Keeping the cousin connection alive across this fabulous nation and around the world

In the words of Sister Sledge, "We are Family"

Saturday, September 25, 2010























Meet David-Louis Burns Châtel
Mother: Shannon Burns
Father: Normand Châtel
Born: October 8, 1996
In full adolescence.

Interests include: spending time with friends, spending time with friends on X-Box live, spending time with friends at school, spending time with friends at basketball (either on the court or on the bench), spending time with friends on Facebook, spending time with friends at the mall, spending time with friends in our basement eating us out of house and home, spending time text messaging the friends that are not currently with him, spending time with his big brother but not admitting that he loves every minute of it, spending time with his big brother's friends, and spending time with his parents if all of his friends are otherwise occupied.

Pet peeve: not being allowed to spend ANY time with his friends, not enough food in the house, having to earn his keep, and lastly, a pet peeve he doesn't know about yet, when his mother writes about him on a blog post.

Photo courtesy of his Aunt Lindsay who was playing with her new iPhone and he happened to be in the way.




Saturday, September 11, 2010


Back to school!

Hello cousins and other followers,

School resumed this week in our household - "back to school" means so much more now than it did when I was the student heading back, and even as a young, childless beginning teacher I did not appreciate the behind the scenes shake-up that it brings about; the sorting through last year's supplies, the trip to the store for the missing items, replacing the jeans that are now two inches too short (I know, they do have to grow), the centuries-old lunch imbroglio - what to pack, who will make, enough not enough, forgotten, etc...; the soon-to-be Olympic event that is "running-for-the-bus-while-eating- breakfast" and the inevitable "what do we do now that we've missed it?". I was oblivious to ALL of this (and perhaps, dare I admit, even a bit insensitive)until I had children of my own. Throw in a return to full-time teaching, and I consider myself truly enlightened. After only two days with my new group of students, I am optimistic that the year will be a rewarding one for all of us. Stay tuned, we'll see how long the honeymoon lasts.

Aunt Dawn, Aunt Sharon, Mom (Dilly)and Lindsay, are cruising along the Rhine, landing in various ports, and testing beer in every single one of them. Perhaps the locals will write a sea shanty about them.

I don't get many details, but Lindsay does send the occasional photo. Here's one of the most recent (it might help explain any loopy behaviour that rears its goofy head in either you or your offspring - genetics).

Dawn and Dilly "eating" giant pretzels in a tavern.
I wish they would lighten up and have some fun!

That's it for today's post.

Your photos are ALWAYS WELCOME!!!

Cousin,
Shannon