I have so many pictures to get up here it’s crazy. We went through months of nothing happening and it seems now there’s too much to keep up with! So I’m taking a tip from my scrapbooking days… start with the most recent and work your way backward. That way your pile doesn’t continue to grow.
I am purposefully trying to be engaged with the kids from the time they come home until the time they go to bed. As a project person, this is hard for me. It’s so tempting to want to get one more thing done. And by bedtime I’m so mentally tired it’s tempting to check out.
Many afternoons, the kids come in, I’m present while they work on their homework and instruments – here if they need me. Then they run outside to play with the neighbors taking the boy with them… sometimes they’re outside for up to an hour and a half. I find myself looking around a quiet house while I’m browning meat or sauteeing veggies for dinner. When did my kids get old enough to abandon me during the witching hour?
The last two weeks we’ve been inside though. I somehow managed to run over Natalie’s foot last Monday with a shopping cart. She hasn’t been able to put pressure on it since. I’ll save that story for another post, but the point is that last night and tonight the kids were inside. Doing…. being… playing…arguing.
Tonight, we ate dinner (there was some whine involved – – oh how I wish it was wine instead!) and I thought for sure I’d send them up for an early bedtime (except for Ryan who’s been sleeping like a rock the last few nights recovering from his cath and a sleepless night in-house).
Ryan pulled out Spot-It and Uno… two games he’d been wanting to play all day. And we played until bedtime. There was still some whining, don’t get me wrong, but at least we had fun.
I forget what she was saying right here, but obviously, I did something ridiculous. I’m catching glimpses of adolescence from her here and there. This expression – definitely going to be repeated I’m sure. (and ohmygosh ignore the junk cabinet in the background – can’t wait to get my doors back!)
This one was especially tired…. and of course got her second wind when I sent them up to bed.
And this one? Ohgolly! Be still my heart. I had to hold up his hand every time and ask him if he had the color or number that was last played. He LOVED the game.
As we played it reminded me how fun it is to have game night with the kids. I hope to be more purposeful in pulling out games as the evenings get colder.
