Naps!

On the way home from my birthday lunch at my parents' house yesterday, the kids crashed, as expected.  They didn't stay up late or do anything super crazy during their sleepover, but throughout the afternoon they were moody, not listening, and seemingly in need of a nap.

Today after lunch and some lazy playing as we had been doing all day on this day off from work and school, Michael said he needed a nap.  I offered to read some stories, the three of us snuggled on my bed like old times, and they the kids crashed again.

I didn't pump my fists or anything, but I did feel somehow victorious.

I've fallen behind a bit on my photo-a-day project (as always) and was counting on this little break to help me catch up.  It was a rare gift to be able to stalk my snoozing peanuts.  Here are my two favs.

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Sweet face.

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I took a bunch of photos, some kneeling by the beds, some standing on a stool.  I felt seriously creepy but loved the opportunity.  The shots from the foot of the bed please me the most.  Admittedly in the one of Michael I was trying to get his eye in focus, and I did in a couple of other shots, but ultimately the focus on the fuzzy red blanket resonated with me more.  The kid seriously lives in that thing.

Valentine's Party Day

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Sous Chefs

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Distaste for Dinner

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Mike and I are pretty firm about enforcing the rule that we all eat what's for dinner without substitutions, but Michael tests us on that often.  He's always been less than enthused about vegetables, but he comes around.  We credit our firm policy for that.  Broccoli used to make him furious, but he finds it less offensive now and eats it without fuss.  Sometimes, though, Michael just doesn't want what's for dinner and seems certain that he hates it, no matter how many times he's loved it in the past.  That's just how it goes, I guess.

Valentine Factory

Last year we were in Disney World for Valentine's Day, so Michael and Sophie did not give out valentines at school.  I did grab some Mickey and Minnie valentines at the Dollar Tree before we went, in case the kids did want to leave some for their school friends.  They didn't care, so we didn't use them.

This year Sophie and Michael were perfectly happy using last year's dollar store valentines in kindergarten.  Let life be so simple in years to come!  They signed the cards over several weekends, glued on their classmates' names as their teacher suggested, folded the valentines closed, and sealed them with heart stickers from their kits, amused to consider themselves a valentine factory.

I was tempted to get more Pinteresty, perhaps reviving the crayon, silly straw, bubbles, ball, or puzzle valentines they (we) gave out over the years in child care.  This seemed like a good year to let that go, though.  The kids did fine writing out and assembling their valentines, and like so many tasks as they grow up, I believe this should be almost entirely in their hands now that it can be.  If they ask to do more next year, we'll likely go for it, especially if they're willing to do most of the legwork.

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Their conversation while assembling their valentines was quite amusing.  Aside from Sophie mentioning once that a boy in her class told her she was cute and a few "I think I'll marry...." discussions, they've never talked about crushes and such before, at least not in my presence.  But as Sophie made out a valentine for one boy in her class, she said she loved him, that he was very kind to her and funny.  Michael said he loved a little girl in their class, and Sophie told him, "You know what you should do? You should tell her she's beautiful.  She wears beautiful dresses."  Michael said he would talk to the boy and make sure he loved Sophie back.  At that point I chimed in and reminded them that they are too young to worry about being anything other than a good friends to their classmates.  They agreed.
"K---- said I'm cute," Sophie reminded me.
"And you are, sweet pea."

At least he helped.

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During the few minutes that I photographed Michael unloading the silverware from the dishwasher I did not notice that he was handling every item in this manner.  I realized that later when looking back at the pictures.  Mental note to remind him to grab silverware by the handles has been made!

Saturday Morning Cartoons

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Sophie and Michael get thirty minutes of tablet time a day, and it starts at 7:30 in the morning.  They use it most days before school after all their morning jobs are done (getting dressed, brushing teeth, etc.).  This gives Mike a bit to get a little work done before heading to the bus stop.  On weekends tablet time is typically done in pajamas while Mike and I drink our coffee.

Ballet Brother

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I tried to get another photo of Sophie before ballet class, but she was not in the mood.  Buddy didn't mind.

February Ride

For my photo project this year I've been using the Collect app.  Adding images to the calendar and creating collages and videos at the end of the month is a new encouragement for me.

I also think looking back on a monthly basis will help me to evaluate my own progress.  I'd say I have about five or six photos from this month that I truly love and that I'm glad this project led me to produce.  Hopefully next month I'll love seven or eight.  This isn't a sponsored post or anything.  I just really like that Collect app.

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I also love warm February afternoons.