#AuntStac

Nope… I don’t have any children of my own, or biological nieces or nephews.  At this point, I likely won’t.  Have no fear, I have a slew of “pseudo” nieces and nephews.   At least that’s what my boss calls them when I am telling a funny story after I have spent some time with them.

It started when one of my besties got knocked up with her first kiddo, and despite the fact that she and her husband both have siblings…..I told her I felt as though I should be called Aunt Stac.   And there ya have it!  Both of her kiddos, and the one in the oven call me Aunt Stac.   In fact, once her dad told her that “Stacie is at our house”, she corrected him and said “you mean Aunt Stac?”   My heart melted the first time she said it, and I LOVE that she has to give me 15 hugs when I see her, which isn’t as often as we would all like.   She was crazy excited to tell me her secret news that she was going to be a big sister, again.  She said she felt like it was all a dream!  #outtathemouthofbabes

Its not just those kids that have my heart.   There’s actually about 7 more….yikes!  They don’t all call me Aunt Stac… but I think of them as nieces and nephews whether they like it or not!  I’m the go-to for finding a concert for the 13 year old’s birthday present, and got to spend the day with her at our Annual Marigold festival outing. Her youngest brother actually thinks that I’m only at their house to visit him when I come over, and then I can’t get a word in with his momma!

I also have the two boys, and their cousins, who are always super excited to see me, and on most occasions need to give hugs upon my arrival and departure.  One smart little fella put life in perspective just after John had passed.   With just he and I in the room, he told me he knew that John was in Heaven.  He made me a card at school a few months ago because he had seen me on Facebook Live, and wanted to cheer me up.   Clearly he didn’t quite understand the impact of cracking a safe and finding a boat load of moolah!  (which then paid a hospital bill). wait, now that I think about it……he may have been onto something!

Finally, the two kiddos who I see most often.  Last week I spent a few hours babysitting them.  Its so funny when kids know exactly what time to get ready for bed, and what to do when mom and dad aren’t around, but its like pulling teeth to get them ready for bed any other night.   Believe me, I have witnessed it more than once!  I saw them both within 24 hours of their birth, but yet the boy still likes to call me “stranger danger” from time to time.   And lets not forget his backseat driving last week when I was parallel parking…. “Stacie, you are getting close to that red car”.   ummm thanks, kid!  His sister is at the age where she is really soaking in what the adults have to say, and is full of sass with some fairly quick wit.

I always look forward to spending time with any of them.  Seeing them all grow up and get their own little personalities is amazing.  They have all helped me move ahead in the past year, and realize how precious every second of life can be.  I am blessed to have gotten to see ALL of them last week!  I’m looking forward to seeing what life has in store for all of them in the coming year, and of course getting to see them and their hilarious shenanigans as much as time allows.