Mooning

This weekend my brother, my brother's wife, my 8 year old niece, my 5 year old niece, and my husband gathered in our home to celebrate the birth of my husband!  It was my husband's birthday weekend- a moment that should be celebrated!

While five of us were eating grilled fajitas in the kitchen, my 5 year old niece, Paxten, told her sister to watch the iPad sitting in the kitchen with the nursery camera feed on display.  Paxten ran upstairs and mooned the camera.  I could not stop laughing.  My brother had to parent through the moment, but as the uncle I was just laughing in the moment.

Paxten cracks me up.  I'm disappointed I didn't think of that move first!

Gone Girls

Now that our two nieces are back home with my brother and his wife, the energy in the house has changed.  I miss my girls and the wonderful chaos they bring into the world!  Being 7 and 5 is spectacular.

Yes I Can

I picked up the girls on Saturday, and six days into this timeline I'm finally getting the hang of taking care of my nieces full time.  Earlier in the week I couldn't figure out why anyone intentionally reproduces.  It's hard keeping my intelligent wildlings safe, stimulated, in sunscreen, and nutritiously fed three meals a day plus snacks.

We have routine now.  I figured out how to police their interactions.  They have me figured out too; they know when they have to listen to me versus negotiate with me.

Six days into this timeline, and I don't want my girls to go!  I guess my brother and his wife will want them back?  I'm really looking forward to having children of our own.  I can do this.  I'm ready.  The girls are ready too.  Paxten, the 5 year old, told me that she thinks all babies are cute even the boy ones.

Bedtime Stall

If I could get my nieces in bed thirty minutes before bedtime, then I'd read them books and or tell them "stories from my head," as requested.  However, my little nieces who more likely than not have a higher IQ's than me enjoy stretching out bedtime with sweet little requests for more interactions.
 
"Tell us stories Pat-Pat, tell us stories!"

It's a trap.  It's an emotional trap.

I don't support being used to delay sleep.

I kiss my girls.  I tell them how lucky they are to be traveling through this world with a sister, since I'm lucky to have traveled this world with my brother (their father); only a sibling sees the full arch of your life.  I usually throw in something negative about my brother at the end- like he's weak, he's not funny, and he cannot stand on his head (neither can I, but they don't know this; I hope they return home requesting head stands from my brother).  They do know my brother is their father, and they defend him ferociously against my jabs.

Finally, after they stop jibber jabbering on about how great their father is, I encourage them to tell each other stories.  I turn out the lights.  I walk downstairs and sit next to the baby monitor to listen at the 15 to 20 minutes of songs, stories, and shenanigans my nieces are creating.  I love it.

The girls love each other and they love to annoy each other; however, at the end of the day when they are alone upstairs in twin beds next to each other they seem to only love each other.  It's peaceful.

Niece Week

I took off work.  I have one job this week: to keep my 7 and 5 year old nieces alive until their parents return from Ireland.  I am loving time with these two intelligent, humorous, energetic little ladies, but it's also stretching me!  I'm learning to be more patient and calm in the chaos they create.  They are imaginative children.  I'm used to managing large teams of consultants, which is nothing like taking care of my Presley and Paxten.

A few tidbits:

• Presley fell off the monkey bars and got the wind knocked out of her.  It was the most horrific few minutes as she gasp for air.  Horrific.  My husband is a perennial champion in tough situations.  He talked her through the process and encouraged her to relax as much as possible, and then he carried her home.  She's fine today.  
• As soon as we sat down to eat at Rudy's BBQ, Paxten threw up all over herself.  Luckily my husband was with me, I scooped her up and took her to the restroom while my husband cleaned up the table and retrieved extra clothes from the car.   I don't know what I would have done if I had been on my own, which I am right  now. 
• Presley read me four books last night, which was magical.
• Paxten likes to talk through her day, which is also magical.
• You can see the bond of sisterhood between my two nieces, even though they like to annoy each other too.  They are going to be friends for life!

Easter 2015

I enjoy family traditions.  Easter is our holiday to host!  I love having everyone (both sides of the family) in our home eating our food, but the afternoon moves entirely too fast.   Our family arrives and then all too soon (it seems) they were leaving.

