Joys from my 3-yr old niece

This past Sunday, August 31, 2008, I turned 29 yrs old. This may sound silly but I woke up that morning a little sad because I thought to myself "man, only one more year til I turn 30!" YIKES! How time flies. My sister and her family came for a visit for the Labor Day wknd which happened to also be my birthday. My niece made her bed on the floor of my room where my parents put a mattress and my niece Miranda wanted my mom to sleep with her on the floor so I had company in my room for the weekend which was nice. Sunday morning, though I was "sad" my niece came and woke me up and said "Yee Yee, Happy Birthday". That put a big grin on my face as I remembered all the blessings and joys that my nieces bring to me. A few minutes later she came up to me and said "do you know who's birthday is today?" I, playing dumb with my niece, said "I have no clue, baby. Who's birthday is it" as I looked puzzled at her. She replied with a big big grin and giggle "It's YOUR birthday, silly!" I grabbed my niece, gave her a big huge hug and kiss and said "so it is....thanks for reminding me". She said "you're welcome! Where's the cake?" Okay, so a 3-yr old expects a party and a cake....hmm... I told her that I can't eat cakes but "paw paw (my mom) and "gong gong" (my dad) were going to take us out to dinner. With that she was satisfied. She then told me "yee yee, I need money I'm really really broke" (ok, so at times I give my nieces a couple of bucks so that they can enjoy McD happy meal). I asked her what she needed money for and asked her if it was to get a happy meal for lunch. She said "no, I need it to get you a present!" I laughed so hard, I could barely stand up. I told her that I too was broke....she looked puzzled at me and said "no you're not! You have money right here." She points to the big jar of coins sitting on my dresser and the two dollar bills sticking out of the jar. I'm turning red....oops I forgot about those precious pennies and nickels, and dimes, and quarters I have in a tiny jelly jar. My niece taught me a valuable lessons. There is MUCH value in those coins! Though I really didn't have cash to give her, she saw the value of those coins---it could buy something--and she didn't want it to buy something for herself, she wanted to get her "yee yee" (me) a gift.

My youngest niece is too young to understand the concept of birthdays but she too brought joy to my birthday. I love spending time with her and giving her hugs and kisses. At the restaurant, she wanted someone to walk her, I did just that, she loved looking at the waterfall and the fishes in the tank. She made her lips move like fishes and she giggled each time a fish pressed up against the glass and she tried to "touch" the fish. What a wonderful cute age.

I remember growing up, birthdays were all about cakes, parties, sleep-overs, and gifts; but as I growing older, it's about love from family and friends, cards, hugs, and kisses from cute nieces.

(Although, my parents did offer to buy me a GPS for my birthday, which I was trying to do research and buy for myself, but looks like I may get one after all....though, I'm researching what is the best out there....any thoughts?)

Joys of family.....friends.....and loved ones!

My niece Miranda "reading" a Dora story to Caitlyn

Where's MY Dora???
(Caitlyn has been enjoying Dora as well, so I brought her a Dora as well, but a little one)