by Terra Osterling | Sep 23, 2016 | Babysitting Nephews, Inspiration, Storytelling
Summer is over for nephews K. and D. <sad trombone> Summer 2016 was ‘all-baseball all the time’ as both boys are on travel teams. Practices started way back in March. For months, if they weren’t at a game, they were at practice. I don’t know how my sister does...
by Terra Osterling | Dec 3, 2015 | Babysitting Nephews, Inspiration, Nature
Nephews K. & D. are growing bigger every day. Spending a day with them now, at ages 8 ½ and 10 ½, is more like having play buddies than babysitting. Outdoor activities are usually good choices when it comes to boys who never seem to stop moving, and this past...
by Terra Osterling | Jan 12, 2014 | Babysitting Nephews, Books and Reading, Finding the artist in me
Nephews K. & D. had a two week vacation from school over Christmas and New Year’s. TWO. WEEKS. After the boys take ridiculously long showers (what a water bill they must have), we play games, we do crafts, and I try (with limited success) to get some work done...
by Terra Osterling | Nov 17, 2013 | Babysitting Nephews, Outside my comfort zone, Storytelling
I love my nephews K & D. I really do. This is a mantra I say to myself sometimes when I’m standing in the middle of my sister’s kitchen, seemingly surrounded by four times as many kids as are actually there, and wondering…What did I get myself into? K & D are...
by Terra Osterling | Oct 20, 2013 | Babysitting Nephews, Poetry
We are coming to your house – We are staying overnight! Columbus Day adventure: Two boys, The Aunt – it will be an Autumn delight! We are here, we are well-rested, Let us “help” The Uncle run the hot grill! We will watch Harry Potter here, While you watch the zombie...
by Terra Osterling | Jun 2, 2013 | Babysitting Nephews, How I got "here", Outside my comfort zone
First, we survived. Second, it took twice as much time to recover as the length of time that we had nephews K. & D. overnight. The boys arrived at noon last Sunday, carrying in a suitcase, backpacks, and a giant tote bag of assorted child-necessary items. I feared...