My 85 year old grandfather (who scored a hole-in-one on the golf course this past week) told my parents on the drive to Dallas that he cannot believe he's 85 years old.  To him it seems like recently he turned 60, and then all the sudden he's 85 years old.  The key takeaway from my grandfather's experience is to enjoy the moment because life happens quickly.

I'm really enjoying the many moments with our nieces, they are at a very fun age, and I'm hopeful that next Easter we will give them cousins!

Snowy Dallas the Encore

The 'sac got hit with three to four inches of snow last night.  It was cold, silent and magical this morning.  The 'sac also smelled like mountain air this morning, which made me wish we lived closer to Colorado- ski trip!

As such, it was another crazy morning in Dallas.  Trigger stayed in bed all morning.  He was cold.

I worked from home.  I went to yoga during a lunch break.  And I put out Easter decor when I didn't want to work any more.

My brother sent us a photo of all three of our nieces:

I'm glad they enjoyed the snow because it was mostly gone from the roads by the evening.

Hooray for snow in Dallas!  I love winter.

Sweet Seven

Presley, the one who turned me into an uncle, turned seven years old last month.  Over the weekend we celebrated her birth at a "School of Rock" birthday party.  She's taking electric guitar lessons at the school, and she invited 20 of her friends to a party where they split into two groups and learned songs to perform at the end of the party.

It was loud.  It was fun.  Presley was happy.

Place Cards

I was cleaning this weekend, and I found four valuable pieces of paper.  The last time our nieces were staying with us I was in the kitchen finishing cooking dinner, and to simultaneously entertain the girls and to give me more time my husband came up with the idea to create place cards for the dinning room table.

My husband and Presely collaboratively created my husband's place card...

Presley, who's 6, created her place card...

Paxten, who's 4, created her place card...

And since I was in the kitchen, Paxten also created my place card...

It cracks me up because Paxten likes to use most the top right piece of her paper.  She also writes in a mirror image.  For example, if I held my place card up to a mirror it reads "Pat Pat." And I like that she added a little rainbow on my place card.

We love our nieces.

Fair Day

We spent a few hours on Sunday with my brother and his crew at the State Fair.  I am always amazed at the 1,200 pound pig on display near the agriculture buildings.  As a child I wanted a pet pig.  My parents never allowed it.  Now I know why.

My husband ate one corny dog.  I ate two.  We looked at the new cars on exhibit.  And when my brother arrived with his wife and my nieces we each paid $8 to make two loops around the giant Texas Ferris Wheel (money grab).  We were making memories (priceless).  We went on to watch our nieces enjoy the midway rides.

Early afternoon we left my brother and his wife and my nieces (and the masses) and went to yoga.  My dress pants are getting tight.  I need to work out more and eat less.  Why did I eat that second corny dog?  I love corny dogs at the State Fair.

Girls, Girls, Girls

The nieces were in the house this weekend.  They enjoyed performing their cheers in front of the fireplace.  Our oldest niece, Presley, provided very specific feedback at one point this weekend...

Presley: Pat-Pat, when you have a baby, can I babysit?

Me: Yes.

Presley: Will you go to a girl orphanage where they only have girl babies, and get a girl?  I want you to have a girl baby.

I cracked up.

I do love my girls.

Visting Niece

 

My brother, his wife, and my nieces went on a week long family beach vacation, which means we got to keep our four-legged niece, the huntress Cady!  For my 16th birthday, I got my first Jack Russell Terrier and then for my 18th birthday I got my second Jack Russell Terrier.  I loved both Lucy and Scout.  However, my 34 year old self is out of practice - it takes about 24 hours for me to remember how to handle a Jack Russell Terrier.  Cady is smart, determined, sweet and aggressive.  She's all those things at once.

Dooley, our French Bulldog, is determined but she requires a lot of sleep too!  At some point, she gets tired!  Here's a photo of her yawning during her bath...

However, if Cady is on a mission, she never gets tired. Jack Russell Terriers are tireless when something has their attention.  One of the great things about keeping our four legged niece Cady, is that she always gets picked up by our two legged nieces.

