Creative Activities

It is official.  When I am old and rich (should either of these things ever come to pass) I am moving to the Florida Keys from January to March.  I do not like the cold.  I do not like playing outside when it is cold.  Therefor, if we must play inside, we must find fun things to do inside.

This next picture is of  little children imagining all on their own.  I think that my mom or dad made them this living room tent, but the pretzel  tea party was entirely their own idea.  I love it when they do things like this.  Eventually, they invited their Babette in for tea, but she made me promise not to take pictures of her in the tent.

 Later this day, all the girls got manicures.  Libby was especially proud of hers and has shown everyone her "tail-nail polish."

 My Littlest wanted to wear this old shirt of mine.  My mom has a picture of me in it when I was around 2 or 3.  Maggie was so proud to wear it and held still just long enough for me to snap a picture of her.

 Notice her pink finger nails and contemplative expression.

 Even later on this very same day, Babette and I took the ladies to the Baltimore Aquarium.

 Although we had fun, and enjoyed all the fish, and only paid half price because of going in the evening,  I decided that field trips with little ones are best completed in the earlier hours of the day.

 I found Maggie in this position yesterday.  Every time I said her name she would giggle and move her hand away from the knob that turns on the burner, then she would ever so sweetly move her hand back.  Sneaky Littlest.

 At the same moment, I found Libby practicing her typing skills on Kevo's work computer.

 I would have been more upset about this, if her grown-upness hadn't caught me so off guard.  I am pretty sure that she has grown 3 feet this winter.  Such a little girl now, not even a trace of toddler-hood is left.

 Today, I came up stairs for a few minutes and when I returned to the kitchen to make lunch I found them doing the dishes.  They were both soaked form head to toe.

 Not to mention, the surrounding perimeter that was sufficiently saturated with water.  It was a good way to pass the time on this cold day that didn't manage to climb out of the 30's.

Next week I am flying to Florida on my own for a long weekend away.  I was going to try to take the girls with me, but when I jokingly mentioned to Kevin that it would be easier if I just went on my own, he said "I think you should go on your own."  

Initially, I was beyond excited about this.  All I could think about was how I was going carry one small bag on the plane, and flip through the crisp pages of a new home decorating magazine to my heart's content, and maybe even close my eyes for a nap, and ask for a drink without a no spill lid.  I am still excited about the trip, but the reality of missing them is setting in.  I have never been away from Libby for more than 2 nights and that was only b/c I was having Maggie.  I have only ever been away from Maggie for one night.  I know that a trip away from them will be healthy and rejuvenating for me and is probably just what I need.  It will be good for me to miss them, it will be good for them to be away from me and have time with just their Dad (he rarely gets to be part of the fun everyday things) but that doesn't mean I'll miss them any less.  "Creative Activities" is a creative way for me to say...sometimes they drive me nuts.  There, I said it out loud, sometimes my children, my darlings, drive me batty.  However, just thinking about being away from them for 4 nights has me appreciating every precious thing about them....Like the way just listening to Libby talk makes me laugh or the way that Maggie's smile warms the room and makes me feel so comforted.

Mommy time is important.  I can't wait to see my friends and take a walk with my Grams.  However, I know that by the time I walk through the door on Monday night the chances of me snatching them out of their beds and wrapping them up with me is very, very probable.

Grace and Peace and creative activities....:)

xoxo

When You Just Have Get Through It

Single parenting is hard.  I'm convinced that it is a job that no one was meant to do on their own.  This week was one of those weeks where we had no choice.  He needed to be there, so we were left here to fend for ourselves.  I feel like I just closed my eyes and tucked my head down and pushed through the whole week, holding my breath until today when he was due to be home.  You can imagine my disappointment when he told me last night of the chance of him not coming home until tomorrow.

I have to remind myself almost by the minute that this is just a season of life that we are in.  He will be home soon.  I can not spend everyday wishing he was here, and missing magical moments with my precious girls...Though frustration, tiredness, loneliness... all of those things have tried to rob me of those moments this week. 

Maggie spent a good five minutes today running in circles while yelling "Fly! Fly! Fly!  Gussy Boy did not approve.  I think it made him nervous.

Fly! Fly! Fly!

Fly! Fly! Fly!

 Magical is the perfect  word to describe those girls.  They are amazing.  My Little spent 20 minutes talking to imaginary friends in the sunshine today and her sweet sister matched her step for step.

 I missed my good parenting cue and instead of putting them down for their naps, I let them run and play in the sun.  I regretted it a bit later, but in that moment I was just happy that we were outside and that they were smiling.

Here are some other things I did this week to help us pass the time.

1.  Monday morning we took Gussy Boy to get groomed.  He and Maggie both cried when we had to leave him at the Pet's Mart desk.  I love that she has such a sensitive spirit.  I know exactly how she feels.

Doesn't he look handsome..

2.  Tuesday morning we went to Cracker Barrel to eat pancakes for National Pancake Day. 

By the time we finished eating it was just past breakfast time but still before lunch.  I learned this is the perfect time to let your children play in Cracker Barrel.  We probably stayed an extra 30 or 40 minutes just playing with the sample toys

Maggie makes the perfect cup of imaginary tea.

3.  I wish I could remember what we did on Wednesday, but I have no recollection of that day.

4.  Thursday, we attended CBS as usual but then had lunch out with friends. 

5.  Friday, we went to gymnastics and then went on a play date with friends.  When we came home for lunch I noticed that the house felt very cold.  After some investigating I decided that the heater was broken.  That night to help us stay warm I pulled out the sofa bed in the living room and turned on movies for the girls.  We had a sleep over.  I don't think they fell asleep until 10pm (bad parenting move again. My life is cluttered with them) but we did stay warm and we did have fun which might makes a 10 o'clock bedtime okay...

I believe she told me that she was searching for a creature that she dreamed about in this picture.  I never learned what the creature was, but they searched for him in delight  for quite a while.

 When I woke up this morning it was 54 degrees in the house.  I contemplated wearing my gloves to fold the  laundry, but instead I just stared at  it and didn't fold it at all.  (Just bc I want you to know, I did eventually fold it and put it away).

The little girls are tucked in bed now. Just about everyday this week Libby has said "I want my Daddy back,." Then I say "me too," and then Maggie in her little Maggie way says "me too!"

It pulls at my heart strings.

They were making soup in this picture...Libby said it had blueberries and butternut squash in  it.  Many of her soups and stews contain blueberries and butternut squash...how very health conscious of her!

They love him so.

So does their Mama.

He'll be back tomorrow...even if it is just for a hot second.

That's all for now.

Grace and Peace

xoxo