I have a lot of cousins. First cousins and second cousins and fake cousins (i.e. children of close family friends) and real cousins. Weekends were full of family get-togethers. Our parents would eat and drink and play mah-jong upstairs while the kids played and ran wild in the basement. We literally grew up together. Those are some of my best memories of my childhood.
Living in New York City, my kids don’t have the same kinds of get-togethers with their cousins. My brother and sister and their families all live in California. While we do see each other once or twice a year, it’s not the same as weekly gatherings. Sometimes I wonder if my kids are missing out.
This weekend, we traveled to California to celebrate Chinese New Year. Sharing my Chinese culture and heritage has always been hard for me so being around family who can share the traditions and stores is all the more important to me. My mom can explain the importance of red envelopes and why we eat certain foods on the holiday like egg rolls and rice cakes and shrimp and green vegetables. The cousins can sing Chinese songs and dance for the kids.
The kids obviously love each other so much and are so excited to play with each other. Now that they are getting older, it’s fascinating to watch their relationships develop. They run around like a little pack, feeding off each other’s energy until it spirals into craziness – just how I remember it being with my cousins.
Chinese New Year brunch – cousins keeping themselves busy with books and iPhones.
I can’t wait to continue to watch their relationships grow and develop.
Did you grow up with a big family? Are your kids?
{Linking up with Alison and Galit for Memories Captured. PS – This is the last Memories Captured link-up for a little bit so you should go and link-up your post. I’ve loved sharing my memories and reading about yours.}
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I’m the same way. Growing up all of our extended family was around. We only saw each other maybe 8 times a year but we were close. My brothers and I are all over so we never see each other. It’s sad but none of us are moving any time soon to change it.
Enjoy the rest of your time together!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Running in the Snow
We didn’t grow up with a big family since we were raised overseas. But when we got to Korea we got to see our cousins and extended family a lot so it was so much fun celebrating the lunar new year together with them! And seriously Christine, what an adorable freaking family you have! Happy new year!
maria @ lift love life recently posted..Toddler lunch ideas and how not to raise a picky eater
aww, thanks Maria! It’s really fun and cute to see all the little people gathered together and playing together.
We have just moved closer to our families, and it is soo nice that our kids get to hang out often now finally. I didn’t grow up near extended family, so this is a whole new experience for me. Thanks for sharing your beautiful memories.
Mama Melch recently posted..Memories Captured
Thank you for sharing yours! It is a special experience to grow up near family I think and I am extremely grateful that I was able to and my kids can too (while we’re far from family in California, we do live near other family).
Perfect. I loved getting the red envelopes from my mom. I understand it more now. I’m glad you are sharing tradition with the fam. Hope you are enjoying the time here. Are you still going to be in town for the parade? (2/23)
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We’re not – we leave that morning. I’m kind of bummed because we missed the parade in NYC too. Everybody loves the red envelopes!
I have no real cousins (only the fake kind), but boy did we make memories. I still laugh thinking about some our antics. And, we all still get together anytime we are in town. It is so much fun to watch our little ones play and have fun together. We may not have the blood bond, but we’re bonded like blood.
I’m glad you had a great trip!
Michelle recently posted..Animation Fascination
Love that – may not have the blood bond but we’re bonded like blood << the best kind of bond.
I don’t have a big family, but did grow up with my cousins. We’re really close. They did live about 4 hrs away, but visited often. So glad you had a wonderful, family-filled weekend!
Heather (Where’s the Beach) recently posted..Impromptu Virtual Race – Kyle’s Krusade 5k
What a great weekend for you all! Great for the kids to spend time with cousins and be immersed in tradition. So glad you got out and got to enjoy it all.
I live a few states away from family and do wish my kids had more time with their cousins/aunts/uncles/grandparents. However, we’re not moving there (Ohio) and I don’t suppose they’re coming here, so it will remain the occasional get together.
misszippy recently posted..Post-run slug
What great memories for your kids! I sometimes have that same guilt about being so far from cousins and grandparents, and wonder if L is missing out. But that seems to be the norm these days, with everyone going where the jobs are and moving around. Makes the times when you do get together extra special!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..RRCA Certification Recap
It’s true – it does make those times together feel more special.
Cousins are your first friends, and my sister and I have always been close to our cousins.
I love that your son was reading a book instead of playing on an electronic device, and that food looks amazing!
Danielle @ I Eat Therefore I Run recently posted..Five Fortuitous Facts this Friday
Love that you traveled to california for the Chinese New Year to visit family. I have a pretty large family (close to 30 first cousins on one side) and love that I was brought up with such a large family that I consider close. I’m a very lucky girl. Happy new year!
Definitely know what you mean about feeling lucky to have a big family. It’s a gift for sure. And watching the little ones together and seeing them bond is pretty incredible
so cute
I dont come from a big family, but that is ok with me…we all are pretty close because of this I think 
Sara @ fitcupcaker recently posted..C= Crossfit, Carrot Cake & Corn Casserole
Mine wasn’t a big family but I was really close with one of my cousins. She and I had so much fun together. She was the closest thing I had to a sister. Then we moved and yadda, yadda…we lost that closeness.
