A Pair of Super Heros, Kidzilla, and the Scarecrow-Ballerina - Aren't Cousins the Best?

There are days which shall live in infamy at the King Compound due to the sullen and miserable attitudes that spread from kid to kid like a virulent super virus ravaging the country side . . . But I am glad to report that there are the days when the cousins get along like the best of friends and play in uninhibited ways that make me want to be a little kid again, like today.

As I was sitting on my stoop at the base of our porch, Ella went dashing inside with something on her mind. I was preoccupied taking pictures of the boys playing on the sand pile. They were pushing and shoving and "wrastling" the way boys should. They were having a grand time playing king of the mountain, which in itself would have been a great post.


BUT . . .

Ella shortly returned donning . . . da da dah . . . her "Super E" cape and mask! Some cousin busting was about to begin! Or something like that.

Away she flew across the graveled yard in her bare feet. Obviously she has developed the required callouses for such brazen galloping over the angular rock surface. Those with tender feet can look away now. It only gets worse.


Circling around the Kubota tractor parked near the sand pile she assessed the situation. Boys. Lots of them. What is a girl to do?


I know she's thinking, "I'm Super Ella! Ready for the world. And then some!"


Meanwhile, Cousin Adam, spying his littlest cousin dressed for battle, raced into the house to find his own apparel to begin combat. Blazing down the steps, nearly leaping over me in a single bound he faced his arch-rival to commence in a "Super Hero" war. Not one to shy from danger Super Ella squared off against the evil "Baseball Cap Boy!" Let the ruckus begin!


Then a super hero chase commenced with the dastardly Baseball Cap Boy taking the upper hand and Super Ella dashing off like a gleeful pink-legged gazelle.


They ran this way and that. Zigging and zagging. Poor Super Ella's cape became loose and as she ran for her life as Baseball Cap Boy taunted her ruthlessly.


The pursuit continued . . . It looked like the end of the road for Super Ella. What was left to do? Baseball Cap Boy would soon catch her and then what? Would he steal her cape? Her mask? Revoke her pink super powers?

BUT...

A new character appeared on the scene . . .

It was green, loud, and ferocious. It wore horns and breathed fire. With an appetite for destruction there would soon be a change in power.

BOOM . . .
BOOM . . .
BOOM . . .
BOOM . . .


It was . . .

KIDZILLA!

Right out of a 1960's movie, the scaly beast staggered from the ocean to commence in the chase of BOTH super hero cousins. The pandemonium continued.


But Baseball Cap Boy rallied and turned on Kidzilla. I guess all those heavy scales really keep a monster from running too long in the 80 degree weather.


And during the commotion a staggering fourth body emerged to do battle royale with Super Ella. Suddenly, Scarecrow Ballerina showed up from a strange broadway musical. He earned bonus points for originality and daring. And since he was wearing a tutu, Super Ella was not afraid. Not that ballerinas are wimps. She just knows how they think.


And with her slap down she showed the dancing Scarecrow Ballerina who was boss!


Finally, to escape from the clash of the titans, Super Ella retreated to the safety of the play structure where she could safely cheer on the chaos and observe her adversaries. Battling Baseball Cap Boy, running from Kidzilla and doing the chicken dance with Scarecrow Ballerina was exciting but taxing stuff...


But spying across the yard she observed a sagging monster. He was sitting by himself. Alone. What could this mean?


Kidzilla was down. But was he out? Was he injured? Hmmm?

Nope. It was a moment of zen. Perfect minutes in a kids perfect world.

Who'd have thought Halloween costumes pulled out from the closet in April could be so entertaining. No fools here this April, just fun.

I have to stop every now and then to appreciate that my kids have their cousins to play with next door, and that these close cousins will creatively interact with each other on a level that I can't see them doing with classmates.

Since we live next door to my sister and brother in law, one of the greatest benefits is that our kids can play like siblings in the day and have time away at night with their family to make the next day fresh again. Of course these cousins can fight like vile little alley cats and act naughty towards one another on other days, but I have to stop and thank fate that there are moments of brilliance when four little bodies and minds find that same wave and ride it.