Did you grew up with cousins? I did. On my Dad’s side I had eight. As for Mom, she was one of 13 kids, so I have many, many cousins. I loved all my cousins, but we were geographically closest with the Cross family.

My mom, Helen, and her sister, Betty were the youngest of the 13.  They grew up as best friends, working and playing together. By the time I was born the sisters were still close and lived just down the street from one another.

Our Beautiful Mothers

Betty (left) and Helen

Helen (left) and Betty

Helen (left) and Betty

The Croskets, Then and Now

Mom and Dad had five kids; Betty and Paul had three. They were the Crosses; we were the Foskets. Sometime in our childhood we became the Croskets.

All the Croskets plus Grampa Blanton (Mom and Betty’s dad) on the left and Granny Cross (Uncle Paul’s mom) in the center.

We spent so many holidays and Sundays together. Our Why-Not Days took us to a number of wonderful places between Seattle and Vancouver BC.  I remember camping trips to Lake Goodwin, Orcas Island, and Warm Beach Camp. On one vacation we camped at Crescent Lake on the Olympic Peninsula. In the afternoons we gathered pinecones, flowers, sticks and rocks to make art projects. And at night us kids entertained our parents with skits and jokes and other goofiness.

One of our skits was a modified camp song. We called it, “I’m Glad That I’m a Crosket.” One by one we’d step out of line and sing our part, including what we’d be if we weren’t a Crosket, such as an ice cream maker, a stewardess, or a youth worker. Each occupation was accompanied with dramatic hand motions. Here we are, years later, singing it for our parents once again. (Too bad we couldn’t all fit into the photo!)

“I’m Glad That I’m a Crosket”

We spent part of a day at Warm Beach Camp one summer. We all loved the place and chose it as a backdrop for a photo shoot for Christmas gifts for our parents. The cover photo above and the woodpile picture below were taken that day by Jon Belcher.

The three Cross kids on the right; the Foskets on the left. Our brother Tom had passed away a few years earlier.

Here we are just days ago, when both my brothers, Tim and Ted, came from Alaska to spend a few days with the family.  Left to right, Tim, me, Paula, Ted, Mom, and Don.We had such a delightful time together!  Besides eating-a-lot we drove up Mt Erie to enjoy the view and the memories. We took Mom bowling again. Several strikes and lots of spares by everyone who bowled. But not me. Instead, I  seem to have perfected my curve balls. Left gutter or right gutter, I can put it in either one with ease.

I like what Don said about bowling. “It wasn’t too much fun at first, but then I realized that bowling is a game of chance! So now I’m really enjoying it!”

Here we are, the Croskets with Mom

Hanging Out with the Cousins

Tourists close to home

My mama

Tim, me, Ted

Tom, my husband and an honorary Crosket

Mom and Tim

Breakfast at Willow and Jim’s in Silvana

Paula and her daughter Kristi

“Bowling is a game of chance!” – Don

How About You?

We’d love to hear your cousin stories. You can share them in the comments below. Thanks!

Ginger