Rae, oh Rae!

Raeya, Christmas 2011, age 5

The above child is my niece, who at times is just an adorable, little creature!  She's loving, funny, energetic, sweet, caring and just a pleasure to be around!  The child below is my niece, who is hell on wheels, a diva most of the time, loud, obnoxious, but still funny no matter what!

Last night we decided to go out to eat (nothing different, we have no food at home, so....) and maybe drive around to see some Christmas lights, since MOM HASN'T PUT ANY UP!!!

I get to Mom's house to pick up all the kids (Jacob, Austin, Raeya and Krista). Upon entering the Grinch's house I look to my left and see Jacob curled up into a ball on a chair-asleep.  I walk a little further in and see Krista hanging over the couch-asleep. I look to my right and see Austin sprawled out on the recliner-asleep.  I look straight at Gracie, who is also sitting on the couch, in a trans, and has a 'I'm gonna knock her out because I'm trying to watch my novela look'! Around the corner I see Raeya running and jumping into the air while holding plastic bubble wrap, singing, "I lost you Christmas" (supposed to be, 'Where are you Christmas' sung by Faith Hill for my all time favorite Christmas movie the Grinch)!  The kid doesn't even know what she's singing, but ok,,, she's trying!  It was terrible! Adrian's at the table, with a beer.  Shocking.

I proceed to wake up the entire clan so we can get ready to head out, but before doing that, I need to re-dress Raeya.  She is wearing some kind of jumper with a long sleeve shirt, socks above her knees and cowboy boots.  Cute. But not gonna work for 30 degree weather.  Here is the conversation she and I had in her room while getting dressed:

Me: " Rae, take your clothes and boots off so you can put some warmer clothes on."
Rae:  "Ok!  Am I gonna wear that??"  (I had already pulled out some leggings and a cute sweatshirt)
Me: "Yes, so you can be warm.  It's cold outside and I don't want you to get sick.  You can wear your
pretty scarf too."
Rae: "Ok, but (as she's sitting on the floor, jumper and shirt off) I'll need my other boots." 
Me: "Ok, fine.  Hurry. Take off your cowboy boots."
She proceeds to take off the cowboy boots and now has a scrunched up nose and a funny look.
Rae: "Something smells bad around here."
At this point, I'm searching for an undershirt, in her drawer, so she can wear under the sweatshirt.
Rae: "Do you smell that?" (she lifts her foot to her nose) "Ewww, yup!  That's it! That's what smells around here!"
Me: "Raeya!  Yuck!" (I can't help but laugh)
Rae: "They smell like vinegar!  Wanna smell?"
Me: "Ummm....no...I'm good, thanks!"
Rae: "Well, you should, Tia.  It's really bad!"
Me: "No.  I'm still good.  I don't want to lose my appetite."
Rae: "Oh.  What happens if you lose it?"
Me: "Well, then I won't eat."
Rae: "Oh." 
By this time, we have her leggins, undershirt, sweatshirt, scarf, FRESH socks and her blinged out light up boots on.  She looks sooo cute!  She stands up and puts one hand on her hip the other is waving in front of her nose.
Rae: "Something smells."
Me: "Now what?  Did you toot?  What's going on?  Hurry, Rae, we gotta go!"
Rae: "I don't know, but..." then she picks up her arm and smells her armpit.
Me: (confused look) "what are you doing, kid?"
Rae: "I think I need perfume!"
Me: "Ever heard of a bath? What you need is a bath!"
Rae: (laughing) "Don't be silly, Tia!"
I walk out of the room, Raeya following behind me, question after question after question,,,about nothing!  I tune it out.  I'm starving and this kid is holding me up.  We hadn't even left the house and I was ready to 'conveniently leave her at home'!  lol just kidding! 

Our ride back home was nothing short of a billion questions about the lights we saw.
Rae: "Wow!  Look!  There!  There! OMG! Look Jacob!"
Jacob: "I know."
Rae: "Look Tia!"
Me:  "Ya!  I see that!"
Rae: "OMG!  It's too diiiiiiiie for!"
Me: stunned and laughing "Yes, Yes it is, isn't it?"
Rae: "OM goodness, look!  look at the trees!  Did Santa do that?  How long did that take? How do they turn on? Why is it everywhere? Why doesn't Grandma have lights? Can we put some up? Do they get cold?"
Me: "Does what get cold?"
Rae: "The lights!"
Me: "uh...I don't think so. I'm sure they feel cold but when you turn them on they'll stay warm."
Rae: "Like me?"
Me: "yes. Ok, let's just enjoy the ride, QUIETLY, listen to the Christmas music and see the lights."
Rae: "ok."  2 seconds later.  "Does Santa live there? Does he have kids? Will he bring me all the stuff I want? Does it cost a lot of money?
Me: "No!!!  He and the little elves make the toys!!!!!"
Rae: "How?"
Me: I turn up the radio, begin to go little faster and bite my lip! "With their little elf hands!"
Rae: "Awesome! Jacob!  Jacob! Jacob!"
Me: "He can't hear you!  He was smart enough to bring headphones!"
Rae: "He should take them off so he can hear me!"
Me: "I'm sure he's listening to his own Christmas music"
Rae: "oh. That's good."
We finally make it to Gracie's house.  Phewww!  That 15 minute ride seemed like 5 hours!
The funny thing is when we left the house to go eat, I was excited to see her reactions and I promised her we would put lights up at Grandma's house this weekend...ugh!  What was I thinking???  Still, I love this little monster sooooo much that I'm gonna do it for her.  More to come, I'm sure.