter chaos. If it had been more calm, I think both Plava and Pito would have been okay with a picture, but there's something that happens to the family when everyone is trying to get the kids into a picture. It's as if the FRANTIC train hits everyone upside the head and it doesn't matter how miserable the kids are, WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS PICTURE, DARN IT!!

Are we crazy? I think so.

Anyway, the picture was taken, and poof. We have the line-up shot, once again.


Poof! I'm gone!