The McCowins

Rachel and I spent a good portion of Easter at her parent's house this past Sunday. We got to spend some time with her brother Jarrod, sister-in-law Heather, and her neice Cora. (Just about the cutest thing that moves.) Her brother Jarrod is a great guy, he laughs a lot, and makes me want to make him laugh, and her sister-in-law Heather is a blast to watch with Cora. She's a blast to be around because she is so full of energy and life. Sometimes she is just bolting back and forth from the couch to the ground to Cora's newest toy, and I just sit on the piano bench watching. And Cora... I mean seriously... who can say enough about Cora? Jarrod and Heather both love Cora more than anything. I love that about them.

Now, I am saying a whole lot about Jarrod and Heather, but I really need to throw a bone out to her parents, and her cousins John and Jason and his fiance Lindsay, and her Uncle Jimmy (who were all there at Easter.) Her parents have always been really excepting and loving of me, and they make me feel like I'm at home even though I'm not. From day one, being at her parent's house (which should be a really awkward place) was never awkward, and felt calm and soothing. Her mom and dad really seem to accept me in, and are two of the most loving people I know.

I know what you're saying right now... "Way to suck up to the in-laws on your blog" right? Well, just so you know, I don't think any of them have the address.

(Rachel, could you email this URL to your parents?)

Her Uncle Jimmy (James) is fabulous, and I'm really glad she has an Uncle in the family who I am excited to have as an Uncle-in-law? Is that how you say it? Uncle-in-law? He might like the Steelers, but I can't hold it against him, because he's a great guy. I love watching him with John and Cora. He's basically just a huge teddy bear. Her cousin Jason and his fiance Lindsay are really fun people, and I wish I were around more to get to know them better. I would love to be able to just hang out with the two from time to time, they seem like people Rachel and I could be friends with. Her other cousin John is awesome too. He has a handicap and can't talk at all. You never really know what he's thinking, but usually he's thinking something about cieling fans, or Ritz. (He got a box of them for Christmas) He loves turning on the ceiling fan in the dining room, and going into the bedroom to turn the radio on really loud. I never feel like I belong quite as much as when John grabs my arm and starts pulling me to the cupboard. I open it up and he thrusts his arms out at a shelf clapping his hand shut. That's my cue to pour him a bowl of cereal. Or, if he's in the dining room tugging on the cieling fan, I come in and turn it off, and he laughs and laughs, only to turn it back on. So I turn it off and he laughs and laughs, only to turn it on again. I'm pretty sure he could play that game until he starved to death. I like John a lot.

So, that's the McCowins. Or at least the McCowins that were there at Easter. I'm glad it was a small crew, because there is a lot to be said about all those folks that weren't there for Easter. Maybe I'll introduce you to those folks when they come by for the next holiday.

Oh, I snapped this loving photo of Rachel's brother Jarrod playing with his little girl Cora, and I thought it just summed up that loving relationship much better than my words would. See what a good parent he is? You can really tell how much he loves his little girl...

Never, never NEVER! Shake a baby.