Side By Side

 There used to be a time in our family when "together" just meant brother was brought along to where sister was.

 He would be held while we read her a fairy tale.

 He would be in a stroller while we walked to Starbucks for a hot chocolate.

 He would be fed purees while big sister ate dinner.

 But now their brother and sister life sees them spending so much time literally side by side.

 It wasn't until Spring that they were truly interested in the same activities, and it first it seemed so novel.

Now I take for granted how much time they enjoy spending together.

They love painting the sidewalk together (sidewalk chalk paint is amazing).

They also love doing chalk together.

Play doh is a big hit.

Bennett loves when Orelia blows him bubbles.

Honestly, one of my favorite times of day is when they say goodnight to one another with a sweet kiss and hug.

There are fights and screaming, but mostly they enjoy living life side by side.

Gymnastics Goddess

As one of my friends describes it, Orelia likes to dress "in character" at all times.

Gymnastics class is most certainly attended in a leotard.

And if one is wearing a leotard, then one must also put on a skirt (keep in mind she has no idea how gymnastics actually dress).

She absolutely loves her gymnastics class every week, and I am so happy to see her eager smiles on the way to class and her elated smiles after class.  I don't have visions of vaults and floor routines dancing in my head or anything, but I am happy she enjoys swinging on the rings and dangling off high bars.

The Fun One

On a very rare occasion, I get to be "the fun one."

The other night, the winds must have shifted, and the fates aligned.  Somehow it was my turn to be the fun one for the night.  (Keep in mind the kids are always fun, it's just that usually one parent watches while the other one creates orderly chaos.)

 Orelia and I chased each other all over the backyard and were somehow fighting over dead flowers and John was providing Orelia with off-color nicknames to call me.

Orelia especially liked not understanding the off-color names, but knowing I didn't care for them much.

Bennett happily enjoyed some pushes on the swing from Daddy, while I waged war as an evil queen against a good princess.

Daddy is unquestionable better at games of chase and superhero fighting, but it was good for Orelia and I to both see that Mommy has some superhero powers too.

A Visit from the Tickle Bug

 A couple of months ago, we were blessed with a visit from my Aunt Ginny.

 Orelia hasn't seen her since she was a year and a half old, but they became fast friends.

Aunt Ginny (or Aunt Gigi to Orelia) has a special way with kids, and Orelia and Bennett immediately took to her.

Orelia especially loved the "tickle bug" and having Ginny read her stories in the special tone only an educator has.  Ginny could even make the insipid Barbie book from the library seem interesting (though she did ask that we hide it, so Barbie didn't make any more appearances this visit).

 My mom and her sister spoiled these kids with lots of love and affection, and life hasn't been the same around here since they left.

 Ginny has a special Caesar salad recipe in her family, and we were lucky to have her make it for us twice.

Orelia and Bennett technically helped make the salad once too, but it may have been heavy on the crouton eating compared to the helping.

Thanks for the amazing visit, Ginny, and we can't wait to see you again soon!  xoxo

Summer School

Our preschool doesn't hold any summer session or summer camps, and as much as Orelia and I both miss school, the summer life is pretty sweet too.

Orelia spent the morning flipping, somersaulting, and rolling on the beach.  (Perhaps she was really trying to see how much sand could get into her hair?)

After the beach, she went home and took a three-hour nap so she would have enough energy for "swim camp" in the afternoon.

Swim camp is really just a thirty minute swim lesson with her friends that happens every day for two weeks.  She isn't learning much, but she's having fun!

Swim camp is of course an excuse to make use of the pool before and after the "lessons."

Summer is hard work for a three-year-old.  Class is in session every minute when it comes to learning to make the most out of life.

 Bennett has lots to learn too - such as all the best backyard hiding spots.

And how to properly nibble corn on the cob.

Mostly he's just learning all the different ways to play with the mulch in our backyard.

Summertime

 Summertime and the living is easy.

Assuming you have a giant orange popsicle dripping all the way down your arm, of course.

The Child I Didn't Want

 Do you see that child sitting calmly at a restaurant eating a meal with his parents?

 Do you see the other child walking slowly holding his mother's hand and going shopping?

 Do you see the other child doing a puzzle from start to finish without any help?

 It's hard to imagine life before kids, but I think the kids I would have considered the ideal specimens hold almost no resemblance to my actual children.

 Frankly, the kids I thought were "perfect" were quite boring.

 And also, fictional.

 The child I didn't want would be the one asking "why" when you tell her a rule (or almost anything).

 The child I didn't want would rather run around than sit and eat a meal at a restaurant.

 The child I didn't want would like to touch every item in a store, please and thank you.

 The child I didn't want would have opinions about everything and very much like to tell you what they are.

 Thank God for that child and children.

 We are still, obviously, getting to know both kids' personalities, but we know Orelia to be a firecracker and Bennett certainly has no trouble telling us when things don't go his way.

 I think every parent learns to love and appreciate their kids who who they are, and perhaps if I had a quieter, rule-loving child I would love that too.

 All I know is that I love my kids' spunk and vigor.

 I love their curiosity.

 I love their energy.

I love them.


Photos by the talented Kristin Dokoza.