Aunt(ie) Autumn

I have 6 nieces, and 6 nephews. And niece #7 is on the way... we just found out last week that she is a girl. :) When I really stop to think about it... that is a lot of kids! I have 2 younger sisters (who each have 1 boy and 1 girl) and Ben has an older sister (2 boys, 2 girls) and an older brother (2 boys, 3 girls). My oldest nephew is 15 and my youngest niece is 7 months (not counting the one still in utero). ;)

I love being Aunt/Auntie Autumn (Ben's side calls me Aunt, my side calls me Auntie). It is a very special relationship... one that's really hard to describe unless you've experienced it. I was an aunt before I was a mommy... little miss Madelyn arrived and changed MY world too. Being the go-to babysitter is something I've always loved, and it's been a blessing to live close to both my sisters so our kids can all grow up together.

Ben's brother and sister live out of state, but I have really enjoyed getting to know all of their kids and they each have a special place in my heart too, even though I don't get to see them as much. I love hearing them call me Aunt Autumn... if you know me and Ben's story at all then you might understand why. It is just another testament to God's redemptive work in my life. Being accepted as their Aunt is a big deal to me, something I don't take lightly at all, and I really hope to cultivate a relationship with each one of them so they never question whether or not Aunt Autumn loves them.

All these thoughts started swirling because we got to have one of our out-of-town nieces over to spend the night this week. Haley is 11 and is here for a month visiting from Texas, staying with Ben's parents. It was great to spend some time with her and watch her interact with my boys... It made me REALLY wish they lived closer cause she is so great with Stellan! I'd let her babysit anytime!

It was a sunny morning in Seattle, so we decided not to waste it and headed to a park. I must admit, I really wasn't sure what to do with an 11 year old girl... even though I was one at one point, that was a LONG time ago and I am very much in boy mode nowadays. Hopefully we didn't bore you Haley. (And if anyone has any good ideas, she's staying with us another night next week...) ;)

Cousins posing on the playground (Read cracks me up!)

Spider Haley

Throwing rocks in Lake Meridian

She's a natural :)

Stellan's turn to pose

He likes her. :)

CHEESE!

First time playing on grass! He didn't know what to think.

There are no words for this cuteness.

Can't wait to have you back next week Haley! And I love and miss the rest of you... Gabriel, Sydney, Ian, Mahari, Caleb, Nora, Timon, Madelyn, Holden, Hayden, and Savannah! ;)

-Aunt(ie) Autumn