"A child has a special way of adding joy to every day."

 "Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called 'All the Things That Could Go Wrong."

          K is for kids. In my family, I'm the fourth oldest grandchild of thirteen. For as long as I can remember, I've always helped with the younger ones, mostly my Aunt Tracy's kids. Of my Aunt Tracy's kids, Maddie is the oldest being eight years old. Anna is next, she's six. Dj, or David Jr. the only boy of the kids, is three. Natalie is the youngest of the bunch; she's only a couple weeks old.

          Often, I spend my summers helping my aunt with her kids. I enjoy spending time with my cousins. They are so sweet and fun to be around. Maddie and Anna make life seem so simple and easy. I treasure these kids as if they were my brother and sisters.

          When I babysit or even just help Aunt Tracy with the kids, I play games like hide-n-seek with them. It's always interesting to watch them hide in random places like under a bed or a blanket. They always have the advantage in hide-n-seek because of their small size.

          If I'm not playing games with them, I bake with the girls, sometimes even DJ. Anna helps me lay everything out. Maddie helps me mix. DJ might help me put a few things in the bowl, but always with help.

          Honestly, I would give up everything if I had to keep them by my side. Maddie, Anna, DJ, and Natalie are just so precious and innocent in this world. They make the sometimes cruel world so sweet and beautiful.

          Of course, sometimes I get annoyed by them but never for long. They are truly like my siblings. For them, I'm the protective older sister. I don't let them do anything dangerous, and I won't let them close to anything or anyone that will possibly harm them. I want to shelter and protect them for as long as I can.

          Another kid that has always been in my life is my older cousin Victoria. I can't really say she's a kid because she's almost eighteen, but she always acts like a kid. Victoria has always been like a sister to me. Skiye, my older sister, always hung out with her friends and kind of pushed me away. She never meant it, but I had Victoria there for me.

          Victoria was like the sibling everyone wants, the sibling that is protective but your best friend. She was the one that who me how to be an older sister. When Opa would take me out fishing, Victoria would normally be the one who was there with us.

          Victoria and I are still very close, especially with all the drama in our family. We rely on each other for help and support in these times. I would complain to her and she would give me advice. She would then complain to me and I would give her advice. That's how it's always worked between us.

          No matter what, I'll always keep Maddie, Anna, DJ, Natalie, and Victoria close to my side.