be a great aunt

On Saturday, I met my sister and the kids at the movie theater for the early show – we saw MJ’s “This is it”. I paid for the kids and my sister paid for their drinks -she packed little baggies of Halloween candy for them – she’s so smart!

The movie was documentary-style, filmed rehearsals and interviews. The dancers he picked for the show were amazing: definitely talented but talk about washboard abs!

The music was great – how could it not be? Beat It, Billy Jean, Thriller, old Jackson 5 tunes…my niece and I were dancing in our seats.

It was interesting to see how shows are put together. The technology, the number of people involved, the rehearsals. My nephew seemed to enjoy this.

I enjoyed the film but it was also sad. Knowing he died just days after some of this was filmed, knowing that what would have been an amazing concert tour would never happen. My niece and nephew seemed to enjoy the movie although it was a little long (2 hours).

On the way home, I showed them the Blue Tooth installed in my new car and let them call a few people. I think they enjoyed that more than the movie! Go figure – I could’ve saved $30 and just driven around letting them make phone calls!

Tomorrow my sister and I are going to take the kids to the movies. We’d planned to see “Where the Wild Things Are” but the kids really want to see the MJ movie. So…that’s what we’re going to do.

With so many positive reviews of “Where the Wild Things Are” from 43T’ers, and because I never read the book, I thought it would be great to take the kids to see it.

I emailed my sister to say I’d like to plan a movie-date with the kids – both or either one. She said she needs to check their “social calendar”.

Geez – even Aunts have to wait their turn!

Meet J.T! http://www.firerosephotography.com/niece/

to inform me that he is FINALLY allowed to ride shot-gun when we go out. He’s now more than 80 lbs and taller than 4’9”.

My response: “It’s about time. How old are you now…20?” (He’s 12).
His response: “MOM!!! Aunt Fran’s being mean!”

Sure, kid, that’ll get you into my car….

I have found out that I will be an Aunt to another special someone in about six and a half months. I called my little sister about a week and a half ago after I left the gym one night. I just had this feeling that said call Stephanie, so I did. After talking for a few minutes she gave me the news…I was speechless at first. And in those speechless seconds a million things ran through my head: “You aren’t even 18 yet!”, “Are you going to marry Steven?”, “I hope that you are still going to try to go to school in the Fall.”, “You can’t do this now. You aren’t ready, you don’t have the money to raise a kid, a house, the patience…”, “Are you happy about it?”, “Have you told mom or dad yet?”, “How did Steven take the news?”, “Stephanie, what did I tell you about taking your birth control?”...everything flew through my mind at once before I took a breath.

I didn’t get to talk to her too long because she had to go. The only questions I got to ask was if she was happy about the pregnancy and who all knows about it. Despite the timing, she is happy and my mom, me, her boyfriend, and a few of her friends know. After talking to her, I was a ball of nerves for her and I freaked out for several days afterwards.

I was finally able to talk to her again and set some of my worries aside. Her and her boyfriend are not getting married, not right now, because having a child isn’t the only reason they should get married. She is still going to the community college back home in the Fall and she is going try to go after the baby is born, my mom and other family memebers will watch the baby during the hours she is in class. Her boyfriend, who is several years older then her, will finally go back to school and get a job. She has stopped drinking and smoking, which is always a great thing. She is working and instead of spending money on useless things, she is saving it. They are looking for apartments to move into. She had made doctor’s appointments…

The doctor’s appointments went great. She is mailing me a picture of my soon to be niece or nephew. Although I am worried and stressed and a million other emotions, I am also happy and excited for my sister. I get another niece or nephew to spoil with a lot of gifts and even more love.

So, I’m just awaiting the arrival of another beautiful baby…

On June 15, 2009 my brother and sister-in-law had their first child, Kian, 19.5 inches long, 7.5 pounds. I have only seen a few pictures of him because my brother is in the military and is currently stationed in Belgium for three years. But, those pictures look adorable, and I’m not just saying that. :-) I hate that I will be missing out on so much of my little nephew’s life and I can’t wait to see him when my brother and his family come home next summer for a visit. Needless to say that I had started spoiling him before he was even born. I send a huge package of cute clothes, toys and stuffed animals, and of course some really great childern’s books that were my favorite when I was little. I can’t wait to see this little guy grow up into a great man, just like his daddy!!!

In the last 2-3 months, I’ve had a few “play-dates” with the kids, individually and together. The last was about 2 weeks ago.
My sis and bro-in-law went to a fancy wedding so I took the kids for a few hours (although I asked them to get a real sitter for the late evening so I didn’t have to hang while the kids slept).
We didn’t do anything special – window shopping in Game Stop so my nephew could drool over the electronics he doesn’t have was a highlight (lol!)but we had a good time just the same.
I guess that’s the real benefit of this goal. I don’t have to do anything special. I don’t have to entertain them. Just spending time doing ordinary things is fine. Hopefully, those are the times they’ll remember most. But…I’d better do something spectacular next time, just in case…..

Tomorrow 3/21 is my nephew’s 12th birthday.

My sister figured he was old enough to decide what he wanted to do on his birthday. Answer? He wants to go to the movies. My sister said OK but he had to limit how many kids because of the expense.

His choice? Just me.

So tomorrow I have a date. My sister told me he wouldn’t be a cheap date – to expect that he’d want popcorn and soda and who knows what else.

My response? Whatever he wants, it’s his.

A few months ago when my nephew came food shopping with me, I bought a bottle of Newman’s Own salad dressing. He asked who Paul Newman was. (Ironically, Paul Newman passed away the next day). I told him about his charitable efforts and his movies – none of which an 11 year would have heard about. I decided he needed to a classic-movie education so for Chanukah, I bought him a DVD of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. I told him he couldn’t watch it without me.

This week, he’s on school break so we had our date for Weds night. We set up the movie on the big screen TV (with surround sound – too cool), sat back and watched.

You may recall it starts with a silent movie, in sepia-tones.
“Why is it quiet? Where’s the color?”
“Shhh, it’s just the beginning..”
“Why do I have to be quiet? There’s no sound..” he said.
So true, I told you he was smart.

As we watched, I told him about the old west – riding horses everywhere, travel by train, bank robbers. Of everything I told him, what did he find really cool? When they arrive in Bolivia, Sundance says he’s from New Jersey! I must admit, I always liked that too.

When it was over, he said he liked it. Hard to tell but I took his word for it. But the next day, my sister said he was online googling Butch and Sundance. OK – I guess I got through.

Next movie? Apollo 13.