Barnes and Noble Day

She's reading The Girl's Book: How to be the Best at Everything. That's my girl! Last weekend, somehow I paid $45 to take my nieces to see The Jonas Brother's 3D concert. I THOUGHT it was on IMAX, as if that would have made it worth it.

The best part was after, taking them to get books at Barnes. The plan was to sit down and read, drink hot cocoa and nerd out together. I got 100 Years of Solitude. Bella got a Judy Blume, and Gabbie got the book here. I love my nieces and they have very different personalities. So of course Bella put her iPod in and wanted us to listen to all the funny songs on it, and Gabbie zoomed through the book, and wanted to tell me about everything she read. She even corrected my grammar at one point during their visit. I didn't get to read much, but I remember being that age and wanting an adult to listen and enjoy what I was excited about learning about, so I listened.

I try not to spoil them. They're very good kids and don't even ask for anything. I had an auntie who spoiled me rotten when I was young, and she was my godmother, too. But every time I spend a weekend or a visit with my nieces, I think of how my brother can't be there, and cherish how special it is that I have this chance and time to be with them. And I feel like he's with us when I'm with them. I'm glad we get to be such a big part of their lives, even in his absence.