An Aunt Erin Kinda Day

 I love spending time with my nieces and nephews. I always try to give in to the things that mom and dad can't. We have tons of fun and learn quite a bit about each other and life.

This is my youngest niece Kate. She's eating a brownie...about 15 minutes before supper! (sssshhhhhhh! Her mother would flip! LOL)

One of those "aunt" things you can do since ya send 'em back at the end of the day anyway! Haha

McDonalds is of course the choice of supper...which thrills mom to death yet again. Not always but there are many hours of entertainment to be had at a play place when there are happy meal toys involved!

This is Maggie and Sammy...they are rocking out to the lastest songs from Francesca Battistelli. This is the calmest picture I could find, as usually rocking out involved a lot of dancing and shouting!

Josiah is in this picture "ooo"ing and "ahhh"ing over all of the army trucks at Jefferson Barracks, where I drill with the reserves. The only reason my nephew thinks I am so cool is because I have army stuff! LOL I love his face when I show up with cool stuff, like an MRE fork (just a plastic one, but its army which of course means that it is way cooler than any other one!)

Sam and Kate are helping bake cookies. Or I guess I should really say they are baking the cookies, since everyone knows that licking the beaters is the most important task of baking!

For some reason the car always looks like this (or worse) when we are heading back towards home. Sodas, candy, chips, and toys are usually to be found somewhere...but not always!

...and though it isn't required, for some reason they all look a little like this on our way home. I always feel the same way and ask one of them to drive, but they never seem to think that is a good idea...wonder why?

More than all of these fun things though, I want these children to know their aunt as someone who loves God and helps others. We might not always be out and about, having a "fun" day, but I want them to know that even in the every day drudgery chores you can have fun. I try to remind myself in my sometimes busy "adult" life that showing them adults have fun too is important. So if they want to dance around the living room in their pj's listening to the Beach Boys sing "Barbara Ann" for the 15th time, I am gonna do it with them (given I have enough breath to last that long!) because time spent is more important in the scheme of things than my "business".

I love you Kiddos! We have had some amazingly fun times together, and I know that we will have many more! I wish I could show you how much each of you mean to me, but that would be impossible! Stay close to Jesus because He is always close to you, even when I am not. All my love, Aunt Erin

DISCLAIMER: All of these event did not happen all in one day, so you other moms who read my blog need not be too upset with me!

Wedding Shower - Bethel Style

This is my closest family that isn't related to me at all. They are my church family. These ladies have watched me grow up from elementary school to now my wedding shower. They have been encouragers, prayer warriors, mothers, and friends to me throughout life's trials and blessings. I love them all dearly and was so blessed to be able to share a day with them.

This was my cake...so cute I thought!

We ate snacks, talked, played a few "shower" games...

...and I opened presents.

 Thank you to everyone who added to Brian and I's household! We are truely blessed to have so many that want to help us in our new lives together!

The shower was put together by two ladies that I look to for guidance and as examples of what Godly women should be, Dawn Kingston and Ellen Turner. Both have had a huge influence on my life, more than they will ever know. I love you both and hope that I will have the same impact on the next generation that you have had on me. Thank you!