family life

Good morning!  How's your week going?  On Monday I made a big pot of Mexican Chicken Soup and then invited a couple friends over to share.  I love sharing soup! 

Recently I've been noticing a shift in our family life.  Since Annabel was big enough to play until just about a month ago, she and Tommy have played near each other but not really with each other.  He mostly told her to go away, and she mostly screamed when he took his toys away from her.  But now they're starting to spend a lot more time doing things...actually, together.  If Tommy wakes up in the morning and Annabel's awake, too, he climbs into the crib with her and they play peek-a-boo, he tickles her, and they just giggle giggle giggle.  It's really fun to hear through the monitor.  After I get them up and we all head downstairs, Tommy takes her hand and says, "Come on Annabel, let's go play!" and they head off into the living room or into the play room to find some toys.  While there are still plenty of days where their play ends in snatching toys and a screaming toddler, there are more and more that end in smiles and laughs.  Even though I know I shouldn't, I could really get used to this.

Having kids that entertain each other is completely new territory for me.  It really makes the mornings a lot easier when I don't have to wonder what Annabel's getting into (she likes to lock herself in the bathroom...a lot - such a girl) because she and Tommy are playing together.  I can make breakfast, clean up, fold laundry, or find homes for the mountain of papers that land on our kitchen table every single day.  (I ask you, how does that happen?!)  I don't know what inspired this shift in behavior, but I'll take it, for just as long as it lasts. 

Hope you have a great day!  See you tomorrow for Photo Friday!