My Favorite Brat is here

I picked up my niece at the airport today. She is up north for a week from Texas, where she has lived for almost 7 years. I miss her terribly since she is my only niece and she grew up so far away.

Right now she is at my parent's house. She'll spend a few days with them and they will bring her to my house on Friday, when they come to celebrate my birthday.

The niece is a thrift store shopper. I doubt if 10% of her wardrobe was purchased any place other than a second hand store. Of course, when you wear a size 6-8, it's a little easier to shop at just about any place. So my mom and dad will take her to a thrift store or two and to the clearance sales at some of the department stores. And when she comes to my house, we'll probably do the same.

I enjoy spending time with her. She was just shy of one when I got married and almost three when my son was born. I spent the least amount of time with her when she was growing up, much less than I did with her three brothers, so I feel a little cheated. Then she moved away and I only get to see her about once a year. So I try to spend some one on one time with her.

And she and my son are very close - much like a brother and sister - they torment each other, argue with each other and ind the end, they enjoy each other's company and they share the same twisted sense of humor. When the two of them are together, we are all in for a few good laughs. When we attended her brother's wedding last summer, the two of them went kayaking one evening and on another, they went to a free midnight movie.

So for the next week, I will be enjoying my niece, who by the way, is a lot like me!!!!