Last November right before Thanksgiving, Kat Bryant, who writes the “Making Tracks” column for The Daily World, asked all of us here in the office to send her an email with what we are grateful for. Her column, printed on Nov. 21, included my answer: “I am thankful that all of our children, in-laws and grandchildren live within the state of Washington and that all of our children and their families enjoy getting together.”

When my husband, Mike, read the column, he said, “That’s what I predicted you would say.”

“Am I that predictable?” I said.

“Most of the time you are,” he replied, “and that’s a comment that you make often about our family.”

And it’s true.

Our oldest, Tara, and her family live in Black Diamond; our youngest, Tami, and family live in Maple Valley, so those two families are only about 7 minutes apart. Our son, Tyler, and his family live in Spokane — a little too far away for my liking, but still within the state.

All of us try to get together several times a year. Those of us on this side of the state head over to Spokane in early May to walk/run in the Bloomsday event. We also meet over at Sun Lakes for four or five days in August, and — if the weather cooperates — the Spokanites come over for New Year’s Eve — which is also when we do our family Christmas celebration.

Last year Tami and her husband, Austin, decided to try to get all the young ones at their house for one week during the summer. It took a lot of planning to figure out a week that her two girls, Evan and Charlotte, could get together with Tara’s daughter, Makhya, and Tyler’s son, Keegan and daughter, Presley.

But they figured it out, and “Cousins Camp” was created: All five kids spent five days at the Maple Valley house. Tami made lists, assigned chores, and planned picnics and adventures such as visits to Woodland Park Zoo, a couple of afternoons in the water at Lake Wilderness, a whole day at Wild Waves and a couple of movies.

For a while this year, it didn’t look like Cousins Camp 2 was going to take place. The older the kids get, the busier they are during the summer with Scout camp, church camp, swimming lessons, STEM camp, etc. But Tyler and his wife, Andrea, persevered and figured out five days they could all get together.

In late July, Tami and Tara drove to Spokane one Sunday to drop off the three girls with Uncle Tyler, then reversed the trip the following Friday.

Every day included 30 minutes of reading, a short list of chores and two tooth brushings. Different activities also were planned, including a couple of water balloon fights, tie-dyeing T-shirts, a trip to the aquatic center and the Mobius Science Center, a day trip to Pullman (Go Cougs!) including lunch at Cougar Country, shopping at the Bookie, outings to Riverfront Park and Steptoe Butte, and of course an ice cream treat from Ferdinand’s.

Plus, Andrea came up with a photo scavenger hunt in which the kids had to look for and take pictures of all kinds of stuff: something shiny, something round, something wet, an oak tree, something with a tail, something that makes you happy, a butterfly, one of the cousins swinging on a tree, etc.

From the pictures I saw and the enthusiastic reports I heard from the kids, Cousins Camp 2 was just as terrific as the original.

And hopefully, when spring 2019 rolls around, plans will be made and dates will be found to do it again.

So maybe you’re thinking Cousins Camp 3 should be at Nana and Papa’s house in Central Park next year. Nope, not going to happen.

I definitely do not have the creativity, patience or endurance to handle, entertain and enjoy five kids for five days, but I am ever so thankful that our kids and their spouses do.

Karen Barkstrom, The Daily World’s editorial assistant, can be reached at 360-537-3925 or kbarkstrom@thedailyworld.com.