My Nieces

Last week I was one lucky Aunt.

On Monday (the 4th) I got to spend some good quality time with my niece Little O. (She is my brother Gav's daughter). When I say good quality time I mean her and I. Just the two of us!! I thought it would be nice if her parents got to eat dinner with their guests at the fourth of July party.

Little O has not been my biggest fan. I guess it's partly because we don't get to see each other that much. I had seen her a few weeks ago and I think she remembered that visit. Well on the 4th I noticed her eyeing me a little. Trying to figure me out!! So, I saw the opportunity and I ran with it. Literally ran out front where no one could disturb our much needed niece and aunt time. I figured the way to her heart is to act like her father and my father. Goofy!!!!!!!! Which isn't really hard for me because we are very similar. We had so much fun blowing bubbles, throwing bubbles in the air, and looking for those bubbles, picking flowers and throwing them, playing ball, and Aunt Neenie pretending she was getting hurt by a spike plant. She had such a good time with me that she kept coming back to me. I was so excited!!!

Isn't she such a cutie!!! I am so excited because in a few weeks I get to spend a whole week with her, her mommy, and daddy. Watching out Little O Aunt Neenie is going to play with you!!!

Then on Wednesday my niece Baby MG came to my house for a few days with my baby brother Gar. (Yes he is 31 but he is still a baby to me.) My sister in law takes a youth group to do Habitat for Humanity. This year she was in Maryland. I have a lot of pictures because I wanted to be able to capture her visit for her mommy!!!

Look at that face. Don't you want to just eat her up?

Baby MG with Uncle Tommy. We watched the kids have their first soccer game.

MG with her Daddy. We took her to the camper to see Grams and Pops.

Splashing around in the pool. I think it was her first time in a big pool.

A little afternoon nap with Daddy.

These two chicks just adored each other. You could see by the way they looked at each other. MG would spread her arms out and Ballerina would give her a hug and MG would smile and laugh.

Speed Racer would steal quiet moments with MG. When he thought no one was looking he would lay down next to her and talk to her. If she dropped her pacifier he would carefully put it back in her mouth.

A good-bye picture. I will always try to take a picture with the cousins together.

Cousin picture a few weeks ago acting silly in hats!!

It's very important to me to have a close relationship with my nieces and any future nieces or nephews. (Speed Racer is praying for boy cousins). It's also important for our kids to have a good relationship with their cousins. We are all family and family is VERY important to Tommy and I. Plus as I have learned it takes a village to raise a child.

I am so glad I got to spend a few days with MG. Ballerina and I are hoping to start a tradition with her girl cousins where they come to visit with us for a few days each summer. I told her we will have to wait a couple of years!!! I hope that is a tradition we can do. Speed Racer informed me that when that happens he is going away with Daddy!! Poor little Guy!!

I know you are wondering why I have my nieces call me Aunt Neenie. When my brothers were little they couldn't say Janine so they called me Neenie. I want my nieces to use the same name their fathers used!! Plus it's a lot easier to say then Janine!!!

 I hope to spend a lot more time with my nieces in the future!!!