Arrrrr!
I will soooo miss my niece and nephews! The littlest one won't remember me, I'm sure, since he just turned one and doesn't even walk or talk yet. Though he did let me hold him, so perhaps he has some vague memory of the time we spent together when he was 2-4 months old. But it's weird to think he'll be nearly two the next time I see him!
My other nephew, though, is adorable. He has so much personality. He's been talking clearly from a decently young age, and with such emphatic dramatic delivery. He's hilarious; even before his second birthday, he'd inform you, "I'm a funny guy," and now, he ran all over the house saying "Hey guys, check this out!" to show off for a guest.
But he makes a great pirate! He stomped around in his boots, pointed his sword and/or gun at people, and said 'arrr!' at appropriate times. When two older girls (maybe about 7 years old) pointed out that he was a cute pirate, he reassured them that they didn't have to worry, he wasn't going to hurt them, because he was a nice pirate. I took some pictures of him climbing on the pirate ship at the RenFest, but for now, I'll have to share my sister's picture of him in less amazing surroundings:
Next time I see him, he'll be 3 1/2. :(
My niece will be FIVE years old and ready to start kindergarten. She's a clever and devious child who will always keep her parents on their toes.
It just doesn't seem fair that kids grow up so fast. Goodbye, little ones!
I'll miss my own siblings, of course. It would have been nice if I could have spent more time with some of them this summer. But...we can keep in touch via e-mail and I'll see them next summer. Not as much changes when you're in your 20s.
Well, then again, I find that some of my friends managed to get engaged or get pregnant or buy a house while I was gone these past 6 months, so maybe I am too complacent in assuming that nothing will change in the coming year.
Ah, well. I'm going to miss everyone. Lots of exciting things will happen without me, and I'm going to miss weddings and births and be even more out of the loop than usual on news. Hopefully there won't be too many funerals. But at the end of the day...I'm going to Ethiopia because I choose to and that's where I want to be right now and that's what I should be doing. I look forward to the return next summer as well.
Farewell, and keep in touch!
My other nephew, though, is adorable. He has so much personality. He's been talking clearly from a decently young age, and with such emphatic dramatic delivery. He's hilarious; even before his second birthday, he'd inform you, "I'm a funny guy," and now, he ran all over the house saying "Hey guys, check this out!" to show off for a guest.
But he makes a great pirate! He stomped around in his boots, pointed his sword and/or gun at people, and said 'arrr!' at appropriate times. When two older girls (maybe about 7 years old) pointed out that he was a cute pirate, he reassured them that they didn't have to worry, he wasn't going to hurt them, because he was a nice pirate. I took some pictures of him climbing on the pirate ship at the RenFest, but for now, I'll have to share my sister's picture of him in less amazing surroundings:
Next time I see him, he'll be 3 1/2. :(
My niece will be FIVE years old and ready to start kindergarten. She's a clever and devious child who will always keep her parents on their toes.
It just doesn't seem fair that kids grow up so fast. Goodbye, little ones!
I'll miss my own siblings, of course. It would have been nice if I could have spent more time with some of them this summer. But...we can keep in touch via e-mail and I'll see them next summer. Not as much changes when you're in your 20s.
Well, then again, I find that some of my friends managed to get engaged or get pregnant or buy a house while I was gone these past 6 months, so maybe I am too complacent in assuming that nothing will change in the coming year.
Ah, well. I'm going to miss everyone. Lots of exciting things will happen without me, and I'm going to miss weddings and births and be even more out of the loop than usual on news. Hopefully there won't be too many funerals. But at the end of the day...I'm going to Ethiopia because I choose to and that's where I want to be right now and that's what I should be doing. I look forward to the return next summer as well.
Farewell, and keep in touch!