On Being an Aunt

My sister and I are 3 1/2 years apart. We've always been super close. We have always gotten along, even as teenagers. Okay, there was one fight. One hysterical fight. We both wanted to be in the bathroom and we both wanted the other one OUT of the bathroom. I sprayed her in the eye with hair spray and she punched me in the arm.


The end.


As adults (if you can call us that) we are still super close. We talk most days and now that she is only an hour and a half or so away, we see each other more often.


She has always been so good with my kids. Very calm and natural with them. They LOVE spending time with Aunt Susie. Ask the Little Miss her favorite place to be and she will say, "Aunt Susie's house." (She does have a big, awesome house!)


Aunt Susie had her own baby in September. The most beautiful baby girl. And I learned how amazing it is to be an aunt. There's an automatic "right" an aunt has to have the baby. At least, I seem to think so because whenever that baby is near, I scoop her right up. Sorry, Grandma. I tend to hog her. She is just so sweet, lovable, and kissable. I can't get enough of her.


But does it make me want another one?


Hell to the no.


I love that little baby so much. But I am very willing to give her back to her momma. The nursing? Up multiple times a night? Constant entertaining? Done, done, and done.


Being an aunt is pretty much the best. Plenty of baby loving. A full night's rest. And no sore nipples. Thanks, Aunt Susie. Keep on having those sweet babies. And if you could have twins, that'd be great. One for me, one for grandma. Perfect.

Apparently December is a busy month for me

Ha! Understatement of the century.


December has flown by at warp speed.


I suffered through way too many school days. Our first day of Christmas Break wasn't until December 23. Cruel and unusual punishment is what that is.

Since then, we celebrated Christmas at various places. We had wonderful food, gifts, and spent time with our wonderful family and friends.


Watching my kids at Christmas this year was so fun. Cole tore open each present, shrieked "Thank you!" then threw that gift to the side and started opening the next one.


The Little Miss, on the other hand, opened each gift, shrieked, "Oh my word!" and hugged each gift tightly, twirling around in joy. She savored each one before opening the next. So fun to watch.

While we were watching a cartoon a few days before Christmas, I heard Cole say, "That's okay if they don't get presents. Christmas isn't even about presents anyway. It's about Jesus." But then, on the final day of opening gifts with family, he started bawling when he realized there were no.more.presents. Heh.

We have had several inches of snow on the ground for...like...ever! I can't even remember what it looked like before snow on the ground. When it isn't 5 degrees out, we have been able to get out and enjoy it!



On Christmas Eve, we came home from my sister's house. (The sister with the cutest baby in the world!) As we pulled in the driveway, we noticed a mystery snowman had been built with all of Cole's outdoor toys! How cute is he?!



I love the grain bin hat and shovel arms. A big thanks to our secret snow man maker!

The BFF who moved 800+ miles away from me sent me a Christmas package! It was so fun to open each individually wrapped gift in the box. I squealed with delight as I opened each one which included a beautiful necklace (which is totally me!) a coffee mug (which is also totally me!) toe warmers, chocolate, a new book which I am currently reading and loving (but still in the first chapter) a Southern cooking magazine, and a Southern cheese straw snack. The package I sent her was surprisingly similar! Great minds... :)

I am now enjoying my one full week of Christmas break. I painted the bathroom yesterday. (Loving it!) Today the kids and I shall make a trip to Ikea for new bathroom accessories. I hope to spend tomorrow in jammies playing Wii all day long. That's what Christmas break is about, right?!

We are lucky enough to have a kid-friendly party to spend our New Year's Eve with good friends and family. We will have the annual corned beef and cabbage to celebrate the new year. Is that a widely-known tradition? Corned beef and cabbage on New Year's Day? Supposedly it brings good luck for the new year.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas!