Meet my nieces

I've been thinking about them a lot lately, after spending so much time with them at Christmas.

This is Carley.

Carley is 5-years-old and goes to kindergarten. She's a great reader, and SO very smart!! Carley is a quiet observer. She could teach most of us adults a thing or two about watching and listening. Often times, she seems beyond her years, but once in awhile, the silliness of a 5-year-old comes out. She's good at the things she does because she pays attention. She REALLY pays attention.

This is Kadyn.

Kadyn will turn 4-years-old in March. However, she's "TIRED" of being "this many" (three fingers), so she has declared that she's "THIS MANY" (four fingers). Kadyn is a FIREBALL, which delights me to no end. When my girls were younger and going through the "terrible two's", "terrible three's", "terrible four's", etc., etc., etc., my brother was a very WISE young college kid. He had an endless supply of wisdom for me...things he would and would not allow, etc. Kadyn...well...she's taught him a thing or two about parenting!!! lol You know...the things like "some have a mind of their own, no matter what you do"...stuff like that. And, by the way, Mom, Dad, Nathan....you can all stop blaming that stubborn streak on ME!!!! I have NO idea WHERE she gets that!!!

Kadyn is just a little bit of a thing. She's the kind of kid who leaves you no choice but to fall in love with her. She's all of 22 lbs., and proud of it. In fact, when I picked her up to hug her recently, I teasingly told her she had no bottom. Boy, did she straighten me out about that!! Yes she DOES have a bottom, because "ALL KIDS HAVE BOTTOMS!!!!!" I stand corrected!!!

There's definitely something special about nieces. Despite the miles between us, and the difference in ages between them and my girls, they are all still very close. We truly enjoy the time we get to spend with them.