Presley is 6 and Paxten is 4 and they are at such a fun stage right now.  I can't get enough of their questions and comments!  When they were at the house Presley had to go to the restroom, and I heard Paxten ask: "Can I come with you?"  I cracked up at this question.  They're sisters.  For the rest of their lives at times they'll go to the bathroom together - it's what sisters do.  It gives them one more moment to talk, interact, etc.  

Dance Dance Dance

Since we're uncles, we're learning what it's like to be a parent in the modern world.  Our nieces had a dance recital this weekend, and although I was worried (see reality show: Dance Moms) it was a fun and supportive event.  This wasn't a dance competition (if it would have been a competition we would have won) it was just a fun non-stop string of dances from 3-year-olds to 17-year-olds.  Our nieces were on stage twice each and they were magnificent.  Plus, they loved dancing with all their friends.

Instead of using surrogacy to bring children into this world, maybe we should just clone our nieces?

Our Little Ladies

My husband and I kept our nieces for a few hours so that my brother and his wife could have a date night.  The little ladies are 6 and 4 years old now, and I sound like my uncle Charlie, I know, but I want to say to both of them: You're growing up too fast!  I'm going to have to put a rock on your head!

I love my time with the girls.  They teach us important little lessons.  For example, Paxten thinks it's best to brush your teeth in disguise...

And Presley knows how to convince us that the best family activity is to watch Sophia Grace & Rosie's Royal Adventure...

Family Time

On Saturday we had our family over for a pre-Easter hamburger lunch.  Our house is in disarray as we get ready for the move, but it was nice to have everyone over for one last event in this house we've enjoyed for almost 6 years.

The Easter Bunny sent my brother an email to let him know my nieces eggs were hidden in the back yard of our new house.  After lunch we loaded up the family for the 1.3 mile journey to the new house.  It was the first time most of the family had seen our new house, which is in more disarray than our old house since our contractor is in the midst of adding flooring downstairs and painting upstairs.

It will take years before we have enough cash to upgrade the whole house.  We have multiple rounds of upgrades planned, but after this first round our new house will be significantly upgraded/updated.

After seeing the house my 84 year old grandfather (who was raised on a cotton farm in Big Springs, Texas) asked why two people needed a house this big.  My mother informed him that we are planning to have kids.  With that information my grandfather said, "they will be great parents."  That made me smile.

Date Night

This weekend while my brother and his wife were on a date night, my husband and I went on a date night with two little ladies.  Our nieces are so much fun right now; we colored, read stories, and of course watched part of Disney's Frozen.  Both girls are obsessed with Frozen.

I wish we lived closer to my brother; I think it would be fun if we started a tradition where the girls stayed with us every Friday night.  Starting today until they leave for college!

Uncle Pat Pat

I mentioned previously that this past weekend from Friday night until Monday morning we kept our nieces.  Being an uncle is one of my favorite things.  However, I learned something about myself this weekend that surprised me...I'm strict!

I managed the intelligent little nieces like I manage client meetings: I set an agenda and then I stick to the agenda; if anyone strays from the agenda, then I bring them back into focus.

Did you know that an almost 4 year old and a 6 year old are not task oriented?  At one point Paxten was having her afternoon meltdown, and I told her to get it together because we need to get going.   My husband looked at me and said: "She's 3."

Hmm.  (That was my husband's way of signaling me to calm the F down.)  He was right.  Paxten is only 3 years old, and she is entitled to afternoon meltdowns when her Uncle Pat Pat is pushing her too hard.

Lucky for my nieces they get two uncles in this life, and their Uncle Pat Pat will never be without his husband to help remind him to calm the F down!

Behind in Life, Ahead in Love

Whoa.  My husband and I just kept our nieces from Friday after work until Monday before work.  My parents were the bookends of the weekend: picking them up from school on Friday and taking care of them on Monday before my brother and his wife returned from a long weekend away.

I loved every minute of my time with our nieces. They are smart, demanding, creative, and funny.  I am just amazed at the amount of energy it takes to care for an almost 4 year old and a 6 year old.  Every waking hour my husband and I were completely focused on the girls: playing, feeding, caring.  It's hard work.  How do people do this full time?

I am now behind in my household chores.  I spent last night whipping my household into shape: picking up, cleaning, grocery store shopping.  Oh my goodness.  I have so much respect for my brother, his wife, and my parents.