Well, this is all backwards, but here it goes...

There is something about being an Aunt that I love!! I don't know if it's that I can send them home at the end of the day or that I simply have the most amazing nieces and nephews!! Probably the latter, because I'd keep them all for as long as I was allowed!

I haven't had the opportunity to take any of my nieces or nephews out for a while since Sara moved away :(. That literally used to be the joy of my evenings and weekends- when I got to spend time with those beautiful kiddos. I've been excited about Crystal's move here for that very reason!!

Yesterday Santana and I took Connor, Aiden, Lydia and my two girls to the zoo! I know CRAZY, right?? Actually it was a very calm and peaceful experience! We enjoyed it throughly. I just love my sisters children. Both Sara and Crystal have done an amazing job bringing up their beautiful babies. They are so kind and sweet. I know that parents don't see this side all of the time, because I'm one!! But, these children are so kind and gentle and full of love to share, I just want to hug and squeeze them!! I can't wait to see Santana's little Chloe grow and be able to learn from her as a mother too! That's the best part - I have amazing mothers to learn from and we are all working together to help eachother raise beautiful spirits!

If You're Happy and You Know It

This has been Hallie's favorite song lately. From learning to clap her hands to patting her head, she has been excited and performs her newly found skills repeatedly for us. We have been working on "stomp your feet" with her for a while. Being that she has just begun standing, she can't do it exactly like us, but started "stomping" them while sitting. I was singing it to her the other day and she began stomping her feet very excitedly. I had to capture it on video.

Hallie is such a happy little girl that is catching on to things very quickly, most likely to keep up with her big sister Emma. I know the feeling... Big sisters are blessings indeed!