Entertainment

Short and sweet.

Yesterday as I got into my sister's van I heard little Noah Shaun from the back seat, "Aunt Kristin! Did you know today is your birthday?" 

Haha, yes Noah, I know :]

Later in the day I was opening my gift from Eli, which was a pack a fruit chews, when he eagerly said as soon as they were out of the bag, "Hey, wanna share one with me?"

Hmm, did you pick out this gift, Eli?

Aunt Kristin's Little Loves

I spent the afternoon with 3 of my 4.almost-here-5 nieces and nephews. It's always a joy to have them in my apartment! 

It's nice to 

• have toys scattered across the floor...
• see coloring books and crayons covering the table top...
• set up the pack-n-play in the bedroom...
• snuggle a sleepy little girl in your arms and sing her to sleep...
• play like you're 6 years old again :]

Noah was quite pleased to have found these "funny glasses" in the bottom of the toy box.

We named this picture The Nutty Professor :]

Leanna laughed and laughed at this picture!

Noah said he made a "turtle-chicken" and a "cow-pig".

He was coloring this picture in the Scooby Doo book so the monster would look happier. Smart kid :]

Sweet baby girl finally fell asleep.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Spending time with my nieces and nephews always results in one of them saying something that makes me either laugh, cry, or become totally speechless.

Tonight, a 20 second conversation at the dinner table made me do just about all three.

Cosette: Aunt Kristin, do you think a boy will ever love you?

Me (aka Aunt Kristin): Well, *pause, wondering what kind of mean trick God is playing on me. Do all 7 year olds ask questions like this?*

Noah: (interrupting my pause and sounding very 'matter of fact') Cosette! Pappy Shaun loves her! 

Oh. My. Gosh.

Also Eli, who sometimes has trouble remembering what he's supposed to call me, used the following names to get my attention:

Grandma
Grandma Karen
Sunshine (the cat)
Leanna
and the names of two of their cousins, one being a boys name.

Eli: Oh wait, that's not your name! Sorry Sunshine....I mean Aunt Kristin! 

 Seriously love these little people!

The Sleepover In The Fort

I have the two (soon to be three) best nephews in the world! They stayed the night with me last night and were such good little boys. Here are some pics of our adventures plus a pretty cute video of Noah!

This is Eli the "Knight".

This was my living room.

Now it's a small walkway around a big fort :)

"Look Aunt Kristin! I'm an acrobat!"

That fort was one of the best ideas I've ever had! lol

"Look! I can spit like a whale!" ...Clean up in Aisle 3...

Coolest toothbrushes ever!

I told them to pick 3 bedtime story books. We ended up reading way more than that. AUNT Kristin can be a pushover sometimes. It's in the job description :)

All ready for bed. Although by the looks of this picture I don't think little Noah is quite settled enough to go to sleep!

Two of the best boys ever!

Yes, I eventually figured out what book he was talking about, thanks to help from Eli. 

Can't believe how big they are both getting! I had so much fun with them and, as always, look forward to the next sleepover with my nieces and nephews!

It's Beginning to Feel Like Christmas

  
How? How could it feel like Christmas when there is no snow outside?(You will never hear the end of it from me if we have a green Christmas :) )
Well, there was plenty of Christmas spirit INSIDE my apartment today! I had a wonderful day with my sister and her kids; there is just something about having kids around that makes Christmas feel even more special! I think their excitement begins to rub off on all those around.

Just love those four little people!

Grandma.....Kristin?

When my oldest niece, Cosette, first started talking she decided Kristin was too hard to say, so she somehow turned it into Deka (pronounced DEE-ka). I was (and still am) quite proud of that nickname. 

Although Cosette doesn't use it as often now, there are many other people who picked up the habit, and I love it! One of these people happens to be my Grandfather (the one I am currently living with) so I hear my cool nickname everyday now.

Within the past few months Cosette has given my a new name: Auntie Mabel. Hmmm. She said she got it from a Little House On The Prairie episode. She doesn't use it all the time, but quite often she will refer to me as Auntie Mabel.

