Auntie Advent: The Final Chapter

I was almost through all the Auntie Advent packages and realized I had no idea how to reciprocally THANK the kids.

Until I realized I couldn't, so I should just say Thank You in a series of ways that was as spread out as their gifts.

So late one night, I spent time printing out the following message and addressing one envelope for each letter, symbol and piece of punctuation, and filling it with little treats. The next morning I started the staggered mailing process

The kids were supposed to color in the letters and unscramble the following message:

15 envelopes later, I think everything finally got there, because I go this message earlier last week.

THANK YOU Christina, because I know you had the most to do with it.

Captain Nathan is Six!

This hero? 

"weeeellllll....."

Captain Nathan turns six today!

He's had a busy year, what with birthdays, graduations, 

fun times with family and friends, and my goodness, his imagination!

Thankfully his folks and grandparents have been sharing photos, 

like the one above and below.

But nothing beats spending time with him in person. 

Like when I got to visit in August 2015.

He's so funny and QUITE the little personality.

Don't mock his bowling form...

 or you'll get the stink side-eye. 

(Or maybe he was just critiquing the FREE root beer floats. 

"Well, actuallly...")

I don't know where he picked it up,

but he has mean form when wielding both a lightsabre and a sword.

 (Classic swagger/*drops mic*)

(Sorry Christina)

And yet, he will still snuggle in for a nap time 

OR make sure he gets his privacy respected.

Superheroes read books!

 Where they pick up tips on shield skills, robes of power/invisibility, or of the Force?

 He's a little kid who does appreciate nature, and looking for frogs in the muck,

but is a little old man who does NOT like getting cold in the pool 

and would rather spend all his time in the hot tub.

It's hard to be the only brother in a mix of three girls and the "baby" for so long. 

And now, NOT the baby. 

Keep snuggling in kiddo, I'll let you sit in the middle for as long as you'll fit.

 Hope you have a Happy Birthday!

Remember, you are Awesome!

And you are WAY Cooler than all of these very cool things.

Found via Amazon, amazingly

Postscript: Per Grumpa and on Christina's SM

This big guy is 6 years old today! 

He was so easy to please and told me he had the "best birthday ever!"

~ my August photos a mix of iTouch and Nikon

Auntie Advent Day 12

On the 12th day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent to me, 

proof that the best gift, love, is free. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We love you!

Dang. I love you too kiddos!

Auntie Advent Day 11

Twas the night before Christmas (and Day 11) of Auntie Advent, 

so my true loves sent a recipe sprinkled with heart. 

Our favorite sugar cookies

we wish we could share with you

Since we can't, the recipe

will just have to DO!

Auntie Advent Day 10

On the Tenth Day of Auntie Advent my true loves sent to me, 

seasonal spicy smells and a light for my way. 

'Tis the Season 

For YUMMY Smells!

Auntie Advent Day 9

On the Night Day of Auntie Advent, 

my true loves continue to warm my heart and keep me afloat. 

Everyone know that

Hot COCO is oh so sweet!

So we decided to sent you this special treat!

Auntie Advent Day 8

On the Eighth Day of Auntie Advent, my trues loves brought to me

a wish for a holiday that is germ free. 

 

We are wishing for your to have a 

MERRY XMAS

and a germ free 

NEW YEAR!

(And it's a NEW YORK one too!)

Auntie Advent Day 7

On the Seventh Day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent to me 

some warmth and comfort for my frozen fingers. 

Just like your toes 

we don't want your fingers FROZE!

Auntie Advent Day 6

On the Sixth Day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent their 

camera-shy auntie an old-timey photo album filled with shared memories. 

Pictures of us will just have to do.

We owe you some hugs the next time we see you!

Auntie Advent Day 5

On the Fifth Day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent to me 

some warmth and comfort for frozen toes. 

We don't want your toes to be FROZE!

Auntie Advent Day 4

On the Fourth Day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent spicy treats for a cowgirl.

http://cowgirlchocolates.com

Here is a treat to make your day complete!

Auntie Advent Day 3

On the Third Day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent to me 

a magical potion for my bah-humbug blues. 

Here is some lotion. 

It can be your special POTION!

Auntie Advent Day 2

On the Second Day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent to me 

snowflakes enough for a blizzard. 

Snowflakes falling all around -

in your apartment

on the ground.

P.S. Christina 'clued' me in about the clues on the reverse of the notes

Auntie Advent Day 1

On the First Day of Auntie Advent, my true loves sent to me

adorable artwork for my Attic door. 

What's in the Box?

I think my delightful nieces and nephew in Idaho sent me an Auntie Advent. I have instructions to "open before Christmas" from Christina.

Which is SUPER COOL - because Aunties like presents too.

It Is! It IS an Advent box. I can't wait to open things.

Jaime Just Grew Up! Happy 1st Birthday!

Somewhere in the rush of the last year, I may have not given the birth of Ms. Jaime its due. Which is very bad of this auntie.

Happy First Birthday, Ms. Jaime!

The most recent addition to the Idaho Branch of the Tree turns a whole year old today. Wow did that year zoom by.

Look at this little peanut with her mom and siblings back in December 2014.

Fast forward almost a whole gestation cycle later, and I got to see her chubby smiling face IN PERSON back in August 2015. She didn't quite know what do to with me (and why would she?), but her mom has figured out the trick to get all those great shots that Grumpa has been sharing with me, like the ones above.

And even though Mom was her favorite person, she's kinda of okay with her poppa too.

The older kids love her too - in their sibling-esque ways, 

and there's not a family resemblance at all or anything.

In August she wasn't quite mobile yet, so you could put her down and she'd play. 

Maybe roll over, and definitely rock,

but to get around, she had the best transportation mode of all figured out.

What a smiley little one. Another water baby for the family.

My visit was too short, and she just keeps growing, developing, and investigating.

Per Christina's SM accounts (thanks Grumpa):

 

Look at this face! She even held still long enough for me to get a few pictures in. This little lady is EVERYWHERE!

 It has happened- Jaime has been out as long as she was in: 9 months. It sure is racing by. Love my little princess!

 This little trouble maker is so pleased with herself that she finally found the pantry door open so she could investigate.

  10 months old!

Lucky shot by Grandmary of Grumpa and the youngest 

Pretty Kitties for Halloween 2015

 At 11 months, quoth her mom:

This little lady is so fun and hard all at once. She is into everything but has so much personality. Love her.

 (Sorry Jaime. There has to be the obligatory baby bath shot somewhere.)

Thanks, Grumpa, for sharing Birthday Celebration photos:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAIME! Hope you enjoyed tasting the books!

Post-script to her birthday:
By mid-December, Grumpa shared this one from the gang, with the quote:

This little one has decided now that she was 1, she would take off and start looking and acting all big.

Also, apparently the winter rolls around in Idaho and now the little monkey is out playing with her sibs in the snow.

I don't WANT to wait a year to see her, but the way schedules are looking, it may be. I need to make a Skype appointment here soon.

~my August photos by iTouch; rest courtesy of Jaime's folks via SM, except one by Grandmary