Grandma's stand-in

The past two weeks my sister has been visiting from Florida, and basically spoiling my daughter (and me too!). She had no children, and has said more than once that she is doing what our mom would if she were here - making sure Erica gets lots of love, attention, and an endless stream of stuff. I took a look in Erica's room, and from what I can see on the top of the pile (meaning the most recently aquired junk) there is a puffball pen, mini kaleidescope, mood bracelet, shell necklace, flower hairclips, three shirts, several paperback books, mustache sunglasses (which I would like to have myself) and movie ticket stubs for Ice Age Continental Drift. This pile doesn't include the new zebra striped chair and stool that now decorate her room. I swear my sister has spent over $100 in the past two weeks, and Erica has soaked up every bit of it. I'm glad my sister is able to visit, to spend some time here, and has the cash to spread around to spoil my kid. No doubt, I get spoiled a little too - I have new curtains hanging in my living room, compliments of Kathy. I'm not sure who enjoys all this the most - her or us. This will all change when Kathy is finally back in Colorado for good. But I would trade all the little things that she buys for the priceless amount of time we will have to spend together. I'm counting the days.