the sister and i had the privilege of watching our gorgy nieces 4 nights this past weekend.
Alyssa Nicole & Abygail Serenity Renne
are.
simply.
precious.
Aly is 10, and Aby is 7.
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Aby, Lex (nephew), I, and Aly
2 years ago |
recognition of the awesome responsibility i have as an aunt has been weighing heavy on my heart lately, and this weekend was the perfect opportunity to be intentional with the time i share with these girls while they are still girls..
i've experienced a different dynamic with most of my nieces and nephews due to our closeness in age, and for a time being, some have lived with us during their baby/toddler years.
it's a bond that i don't share with my aunts and uncles, not because there is a lack of love, but a difference in circumstance.
rebecca, cody & i share such a comfortable relationship with them that evokes fighting like siblings and resembles a relationship of just that, siblings.
this on one hand is splendid because we love hard, as siblings do, but then again it's easy to fall in the routine of treating each other as nothing special.
SOO...
i recently read this on A CUP OF JO blog on how we should talk to little girls, and it left me heavy hearted to adapt this way of empowering little girls. this weekend i asked questions of the girls about their dreams and future.
what their favorites of miscellaneous items were.
read to them.
took them swimming.
let them help.
baked and cooked with them.
danced with them.
and watched in awe at the amazing sisterhood they share; protecting, uplifting and loving each other.
it also brought out the memories of pretend play which ensued laughter.
Aby my 7 year old niece at random moments would inform Rebecca & I that our feet (dangling off the couch) were suddenly snakes which she then tried to wrangle.
favorite conversation i overheard Aby having during her pretend play:
(while on the pretend phone)
"what, did you just pull in the driveway? get those snakes in here PRONTO, right away!"
