Being Aunt Katie

I'm not really a good Aunt. I wish I was better. Yesterday was my nephew's 3rd birthday. I decided that he wouldn't notice if I didn't send something. So I didn't. But I still feel guilty. Look at that little face! I hope he doesn't hold grudges. 

The truth is, I am overwhelmed!!  I have 20 nieces and nephews. And I love every single one of them. I have incredible nieces who are talented and fun, and I have crazy nephews who are taking over the world. One of the grandkids pointed out recently that I was destined not to have any children if we were to keep the order.  This can happen when you are the last of 7 children. Here is how our family is structured right now:

Sibling  #1: 6 kids,
Sibling  #2: 5 kids
Sibling #3: 4 kids
Sibling #4: 3 kids
Sibling #5: 2 kids
Sibling #6: 0 kids
Me #7: 0 kids

So you can see there are A LOT of birthdays in my family. If you include everyone that's 33 birthdays to keep track of for a year. And then Husband comes from a family of 6. So it just keeps compounding!

I just sent a birthday card a week late to one of my nieces, and I'm feeling pretty good for getting anything in the mail at all. I've decided at this point I need to either start professionally making cards or make one video I send for the year. Are e-cards still cool?  I love my family but I'm not organized enough to keep on top of this. Sometimes I will get a card off to on kid one month, and then totally space their brother the next month.

Husband has recently decided he won't sing Happy Birthday on the phone anymore. And there is no way I'm calling and singing by myself.

Today is my brother's birthday, I sent a present but it's going to be late. Better late than never right?

How I got talked into watching 2 year old Twins

I accidentally volunteered to watch my sister’s two year old twins and her 8 year-old for a week. Let me show you how it happened:

Phone conversation:

Lisa (Sister#3): Hey, I’m going to watch Kristen’s twins while she goes to Europe, but I can’t do it by myself.  Could you fly out and help me? We could do all sort of fun stuff together.

Me (Baby in the Family): Yes. I am totally on board for a vacation to NC and playing with twins.

How I picture this going:

Phone Conversation:

Kristen (Sister#2): I don’t want to take my babies out of their home. Will you come hang out with me while the rest of my family is gone and help watch my twins?

Me: OK. I could fly to Maryland and hang out with you. Are you sure you don’t want to go to Europe?

Kristen: No, I don’t want to leave my babies.

What I am imagining next:

Phone Conversation:

Mom: You are going out to help Kristen? Why doesn’t she just go to Europe while you watch the kids? I’m going to convince her to go.

Me: Um….She said she didn’t want to leave the twins. (nervous voice:) But she should go! I know she wants to. I can handle the twins!

Message on my voicemail:

Hi this is Kristen. Are you sure you could handle the babies? I’m really thinking about going….

TEXT

From ME to KRISTEN: “OK, I’m up for it if you’re serious about flying me out”

What I am imagining now:

Phone Conversation: (same day 10 PM)

Me: So what did you decide?

Kristen: I bought my ticket I hope you were serious about coming! I’m leaving my 8 year old son too.

10:10 PM 

Terror and fear hit me. 

I turn to my husband sitting next to me-

Me: PLEASE COME WITH ME!

(I convinced Jacob to go with me for at at least part of the time)

 And that is how I ended up with these two troublemakers:

More shenanigans with the twins and fam to be posted tomorrow....