"Auntie's Day?"

When I picked up Ella from school last Thursday, she came out holding a wrapped Mother's Day gift for Mommy (aka, Leanne).  Ella was most excited about the gift and said, "Oh Auntie, we have to open it!"  While Ella understood that the gift was for Mommy, for the life of her she couldn't remember the exact gift.

Ella then said, "Ok, here is the plan -- we can just open it to see, and then you can wrap it up again."  So, when we got home, we proceeded to very carefully open the gift, take a quick peak, to which Ella exclaimed, "Oh yeah!  I made that!"  (It was a small baby-food glass jar hand-painted by Ella, with small candle inside.)  As we sat at my kitchen table re-wrapping the gift, Ella and I had the most interesting conversation.  It went like this:

Ella:   So Auntie, this is for Mommy for Mother's Day.

Me:  Yes, honey.  Mommy will love it.

Ella:  And you know, there is a Father's Day too.

Me:  Yes, there is.

Ella:  So, when is Auntie's Day?

Me:  What?

Ella:  When is Auntie's Day?  There is Mother's Day and Father's Day.  When is Auntie's Day?

Me:  (Not quite sure how to answer this one, because I don't think there is a Hallmark Holiday for Auntie's.  So, I had to think quick.)  Well, Auntie's Day is on my birthday.  That is when we celebrate Auntie's Day.

Ella gave me a doubtful look that said she wasn't quite sure she was buying the answer I just gave her, but she then replied, "Ok."

 I was so touched that Ella, at age 4, would be thinking about an "Auntie's Day" for me.  I tell Leanne time and time again that both Ella and Katie have such good hearts, and that they ALWAYS think of others first.

Fast-forward to yesterday.  While at Leanne's celebrating Katie's First Holy Communion, we also had a mini-Mother's Day party.  I received a gift below, from Katie and Ella, with the greatest little note:

A Mother's Day Note from Katie & Ella: 
"Thank you for being our Mommy when Mommy can't be there!  We love you!"

It appears that Ella was right to doubt that "Auntie's Day" is celebrated on my birthday.  You see, in our family, "Auntie's Day" is also celebrated on Mother's Day.


Katie, Me, and Ella


So, to all the Mommies, Grandmas, AND Aunties everywhere -- HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

Me & Ella

It's just me and Ella (my niece) on Thursdays.  Every Thursday, I pick up Ella from pre-school, and we head back to my house for some juice (Ella's beverage of choice), Tom & Jerry (Ellie's favorite cartoon), lunch, a few games and craft projects, etc.  Later then, we go back to her house to get sister Katie off the school bus before Mommy (aka, Leanne) gets home from work.

Last week, I had a interesting conversation with Ella on our way back to her house.  The conversation came completely out of the blue... here it is:

Ella:  Auntie, I have the best boyfriend in the whole world.

Me:  You do?  Who is your boyfriend?

Ella:  Michael.  But don't tell Katie.  He is the best boyfriend in the whole world.  (Side comment: Michael is a boy in Ella's pre-school class.)

Me:  Really?  Why is Michael the best boyfriend in the whole world?

Ella:  Because he looks at me all the time.

Me:   He does?

Ella:  Yes.  But he doesn't kiss me.

Me:  He doesn't kiss you?

Ella:  NOOOOO!  That would be gross!

Ella.  Age 4.  Gotta love it.

What Makes Me Smile

It's been a week since my last post.  I really haven't had much to say.   The week hasn't been the best for me...  I went through some unemployment blues and am frustrated about the continued poor job market.  Additionally, I am battling a bad knee and I can't get in to see my doc until Monday.  The knee has forced me to hobble around a bit, and I hate it when my mobility is limited.  I'm just used to being active and going and doing.  Still, I do have so much for which to be thankful and grateful, and I still think I'm one of the luckiest people around.  Yes, I remain really happy.  (Big sigh and deep breath....)  And today I had one thing that really made me smile.  Here it is:


Google Image Search found at thetoyreview.com


Yes, Play-Doh makes me smile.  Why?  Because playing with Play-Doh is one of Ella's favorite activities.  Yesterday, Ella and I broke out 12 new containers of Play-Doh, and because Uncle (aka, CT) was off from work yesterday, he joined us.  Here are my two Play-Doh colleagues:

