Play Happy

Sheesh. We`ve been busy. I am finding more time on my hands as the kids get bigger, so we have been able to fill that extra time getting out of the house. Feeling like I can get out of the house more is a great feeling, but we love being home too. Whether it`s playing at home or on the go, these two are always having a good time. Especially if they`re together.

I wasn`t kidding when I said she is obsessed with putting things on her head. It`s not an uncommon sight to find Miley busily, and happily playing with toys with a basket on her head, or hear her laugh histerically at Scotlin with something she has stratigically placed on top of his head. Her item of choice is a sippy cup lid she`ll swipe as I unload the dishwasher. Scotlin will go crawling by with a lid on top of his head for half  the morning.

Scotlin is turning out to be quite the little dare devil. He has mastered the stairs, and if the coast is clear he is on the move! He can make it 4 or 5 steps up just while I am chasing after him. The safety gates  are coming very much in handy these days. I remember thinking about how fun it will be when the two of them are chasing after each other, and Scotlin is keeping up with Miley and giving her a run for her money... Now, I have to stop and realize that time has come!

 

These two aren`t content to play unless they are on top of eachother. Everytime the weekend rolls around I feel like I need to reintroduce Justin to his children. They change soooo quickly. Towards the end of the week when they start to get really wound up, and excited to be with their dad, the house can get loud. Miley will be tearing around, twirling, spinning, singing, hosting a talk show... and Scotlin will be right on her trail, following her lead. His every move will make her squeel and giggle, and he`ll do the same. Their Dad will comment `they are WILD!` And I`ll just simple smile and nod, because he has no idea how wild.

The very best perscription to keep the kids happy is a routine with scheduled play time. I started a weekly play group so we can have a chance to visit with other mom`s and play with other kids too. This past week we played in the children`s section of the bookstore. Miley ran back and forth bringing me book after book as we sat and read together on a bean bag in a cozy little corner. Afterwards we colored, and played with the train table. Miley loved this cash register. She made me sit on the other side of this table. Demanding, `come on mom. Give me the monies.` She loved the giant tea cup, Olivia dolls, bracelets, and necklaces.

She was having a ball. Scotlin had fun too. Mainly just hung out eating his grapes. He has recently earned himself the title of `The Grape-O-nator`...that deserves it`s own post completely. Trust.

No other outings compare to our favorite... the playground. Everytime I put Miley down for a nap she says to me `...and when I wake up, we`ll go to the PLAYGROUND!` 
Nothing beats it.
I couldn`t get over how much Scotlin loved the slide this time. He climbed the stairs on his own, smiling and giggling the whole time. When he`d get to the top, he would find his way onto his belly, and go down head first. I`ve always got my eye on this little dare devil. He keeps me on my toes. Literally. Even though getting out of the house with the kids on my own is a little bit more work, it is a whole lot of fun!

Happiest Boy.

He loved whatching Miley slide down too. He`d smile up at her, while she`s squeel bak down to him.

We were spoiled to have Helene take 1 yr and 2 yr old photos of the kids this afternoon.

I am still trying to adjust to the fact that Scotlin is a 1 yr old. It just seems weird. But, he sure does act like it, so their is no mistaking it! He had his year check up this week + 5 needles :(

All of us had our flu shots as well. Miley was excited because the nurse gave her a sticker. As we were driving home she continued to thank me for taking her to see the dr.

`Thank you for going to see the dr. mom. I`m not sick anymore. ALLLL better!`

She has come up with some clever things to say this week, and is on a roll with trying to negotiate her consequences for misbehaving.

She cried in the tub about getting her hair washed. I told her if she didn`t stop crying she wouldn`t get to watch her favorite cartoon after her bath. She bawled the whole time, so I told her I was sorry, no cartoon now. After She was clean and dry she began the negotiation.... `I`m not crying now. I can go downstairs and watch tooners!`

She is something else these days.

I love the way she will get down close to Scotlin`s face and say sweetly `Hi handsome!`

She`s a very sweet sister. That part hasn`t changed.