In a child's eyes

I am lucky to have the friends I do. Over the years I have "collected" a group who would do anything for me and I them and I love them all in different ways...but I must admit there are two "little people" who have stolen my heart.

I always thought I would have children or at least a child, but the laws of the universe decided otherwise for me. I have friends who have children and I have seen the good and bad sides of all of them. I am like an aunt who gets to go home at the end of the night when they are wound for sound and eyes all sleepy. So one could say I get the best of both worlds.

Connecting to girls was easy as I have been there and even though in times of ever changing technology, girls still like the same things. They like to be heard, preened over and generally loved with hugs and kisses. I have never been quite sure what to do with little boys though. I am not the rough and tumble sort and I have always been unsure of what to talk to them about.

So where am I going with this?

I have two friend R & J who have two children M & K. They are by no means perfect (sorry guys for that update!) but they are real and true to the core. R would get into trouble with me and never let our secret out -unless someone threatened her with bugs. J is a great house husband and someday we will get him books to learn how to expand that talent. Their daughter M is the best mix of girls gone wild and tomboy all rolled into one. She is part fish and part drama queen. K is the little avenger who has the biggest smile and tackle you hugs. He is a boy's boy through and through.

Every time I go to their house chaos has arrived before me(Yes, every time!). With a cat on death watch (for the past 10 years) and noise and toys from one end to the other, I never feel more at home when I am there. Whether it is playing in the pool, or howling at rock band (Death Pants is now on Mall tours), hanging out watching comedy shows or playing nerf darts to the death life is always fun. It might also have to do with the wine.

They may not be the perfect family but they are pretty perfect in my eyes. And lets face it, each time I arrive the kids run out the door or down the stairs to greet me, with their arms open wide for big hugs over the excitement that you have arrived. We always joke about the fact that if R & J ever died I would take the kids in a heartbeat....and I gladly would after all when you ask K what he is doing and he says "I want to give you a hug" with his 1000 watt smile...really...how could you ever say no?