There is nothing like new Play-Doh to brighten one's day.  Fresh, new, bright colors, and that new Play-Doh scent.  (We tossed out all the old "gray" Play-Doh that Ella has mixed together over the last six months.)  Together, Ella and I make all kinds of amazing things with our Play-Doh, but more importantly, we TALK.  Yesterday, we talked about about mommy, about Katie being in school, about Santa Claus, about daddy, about why Uncle should NOT put too much Play-Doh cheese on his Play-Doh pizza (because we all know what too much cheese does to Uncle), about Ellie's new friend Allison, about my knee hurting.  We talked about our trip to Disney and Ella asked CT, "Uncle, what was your favorite part?"  We sang all the latest songs Ella has learned in pre-school (the "Days Of The Week" song, "When You're Happy and You Know It", and of course, the macaroni song, a cute little song that my mom composed.

What started out to be a not-so-good week actually turned out pretty good, because it ended with a smile -- all because of a little Play-Doh.  Something so simple as Play-Doh... and Ella, of course.  Anyway, I hope you find smiles in some of the simplest things too.

  

Our Protector

Yesterday we had another great Halloween, spent with family and friends at Leanne's house.  Here are just a few family photos (CT, Katie, Ella, me, and Leanne).  Unfortunately, I did not take very many pictures yesterday, but here goes:

Since we were gone from our house during trick-or-treating hours, we left a big bowl of candy on a table by the front door, with a note inviting the visitors to take some candy.   We've done this the last several years, and I must say that the trick-or-treaters that come to our house are very polite - we've never had a problem with pumpkins being smashed outside, or the candy bowl being taken, etc.  In fact, there are always a few pieces of candy remaining in the bowl when we return (not many pieces, but still a few).  This year was no exception, but for some reason, CT thought we needed a "protector" to watch over our house while we were gone yesterday.  Here is a photo of our protector for the evening:

Yes, this is a picture of the outside of our living room window, and yes, that would be Captain Jean-Luc Picard from the television series "Star Trek".  CT inherited Jean-Luc from Leanne's father-in-law, RW.  Over the summer, RW had a big garage sale and when we stopped by his house, CT stumbled upon Jean-Luc.  RW was all too happy to give Jean-Luc a good home, and said to CT, "Take it - it's yours!"  CT thought he just won the lottery.

So, not only did Jean-Luc come to a good home, he was put to good use as our protector.  And all was well at our house on Halloween. 



Cabinets & Closets

At least once a week, I have the good fortune to spend time with (aka, babysit) my nieces, Katie (age 7) & Ella (age 3).  Usually, I babysit the girls at my house, and what makes me really happy is that the girls seem to LOVE coming to my house.  They feel very comfortable here, and they know exactly where everything is at - from the TV remote controls, to their toys, to which cabinet I keep the snacks (including their own secret stash of chocolate), to The Scrapbook Cellar (aka, the basement), where we complete our own craft projects to give Mommy after she works.  The girls have never turned down an offer to come to my house.

Because the girls spend time here on a regular basis, I decided to designate a space where they could keep a few of their toys, etc.  It began with a drawer in the kitchen.  Mental note - I've got to clean this drawer out.

Well, that drawer did not last very long, as their supply of items began to grow and overflow the drawer.  So we moved on to a closet (yes, I am lucky enough to have an extra closet that was not being used!).  This closet now keeps all their prized possessions (along with a few of my office supplies).

Then we had a predicament:  what to do with the pictures and notes the girls draw and give to me.  So, instead of hanging these things on the refrigerator (magnets don't work on my stainless steel refrigerator anyway), we decided to start hanging things inside kitchen cabinets.  It all began with Katie's things, and this cabinet is now referred to as "Katie's Cabinet".

When Katie comes over, she always looks to see what we've got hanging in the cabinet.  (This also happens to be where I keep their secret stash of chocolate!)

Then Ella said, "I want a cabinet too!"  So, I've started a separate cabinet for Ella.  Here it is:

There isn't much hanging in Ella's cabinet yet, but I know it will fill up fast, and then we will move on to another cabinet.  Katie's even told me that by the time she is 10 years old, she hopes to have filled up ALL the cabinets in my kitchen.  We shall see.

I hope that Katie and Ella always feel comfortable here, and I hope that they never stop wanting to come here.  But who am I kidding - they will eventually turn in to teenagers, and I'm sure someday they will say, "We don't want to go to Auntie's."  But for now, they love coming to my house, and I'm just going to enjoy it for as long as I can.