I love that you are doing your best to give your boys that closeness even being on opposite coasts! Also, how darn cute are your boys?! I can’t stand it!
Kristen recently posted..Valentine’s Day Don’ts
I do remember my relationship with my cousins as being super special when I was growing up. But like you, people moved and things changed and we lost touch. It’s funny but after all these years I’m reconnecting with some cousins through FB and it’s been great to get to know each other again.
Love this! Hopefully the kids will all grow up to be close. I am the second oldest cousin of 15 on my mom’s side and while we are all older now, we still connect with each other and got to spend Christmas together which was a blessing.
How about the timing of your trip too? No Nemo for you!
katie recently posted..Weekend Recap and Ramblings
OMG I am SO thankful about the timing of our trip!
Sounds like such a wonderful weekend! Celebrating traditions and creating new memories together with family are always the best of times.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom recently posted..These Days
Chinese New Year when I was a kid? I loved it. I have many cousins and we would all gather at my grandmother’s house for the reunion dinner, then the next day where red packets would be exchanged, and the highlight of our day would be the lion dance.
Sadly, CNY is not the same anymore. My dad tries to uphold some tradition – but reunion dinners are held at packed restaurants. The first day, my parents host a lunch at their house, and it’s chaos. I didn’t go back this year, the stress of driving with 2 kids on what would be jam packed roads put me off. Instead, we enjoyed the rare quiet of KL city!
Kong Hei Fatt Choy!
Alison recently posted..Memories Captured February Linkup, And Some News
When we come out to California for Chinese New Year, I feel like it’s the same or similar in terms of celebration and family gatherings as when I grew up. But if we’re home in NYC, it’s definitely different and not as special for some reason. Maybe it’s the packed restaurants but I’m not sure why. A quiet day sounds MUCH better than being stuck in a car with 2 kids!
Gung Hay Fat Choi to you too Alison!
i think it’s so important to grow up around extended family. We did! i have about 40 cousins, no joke! and I adore getting together with all them! Love that you got away.
lindsay recently posted..News You can Use: Blend & Attune Foods Giveaway
That’s a lot of cousins!!
We were a military family so I didn’t grow up near my extended family. Now that I am older and have children of my own, we are a lot closer and visit more often.
Great pics and all that food looks delicious!!
Natalie recently posted..PRO Compression calf sleeves review
I too have such fond memories of playing with my large group of cousins while growing up. I am glad my daughter lives near her cousins so she gets similar experiences, at times she even calls them her sisters.
Danica
Danica Martin recently posted..Carnaval Time
UMMM You have the most beautiful family EVER!! Love all of these pics! SO ADORABLE!
Krysten Siba Bishop (@darwinianfail) recently posted..The Happy Heart Project
Awww, thanks Krysten!
It looks like you had an amazing time! The only bad thing must have been leaving
. I love Chinese New Year! I know, I know, stupid white chick knows nothing, but I love the traditions, the symbols, these are the things that get me through my life, small tokens to remind me to stay centered, you know what I mean? I love family gatherings and celebrating new beginnings. Plus, my ex-husband (did I just say that out loud? ehh) anyway, he is still one of my best friends and happens to be Vietnamese, he and his family always would say, still do, that I am more Asian than some of the Asian/American girls, I’m not sure exactly what they mean, but I am so very flattered that they think that. 
In what Chinese year were you born (animal) ?
Lisa @ RunWiki recently posted..Kyle’s Krusade Results
ohmygoodness love you and this comment! You are absolutely right that the traditions and the symbols help us to stay centered (even in my family drives me crazy sometimes!).
We didn’t grow up with our cousins close, but I always wished we had because I always loved to see them! Your family is so adorable! It is nice you all got together for Chinese New Years.
Jess recently posted..Impact of Endurance Training on your Heart
I only had two cousins growing up and the lived in CO. We rarely saw them, so at holiday gatherings it was just my brother, sisters and I. Now we are all married and starting to have kids: my son and daughter have two cousins (making four all under the age of three) and more to follow I’m sure. I love that they will get to have the experience of a big family that I never had.
Sarah @RunFarGirl recently posted..There is No Pain Worse
Yay! So happy you made it out there despite the snow! And while I do not have a big family, I love it when my kids get together with their cousin/my niece. It’s such an important part of their extended family.
ilene recently posted..My Evil Mistress
I LOVE these pictures! That food looks amazing. YUM. I did grow up with a lot of cousins, and my kids are, too. I’m lucky enough to live within 20 minutes of all of my nieces and nephews. It looks like you had a great trip!
Greta @gfunkified recently posted..Good, Clean Fun. #iPPP
That’s so great that you live close to your nieces and nephews! It’s been fun hanging around the kids and watching their relationship develop with each other.