summer spent away from home

Well before summer, My mom and dad decided they were going to get a divorce. I think we all saaw it coming really. Mom wanted us, meaning my 12 y/o brother and I out of the house for a while. And one of my older brothers, Justin, had recently returned from living in Japan for Air Force, along with his lovely wife Meghann, and her daughter Katie. So Boom. Solution. Well long and painful drive gettin up here from Louisiana, actually Tennessee. Other people in our family, along with my immediate family had been planning some vacay in Tenn. Well my imm. family didnt stay long, so we haeaded up to Dover. Which is in Delaware. Well since my brother had recently rented a gorgeous house, but hadnt officially bought it yet, he had NO major furniture, toys, nonkitchen appliances, etc. It was bare. After a few days of getting there, my mom, brother Joel, and a frind who was traveling with us headed back home; leaving us two in Delaware for a month. Hey and don't get me wrong, I was really eager to get up here and spend time with people i havent seen in a long time. And what a perfect way to get away then getting far FAR away? any way, since Meghanna and Justin both worked on the Air Force base back in Dover (Their house was in a Maplewood like subdivision a few minutes away from base). So andrew and i watched the kids while the left til they got home. And the kids we were watching were Kaite 3, Alexis 4, and Kaiden 18 mths. Alexis and Kaiden are Justin's kids from a previo0us marriage from Arkansas, so they were up here spending time as well. Its been pretty good Taking care of them from breakfast hours til about 4/5:3ish when the parents get home. And whats interesting about these kids is that they all have distinct personalities and traits.

• Katie: very outgoing and silly, and is a decent listener. shes a do-goooder! darling. she is an only child

• Alexis: cute, sneaky trouble maker. has a few rough patches in her that she hopefully works out by the time she groes up, and is slightly really selfish

• Kaiden: giggles on RARE occasions with us, as a usuual toddler, he tends to pitch a fiot over every littl thing, but the good side is that he takes his daily nap like a good kid

And like all kids their age, they get up fairly early. which doesn't really bother me: the morning person. Just headaches follow shortly after the early early mornings, like say 7? My alarm clock consists of poking inappropriately or "maymay you awake?" Its fairly regular now, unless i'm lucky and Andrew wakes up with them. Which is great for me to get that hour or so of sleep til like 8:30/9.
The main thing to do around here is just, bascically, clean up after the kids and ourselves and take care of them daily. Though they keep us busy, its usually pretty easy going being cleaner, discipliner, and tell em what to doer. I think i do a pretty good job of being fair to these kids :)
One of the best things about being up here is thinking of my friends back home. I do miss them terribly, and they miss me. Atleast i'm hoping all of em do! I have time of how and why we're all friends because I just have that kind of time. I met a few of my friends last school year, and we've gottten pretty close. Others I've known since 6th/7th grade. I'm hoping when I get home, i can get all my close friends and go out to do something together. I guess to make up for my entire absence during the majority of our summer.
Another thing i have accomplished here is, guess, READING!!! Since the beginning of the trip up to Tennessee to here, I've read about 9 books. and i dont mean those wimpy paper backs. things llike Kiss of Life (daniel waters) Along for the Ride (sarah dessen) the entire serioes and House of Night (thats currently out) and countless magazines they have bought me. I'm proud of myself for this amount of reading materials read.

Everyone back home probably knows I'm fairly, let's say untanned? Well up here during nap time, I'm trying to change that! So hopefully, it will be noticeable when I get home. that would make me a very happy kid!

Saturday, tomorrow, us meghanns and the two girls are going to see horses! I know the girls are excited in seeing them finally. I am too. I hope to get a few pics here and there.

i enjoy being up here, and away from everything back home. It's good that i have spent time this summer with Justin and my new sister-in-law Meghann. I'm also glad i got to spen time with my nieces and nephew for enough time toget to know them personall and they get to know me. I hope to get to do this again next summer, and i know i will have just as much fun if not more.