I have mentioned quite a few times here that my sister and I are neighbours.  We live in a duplex house, side by side, next to each other.  Our kids (mine, 3 and hers 7) would switch houses and play with each other.  And as you’ve seen in my previous post, they’d play in our backyard, which we also share. 

There was a time when my sister and I lived with my aunt’s family and we became really close with our three cousins who were all girls.  We were like sisters to each other.  We have such fond memories growing up with our cousins. 

I’m sure that when our kids get older, they will also have fond memories of togetherness and laughter.  And of course, just like any siblings, they’ve had quite a few spats too.  

Last week, after a long break from patrolling (three weeks of a cold spell and another week at the office), I was kind of excited to be back at my post.  I brought my camera with me and took pictures of the kids while they were walking home from school. 

Their school is only a ten-minute walk from home.  But these five cousins take forever to get home.  From my post, I could see them from three blocks away as they make a right turn.  And it’s like watching a slow motion movie.  They are always the last group of kids that I have to cross.

My 11-year old niece usually walks ahead.  And usually, the youngest, my six-year old nephew, trails behind.  They sometimes have to stop until he could catch up with them.  And of course, they also stop to goof around and play with the snow.