Steven had an adventure this week. On Friday night, as Megan was leaving, he was racing to try to say goodbye to Megan and tripped, falling eye first into the little digger truck he was holding. Poor Bobo! Megan was calm and cool, cleaning the cut while I held him. Amaya got one look at the blood and was in tears herself.

While Megan waited for Jason to get home from work, Steven and I headed to our pediatrician’s after hours care. He was such a trooper. In true Steven style, he spent the time waiting narrating our environment. “Black TV. Daddy’s TV. Man. Lady. Baby. Chair.”

Steven lost his mind when they took vitals. Boy, he hates standing on a scale. He was amazing, though, when it was time to clean the wound. He put his head on my shoulder and watched Mother Goose Club on my phone and stayed still like a champ.

All bandaged up!

Ready to go home.

By morning, his eye was somewhat shockingly swollen. Steven didn’t seem bothered by it, though. If you ask him, he says his eye is “better”. And if you ask about getting it taken care of he says, “Lady do it. All done. In the car.” That pretty much sums it up!

By late afternoon Saturday, the swelling was already decreasing. He may have one heck of a shiner, though.

Back to earlier in the week, which seems like a lifetime ago… Nana was still visiting! Monday afternoon was warm enough to head to downtown Northville for some frozen yogurt and a walk.

I wanted to get a photo with the kids but Steven refused to let go of Megan’s hand so we improvised.

Here I am trying to persuade Steven that life will be ok without Megan’s hand.

Nana and kiddos

Whenever Nana visits we have fun cooking together. Steven, Sammy and Amaya are so interested in everything happening in the kitchen and they want to participate as much as possible.

Nice weather continued through the week. We were able to get out for a few walks. With 2 adults on hand, we can often go without the wagon which Steven, Sammy and Amaya love. It’s hard to believe that none of them were even walking a year ago.

We made our way down the block where the neighbors were out playing. Steven saw the house the day before and remembered that there were pumpkins on their porch last fall. It amazed me that he remembered those pumpkins!

We’re back in the backyard! Spring is upon us!! Jason reworked the gates to give the kids a bit more space than they had last year. We still have last year’s water table and, as I hoped, there’s much more imaginary play with the little figures. We named them Betty, Bob, Julie (Lullie, says Steven) and Joe. This year those four are sliding down the slide and taking rides in the boat. I love seeing all of this unfold.

We also adventured down into our backyard which was a first for us. It’s spacious enough that I think we can spend time playing in the grass even with just one adult. Just like in the fall, SSA love seeing the airplanes fly overhead.

Calling Daddy

Everyone still loves Mommy & Daddy’s shoes. My boots are fun to play with but Daddy’s shoes are the mother-load.

On Thursday, SSA’s group went to a place called the Lekotek. It’s a center where you pay an annual fee and can borrow toys for 4 to 6 weeks at a time. It was mostly a sales pitch but the kids did get a chance to play with different toys. Amaya was totally drawn to this baby doll. She spent the hold time holding, hugging and feeding it.

It was time for a doll of her own! Well, their own. We share in our house. Baby doll “Jenna” is a hit and, amazingly, everyone is doing a decent job sharing.

You can see that Steven’s eye is a little better this morning. The swelling is improving fairly quickly.

Back to the kids helping in the kitchen… oh, how they want to help! They love to hold the “big brush” and the “potato brush.” On Saturday I paused cleaning up lunch and heard a commotion in the kitchen. Sammy was taking everything off the counter and putting it in the sink for me. “Bubba put noodles in the sink.” He was so proud of himself.

Then Sammy was nearly apoplectic at the thought that he couldn’t help me do the dishes so I had to give him a dirty pot and a brush. It wasn’t long before everyone was joining in. I think I need a third scrub brush!

We got some play doh and sand time in this week. It’s really nice that SSA can now articulate their needs or interests. In both cases, one of the kids asked to play with the play doh or the sand. Makes for an easier path to happy kids!

Earlier in the week at the Lekotek place, we started off the morning with Timbits. Steven, Sammy and Amaya don’t get a ton of sugary snacks so these were a huge treat. You can see the sugar sparkle in Steven’s eye!

Sammy can get comfortable in any setting.

And there’s Amaya’s sugar sparkle!

On the way home, Amaya was in the car calling for Jason. “Jason! Jason! Jaaaaaason!” I have no idea where they came from. She thought it was hysterical. She and Steven were also caught holding hands in the car. I love those moments.

This afternoon Jason was out watching Michigan State win the Big 10 Tournament and the selection show. When SSA woke up from naps, Sammy really wanted to see Jason so we texted and asked for a picture. (And I swear Sammy understands that I’m sending Jason a message with this request.) When we got the photo back, each of the kids took turns waving hi to their daddy.

Sammy also insisted on showing Jason the cheese in his mouth. “Send picture to daddy.” Showing the food in our mouths is already something I’m starting to regret but I couldn’t say no and, of course, Steven and Amaya wanted in.

Steven this week!

Sammy this week!

The safety lock on the garbage broke. Sammy was trying to fix it for Daddy.

Amaya this week!

At music class, Sammy was lounging in the back of this tractor and Amaya was helping we walk him around the music class space.

Smiling for the camera. Toddler smiles look a little deranged.

Need a toddler activity? Forget painter’s tape shapes on the floor, just give them pieces of tape and let them have at it.

Finally, tonight at dinner the kids and I all ended up holding hands. It started because I was holding Steven’s hand and Sammy wanted to hold my other hand. That left Amaya without any hands to hold so she turned to her brothers. (Only after wiping off the bbq sauce. Steven didn’t want to hold her dirty hand.) We were sitting there all holding hands and Sammy said, “Take a picture.” My hear just about exploded. I obviously couldn’t get a shot of all 4 of us but I did get the kids with a cameo of my hand. Amaya said, “Cheese.”

Have a great week!