My brother and his two girls, ages 11 and 13 live with me.  They are moving out beginning this coming weekend.   While I was staying at work, one niece had been at my sisters house since Thanksgiving Day because she, being 11, could not stay by herself at my house while I was gone and her Father was working.  Her sister, the 13 year old, had stayed with their Mother since Thanksgiving Day.

When they both came home my sisters daughter came to spend the night.  The 11 year old, after staying at her cousins house for three days felt a little put out because she knew once the two 13 year olds were together under the same roof she would be kinda left behind. ;(

So, she and I spent most of the day in my room.  Me on my Kindle reading or watching the numerous shows I had saved on my DVR and she on my Netbook because the other two were doing stuff on my other computer.

I was sitting. with pillows all around me, reading.  She was stretched across the width of my bed playing on the ‘puter.  We had a lot of fun.  She kept showing me YouTube videos she likes, music, funny stuff and all that she found amusing on the internet.  The BEST thing, which might sound like the most stupid thing of all, was when she asked me about my cell phone.   I have a “slider” cell phone.

She wanted to know, if  when the cell phone is closed and turned on, you can still talk.  I told her I honestly didn’t know because I have a habit of sliding it open when I have it turned on for using. So, she called my cell phone with her cell phone.  It was amazing, she was sitting there laughing because of being able to hear herself on both phones.  It was as if it were amplified.  I could hear every word she said too.  (Heheh Just reread the prior sentence, of course I could hear her, I was sitting a foot away from her.  I mean I could hear the words from the cell phones very well too).  Then she started singing and messing around with the phones.  While doing so she told me about a girl who was in the talent show at school who sang a song about dancing.  When my niece mimicked her while on the two cell phones we couldn’t help laughing hard, it echoed.  Least it sounded like it was echoing, partly because of the way the you sing the song.  We decided that my niece is gonna be in the next talent show, singing that very same song, but with one difference, or two, she is going to bring two cell phones and sing while holding the phones next to the microphone.    It was fun just being silly.

I really enjoyed it.  Mostly because this 11 year old keeps her cards close to her chest.  Her sister is totally different, wears her heart on her sleeve and you know what she is thinking and feeling, for the most part. She’s still a teenager so you may not always get the WHOLE picture, but you get a pretty good idea of what is going on with her.  The 11 year old tho, while she is an imp, loves playing jokes on people, knows how to push peoples buttons and always has a smile on her face, keeps things close.

A few months ago she was elected President of her elementary school.  I don’t get to see many of their school activities like concerts and plays because they are usually held in the evenings while I am asleep.  I was able to go to the assembly when she was elected President, it was held in the morning.  I felt sooooo good when she tried to hide a HUGE smile on her face when she saw me.  (My brother, her dad, had to work, so he could not go).

I felt good for two reasons, one quite selfish, that she was happy to see ME.  I make them clean and stuff,  ya know? The other that she let it show through, even though she tried very hard not to.

I worry about her staying closed, quite often.  Because that is how I am myself.  I don’t let many close.  I want her to be braver than I was/am in how she deals with people.   How do you instill that in someone as young as she is?  Is it even possible?

So, I didn’t do a thing on here yesterday but I am okay with that, what I did do was much more important to me for a lot of reasons.

Next weekend, all three nieces and myself, are going to pick out my new little puppy.  I think it is a miniature schnauzer?  They are very excited, already picking out names, like Mr. Pickles (??!?!?!), Snuggles, Bingo and a few others.  I insisted, as it will be MY puppy, I get to pick out a name, and I am not doing that until I see the personalities of the puppies.   I am going from a giant dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, Marlo, that I had to have put down a few years ago, to a small doggie.

Anyway, I had a GREAT DAY yesterday with my niece, just relaxing and having a good time.