I was playing with the kids one day last week, and we started giving each other nicknames. Eli's was our favorite...he was Clifford (as in the big red dog) because he had on his big red Clifford slippers...oh yes, we're very creative :) 

Anyway, Cosette reminded me that I already had a nickname, Auntie Mabel. After reminding her of Deka, she promised she would try to remember my preference of names. However, two minutes later I was Auntie Mabel again.

So, today at the lunch table (yes, my Sister and Brother-in-law's house has become my source for Family Meals since I had to move out of our house in January. Thanks guys!), Eli was talking to me....this is how our conversation went:

Eli: Hey Grandma, the other day when I was outside I went...

Me: (interrupting) Eli? What did you just call me?

Eli: Grandma.

Me: Oh. Why did you do that?

Eli: I dunno, Grandma.

Me: Whats my real name?

Eli: Aunt Kristin.

Me: That's better, bud. Now what were you telling me?

Eli: Well yesterday when I was outside, Grandma, I went over to the swing set and.....etc.

Don't know what's up with that! He was quite serious, though.

Those two crack me up :)

Although I love the nickname Deka, I could deal with Auntie Mabel as long as it's ONLY Cosette who uses it! But Grandma? I dunno how I feel about that in my 20's :)

Today's Lucky Numbers: 6.5, Just 5, Almost 3, and 1 Already?!

I am so ...no, I don't think 'Lucky' is the right word, here...'Blessed' is way more appropriate. So why the odd and yet very specific numbers? Let me explain.....

This little lady is 6. Wait, no, "Almost 6 1/2, Aunt Kristin!" This is the little girl that made me an Aunt, and gave me the nickname 'Aunt Deka'. She has recently changed that nickname to "Auntie Mabel"...not sure where that came from :) I love her wavy brown...no, "blonde, Aunt Kristin!"...hair and pretty blue eyes. I'm always ready to tap someone on the shoulder and say, "See that little girl over there? Shes MY niece!"

I am so blessed!






And this little man just turned 5 a few weeks ago! He loves to make you laugh, and will do just about anything for a good cheer :) Recently he has started making sure I know that one day, "I will be taller than you, Aunt Kristin." He'll stand beside me with his hand on top of his head and show me just how close he is :) Can't wait to see the Man he grows up to be!

I am so blessed!

Holding up his little fingers, this little guy shows you that he is soon to be 3. Although he doesn't have a large vocabulary, I feel so loved anytime I walk into his house! He greets me with a squeal a delight and big hug! He then pulls me away to show me his latest source of fun...


I am so blessed!

And on Monday, the smallest of the four will celebrate her 1st birthday! Already! I can still remember the day she arrived, and sometimes it feels like just yesterday. 
I love her laugh, and the way she crawls over to you and lifts up her arms to be picked up...something she did to me just tonight, and it melted my heart away! She loves to play peek-a-boo and I'm never quite ready to end the game as soon as she is....I could listen to her laugh all day :)
Happy Birthday little lady!

I am so blessed!


These little people are such BIG blessings. Their smiles, laughter, and yes...even their orneriness...bring so much joy to this Aunt's life :)

What about you? What are some of the blessings in YOUR life?

Saturdays Are Perfect For:

Snuggling up with Aunt Kristin and an afternoon snack...

Taking a nice long nap...

Or, if your name is Noah, taking an even longer nap...

Watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory...

Getting upset with Aunt Kristin when it takes her too
long to come rescue you from your nap...

Eating an after-nap snack of Cheerios...

Ordering pizza from Brenda's...

Posing so Aunt Kristin can take some pictures...

Having girl-time and doing each others hair...

Being quite proud of our hair-do-ing skills :) ...

                  Taking a nice warm bath and making sure Aunt Kristin is thoroughly soaked in the process (still not sure why they found this so funny :) )...

Practicing for our next mountain climb...

Being old enough to say, "Aunt Kristin, will you please stop taking my picture?" ...

Getting nice and cozy while reading some bedtime stories...

Deciding that the book I really want is on the back of 
the shelf, therefore pulling the rest off just to get to it...


I was going to end this with, "And now they all lay sleeping peacefully in bed." 
 However, I suddenly hear footsteps above my head :) Going to see who is up.....and I have my guess as to who it is!