Sweet Singing

Scott and I woke this morning to Eden's sweet little voice singing upstairs. She had gone into Levi's room and was singing to him (over and over), "You better watch out, You better not cry, You better not pout, I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to town." Such a good big sister.

Perfect.

I kept thinking yesterday was Saturday. Scott stayed home from work and it totally threw me off. It was such a perfect day. Just having Scott at the house made the day somehow peaceful and calm! The kids and I crafted away while Daddy worked in the next room.

We made Fall leaves, pretend pumpkin pie and a cinnamon spice batch of play dough that kept them occupied for most of the day. When we weren't inside working on our Fall projects, we were out enjoying the amazing weather! Fall in Austin is absolutely beautiful - sunny and 70! We spent the late afternoon at the park with some of our friends trying to catch minnows from the pond.



In the evening we had family movie night - one of my very favorite things. It really was a perfect day.

Today's Tiny Treasures: The kids came down the stairs this morning giggling. I could heard Eden's say, "Let's go show Mommy how silly we look." They rounded the corner of the kitchen and jumped out at me...with pull-ups on their heads. Zany kids. Oh, how I love them.



By the way, Levi would not pose for the picture. His 3-year old self, must have somehow spoken with his 16-year old self and they agreed it would be in his best interest to not document the pull-up on the head moment. Just a story I'll have to save for his girlfriend (minus the photographic evidence.)

P.S.

Only because I have been away from the blog for so long and have been meaning to write this down, here are two other tiny treasures:

I know that one day Scott and I will likely pay thousands of dollars in dentist bills to correct the damage Levi is doing by sucking his thumb. Despite that, I honestly love the little noise he makes when he is holding his dot, sucking his thumb and falling asleep. I hope I never for get the sound of it.

Eden is starting to read! All stages of development are fun with your kids, but this one seems to be exceptionally fun! She gets so proud of herself when she figures out a word. Last week she read her biggest word yet: DINOSAUR. Wow!

I did have a smile over one of her attempts to read, though. She was playing with a new toy she got for her birthday. It is called a Wobble Deck. I thought she was trying to sound out the name of the toy as she was balancing on it the other day and was confused to hear her making the "T" and "M" sounds. Just as I was about to offer some "parental guidance", I realized what she was doing. She was reading the trademark sign, TM. Good job, Eden. You sounded it out perfectly!

Thomas the Tank Engine and Barbie Cargo

Tonight I was picking up the house and was not very happy about it. This wasn't just your run of the mill mess - this was hurricane force. I think every toy in the play room had some how found its way to another part of the house. As I was feeling frustrated by the dent I didn't seem to be making in the piles of toys, something stopped me in my tracks.

Thomas the Tank Engine was pulling three cargo loads of Barbie shoes and accessories on the trampoline. I took a break from my grumpy attitude to remember how sweet Eden and Levi were being this afternoon as they played some kind of a game involving both brands of toys. They were making up a little story together and acting it all out. I can't remember or maybe wasn't paying attention to the script of their story. But, I do remember the giggles and the simple joy they seemed to share as they played together. It was a sweet moment.

Then this thought crossed my mind: My Thomas and Barbie days are numbered. One day Eden will be more interested in what shade of nail polish to wear and Levi will actually want to watch the football game that was on TV, instead of playing with his sister. It will happen before I know it - so a little perspective would be nice, Heather. Don't get so worked up about the mess that you forget to notice the little tiny treasures that are hiding all around you.

I Want You in My Tummy!

Tonight when I was tucking Levi into bed he didn't want me to leave. I explained to him that Mommy is always with him; that I am in his heart wherever he goes. He thought about that a minute and then replied, "I want you in my tummy."

Picnic at the Park

The kids and I spent the morning at the park. We enjoyed an early picnic before the real playing began. Our dump trucks, buckets and shovels were a little harder to share today for some reason, but we managed to play nicely with others without too much persuasion. When they had their toys to themselves, Eden and Levi made roads for the trucks, ice cream sundaes (with rock sprinkles on top) and a giant birthday cake for me - complete with many, many stick candles and a singing of "Happy Birthday dear Mommy."

When we were sufficiently dirty, we loaded up the car for a trip to Daddy's office to bring cookies and lemonade. Eden loved passing cookies out to everyone and it seemed a nice "pick-me-up" for all involved.

And now, I'm home typing this post to a very quiet house. Levi is crashed out in his room and Eden is sleeping in a tent we have set up in the living room for her camp out. I can't remember the last time both of them went for naps. Oh, I spoke too soon. I just heard the zipper on the tent and Eden is heading this way.

Today's Tiny Treasure: When Eden was passing out my pretend cake at the sandbox today, Levi warned me not to eat the sand. "People don't eat sand.", he said. "Only camels eat sand."

Wood Chuck, Wood Chuck...

Today has been such a fun day with the kids. I have been very intentional about making myself available to them and when I'm invited, joining in on some playtime. We have crammed so much into today that I feel compelled to document everything my little monkeys came up with...

We started the day making homemade stationary: pushing pieces of paper into trays of shaving cream and food coloring, mixed together with popsicle sticks. Then they disappeared upstairs to play. After about 30 minutes they called me up to watch "The Show". They had propped Levi's mattress against the wall and were banging on a xylophone and bowls. Levi was playing a mean harmonica and Eden was making up a song - singing it at the top of her lungs. I wish I could remember the words - I think it was some kind of an Ode to Shamu.

Then it was on to water play outside. We filled up the little pool and they started running cups of water over to the slide to make it super fast. They were perched on top of a slip and slide raft heading down the slide as fast as the water would carry them. Once they were sufficiently grassy, they headed into our bath for some "swimming".

A brief break for lunch and then Eden decorated an envelope for letter we need to send to her friend in California while Levi ran his paint cars over paper. He requested blue and green paint - a departure from his normal demand for orange. Eden, of course, had to get in on the car action as well - but quickly moved on when Levi suggested scuba diving.

So, back to the bath tub they went - snorkels in hand. After they had explored the depths of the master bath, we played a couple of quick games of Sequence, colored some Hello Kitty pictures and read a few books on the couch. I wonder what they will come up with between now and dinner...

Today's Tiny Treasure: We have been working on tongue twisters the past couple of weeks. Eden finally has, "How much wood could a wood chuck, chuck..." down. Not too shabby. Levi's version had me cracking up this afternoon. He says, "Wood Chuck, Wood Chuck" as fast as he can and then looks at me and smiles. Close Levi, Close.