Games

I love the games that Lex and Eve have been playing lately.  We play lots of board games, of course, but recently they’ve started making up their own games.  The other day they invented “net tag” (which I would have called “blanket tag”).  The game involves them running around upstairs and “tagging” each other with their baby blankets.  There are complex rules that Lex explained to me, but honestly I don’t remember any of them.  What I do know is that it keeps them busy, and active, and upstairs, for a good long time!  Today they were playing “garbage truck” which involves each of them getting a pile of cardboard cards (that came with the toy garbage truck at Christmas) and then running back and forth between the living room and kitchen.  Again, lots of complex rules about safety spots and whatnot.  I noticed that on each trip into the living room they would tuck one of their cards under the end table.  Perhaps the winner is the first out of cards?  I’m not sure.  Actually, I’m not sure there even is a winner to these games.  It makes me happy to see them playing so nicely together and having so much fun.

Honestly though the “playing nicely together” is hit or miss.  They seem to spend as much time fighting (shrieking, yelling, running) as they do playing.  Sometimes I’m not even sure if they are fighting or playing!  Yesterday Eve came shrieking in to me and started crying about something, with Lex right on her heels.  I found myself saying, “I’m done getting involved!  You two can either play nicely together like siblings, or fight like… well, like siblings <insert giggle as I’m trying to stay serious> Either way, I’m done!”  The both paused, then Lex said “Hey Eve, want to go play net tag?” and away they went, best of friends again.  I love them!

Sledding

It was 37° and sunny yesterday afternoon so we decided to go outside and play. Crazy weather though, by the time we made it outside (its takes us awhile to prep and bundle!) there were gray skies and snow falling! We played outside anyway. I did some much needed shoveling while the kids puttered about, then we went across the street for some sledding.

king of the mountain

"I'm king of the mountain!" yells Eve, standing atop our broken deck table.

lex sledding

I love the fresh sled path.

pythonesque

This reminded me of a Monty Python scene. Quick, name it!

climbing back up the hill

It looks like such a monumental hill from this perspective. Really the top half is just a snow bank from the neighbor's driveway.

same picture

This is the same scene with different camera settings. It looks like a much nicer day!

snowy lex

Snowy Lex

I’d like to say this outing ended well, but unfortunately I made the grave mistake of forgetting snack before we went out in the snow. By the end Lex was a disaster and followed me home kicking and screaming. I do love putting on a show for the neighborhood. Sigh. After he settled down and had some food all was peaceful again. * Note to self, keep snack bars in jacket pocket for emergency feedings…