be the best Aunt ever

Just sent my niece some clothes I crocheted for her Barbies. We also talked a lot this week about how to make a dollhouse for her Barbie from items she has around the house. We had fun planning all that out. My sister later told me that she has already asked her to save some boxes and both of them are going to work on this project…I so wish I could be there right now! I miss her so much!
My nephew (3 y/o) didn’t feel like talking on the phone but overheard our conversation about the dollhouse and went and got a book they have about building dollhouses. He’s so adorable.
I wish I could live close to them. I wish I didn’t have student loans to repay and work and more school to attend so that I could just take off for a few years and live again in my country, close to my family.

About a week ago when I called my niece (they live in Argentina)she told me she loves school; she specially enjoys(wow!) dictations and likes to practice cursive writing. Anwyay, she reminded me so much of myself and I told her that when I was 6 or 7 my grandpa used to dictate weird words to me and I loved it. So, she put the phone down and got her writing utensils and we started a dictation of silly words, names of diseases, things that were around my apartment. We had fun, it was silly.
I have to think of more ways of meaningful interaction with her on the phone. More than just talking, so I tell her stories, o she tells me stories and we play games…
My nephew is 3 now, he just gets on the phone and tells me “i love you tia”...or my favorite so far: “I can poo in the toilet”
Can’t wait to see them. We’ll visit them sometime in July.

i just sent a couple of tiny gifts for my niece and nephew: a little outfit and shoes for K’s Barbie and Mickey Mouse stickers for M. I miss them so much!!

My niece’s bday was this last Saturday. Last time I sent something overseas it never got there. But I tried again with just a letter with lots of stickers for her and she got it! I usually send gifts with friends who go to Argentina, otherwise things get “lost in the mail” etc. She was so happy with the stickers! Now that I know she can get mail at the school where my sister works I will send snail mail more often…just for her. She’s starting to read more now so she was very excited to get her own letters to read.

This weekend we went to my in-laws to celebrate my BIL’s bday. My husband’s niece…MY niece now! taught me how to play Cadoo and we played for a long time. I had a great time with her!

We went out to eat with my husband’s family. My BIL took his daughter to the bathroom and when they came back he was laughing. He said that his daughter (7) sang “Happy Bday” and washed her hands from start to end of the song because that’s roughly the minimum amount of time you should wash your hands to effectively get rid of germs. I taught her that about a year ago. I was so proud of my little niece! :)

Last Saturday I called my niece (6) and nephew (2) and we talked on the phone. Then my sister told me that my nephew had learned a lot of new songs (!!!) so we sang over the phone. It was so cute to hear him sing, it’s hilarious to try to understand what he’s saying but I am proud of my sister and niece for teaching him to sing early. I am always amazed at how early children can learn music…what a miracle!

My niece and nephew live in Argentina so while I try to visit them every year, I am always thinking that they’ll forget who I am. But, well children are amazing! I talked to them all the time and write emails or letters (that my sister reads to them) Today, I played a music game over the phone with my niece, and then my nephew (2 yrs old) “sang” to me…it was so cute!!! I can’t wait to see them again. I was with them during Xmas, it seems too long ago already. I wish I could do more.