playing with kids

i've been trying to follow through on that last post. i'd give myself a B on the follow through. not too bad. not stellar. but the effort is there. i hope the habit will follow. 

we made play dough:

and then the other day we did something that i thought was a fun exercise. so i'm sharing. 

zeke went down for a morning nap. we each picked something that we wanted us all to do together. it had to be something feasible, at home, etc. we all had to be able to do it. we all had to do the other people's activities willingly and, hopefully, with joy. 

we picked legos out of a bowl to see whose activity would be first. i set a 15 minute timer on my phone. and we commenced. 

my lego was pulled first. so we did what i had wanted to do--- legos. 

(please forgive the photos of this post. i didn't bring the camera-- just the phone.)

kate was up next. coloring. (no surprise there- this girl is crazy for coloring)

samuel brought up the rear with painting. 

we really had such a nice time. i enjoyed hanging with those two. and i think it was good for all of us to prefer someone else for 30 minutes in participating in an activity that we didn't choose. 

i liked it. i hope we do it again soon. give it a try at your house, if you want. 

happy week-start. 

cowgirl

this past saturday included a birthday party. for a little newly-four year old we know and love. it was a cowgirl birthday party. oh yes. 

with a pony.

kate and i got into the car on saturday morning, all cowgirl-ed up, and drove to the party. and i know i only have 2 kids. a lot of mommas out there have several more babies to keep up with than i do. but sitting with just her and hearing her talk and sing and ask me questions, i thought about how often i get to do that. to really sit and hear from just her. 

now, i do not want to load up another to-do onto to our (more than likely) already guilt-ladden momma plate. but i will say that i would like more. more time with this little cowgirl. and i think i'll try to keep my eyes open for more chances. more adventure for the two of us. she's full of so much. i want to get to know as much of it as i can. 

rare evening

there are so many nights that, after i get home from work, go kinda like this: i blink, put two dishes in the dishwasher and, oh, it's 10:30.

well last night was the rarity. we squeezed in a whole bunch of play and love.



checked on the garden with my little gardener. He's decided he wants to 'grow up into' a gardener. does it get better?



we walked around the block together, landed in our own overgrown patch and tossed the ball from end to end.





some nights it can be a challenge for me to switch gears and engage with these little hearts-- getting into the dirt with them, after removing my heels and favorite green beads.



why do i resist so often the gifts of joy God longs to give me if i would just choose to open my eyes and receive? oh the rewards and blessings that wait for me.


although her face doesn't reflect it here, we really did have a joy-filled time. really.

we closed the evening with a bath



and impromptu time with dear friends and neighbors. the kids cuddled in for the night and i sewed and sewed. i hope to put more up soon of stuff i'm working on and may get to a little tutorial one of these days.