Nightly

This has become a familiar sight. A familiar corner. A familiar time of day.

A quiet point, when one little boy is tucked into his crib, and one little lady is busy conducting online research and narrowing down her top holiday wish list pick.

Night sewing to meet my goal of finishing a certain tree skirt in the next few weeks. With the exception of the occasional stitch picking and realigning of fabric strips, it has quickly become a favourite time of day (especially when accompanied by this).

Photographic Evidence (and a map)

1. At the ages of five and two, you both really enjoy playing together...with the same thing...at the same time...for a little while.
2. After my first coffee, and about 5 minutes of trial and error, I can actually remember how all of the tracks fit together. Occasionally, I can even figure out how to add a second rail line.
3. I have enough sense to take a picture to remind us all of points 1 and 2.

Contraditions (Mine)

Just a few of the conflicting things I've said to my kids in the course of a week. Literal quotes, separated by hours...and occasionally only by minutes. It really is a wonder that they believe a word I say.

Don't touch your brother.

Don't touch your sister.

Give each other a hug.

: : :

Don't touch other people's things without asking. (knitting)

No touchy touchy. (knitting)

Just because it's yours, doesn't mean you get to touch it. (diaper changing)

Don't just leave that there. Pick it up. Even if it's not yours. (you name it)

: : :

You can try it but it's gonna taste gross. (play dough)

Don't put that in your mouth, it's dirty. (most things a 2 year old discovers)

Just have a taste...you'll like it. (Quesadilla)

: : :

It's important to use the proper words for things. (homework)

Don't give up. If you don't know the answer then we'll figure it out together. (10:00am)

It's not a quesadilla. It's a Mexican Pizza Pocket. (Hey - that one worked!)

Go ask Daddy. He'll know the answer. (6:48pm)

Parapluies (and why subtitles get in the way of multi-tasking)

After a whirlwind of activity we are back to fully-moderate, completely-passable, sparkling-from-a-distance states of household cleanliness and organization. And most importantly, the laundry (including all that delicious fabric) - 'fin'.

Pay no attention to the trail of toys or food-exploded-upon-shirts that reappeared about 15 minutes after the whirlwind.

And I'm ready to get focused, put some priorities on things and put away a few of those tempting distraction projects for a couple of weeks (to be read as - "Finish those socks and don't touch that Shrug").

And above all else, I will not put this in the DVD player and make a pot of tea (and cookies...of course there would have to be cookies).

Nope. I won't do it. I really really really won't do it.

Unless...well...maybe a few minutes wouldn't hurt.