the annual visit

This past week, my niece, Shelbi, visited us. She is a couple years older than Raine, and this year, it was quite evident. She has matured so much over the past year, and is more teenager than child. She looks different and acts different. I don't mean that in a bad way, though. My niece has continually amazed me with what a neat kid she is, and this is just one more instance. She didn't make a big deal of her interests, or deride Raine for hers. She was still enthusiastic about participating in activities like bowling and going to the movies and an outing at White Sands. She was just more able to amuse herself than she has been in the past. None of the activities were the make-or-break of the trip.

We did some fun at-home stuff this year. We worked a puzzle. Carl and I took a turn at teaching Raine and Shelbi to play canasta. We didn't finish the game, but we all had a good time playing. Yep, all of us. After canasta, Shelbi turned up Raine's Uno cards, and we played several times over the next couple of days.

I didn't get sewing done for her this trip, although I usually do. We went to Jo-Ann's and picked up a few pieces, but the time ran out. I'll finish some pj's and a swim cover-up for her and send them to her in the mail or something.

It was really a nice visit, and I hope a portent of the teenager she will be the next few years, and the adult she will become. Lots of promise in this one.