Backyard Fun

Last night, we got out the sun shelter and watched television in the backyard. This is one of my favorite things to do on a summer evening. We laid blankets down and brought more to cover up with. We had as many pillows and pillow pets as we could find in the house. So, propped against our mountain of fluffy pillows, covered in fuzzy blankets, we snacked on popcorn and drinks, while we watched episodes of Dr. Who on the laptop. You can't see Scott, because he took this photo, but he would have been on the other side of Max. Even the dogs hung out with us. The air was brisk and refreshing and the full moon smiled down upon us. Max and Lauren had fallen asleep before the night was over and had to be carried to the house. I hope to have many more nights like this over the summer.

Sea World

Max goes to a very unique school. It is a state charter school, but it is a Montessori program. Not only that, but it's a hybrid of sorts, because it's a combination of classroom and homeschooling. He homeschools Mondays and Tuesdays and attends his class Wednesdays through Fridays. I really feel like it's the best of both worlds. At least if you are not a parent who is employed outside the home. I really like the fact that I have input to his education and I can do things that the school cannot. Like offer him the variety of media choices, field trip opportunities, subject, content, etc.

Anyway, last week I took Max to Sea World. We've had annual passes for the past several years and our current passes are about to expire. Normally, I would have taken Brooke and Lauren too, but they are too old to get in for free now and it's not a good time to get passes for them. So, Max and I went alone. It's always great to spend one-on-one time with the children. Max gets to do this much more than his sisters. It truly is hard to seperate them and yet I know it needs to be done, so that they can both benefit from the individual focus and attention that they need from time to time.

Max and I had a wonderful day. No strollers. The freedom we had walking around was wonderful. It was a beautiful day, with lots of sunshine and perfect temperature. We walked through exhibits, saw a show, fed some sea lions, went on some rides, played some games and ate some lunch. We laughed, played and ran around holding hands. Max talked me into two different rides that made me sick to my stomach and got me to go on them twice in a row each. We took some photos and some video. I put together a little video to highlight his trip and make it an official homeschool activity.

Little Girls World

I love to sit, like a fly on the wall, and listen to my little girls play. They sing together, they dance together and they play together. They like to stand in front of the mirror and sing songs. Brooke is telling Lauren, "okay, you're Elmo," as they break into the Elmo's World chorus. Both of them have arms outstretched and they're rocking from side to side. Then Lauren starts to sing the song from Sleeping Beauty, "Once Upon a Dream," while forcibly taking Brooke by the hand to partake in some simplified version of a waltz.

Just a little while ago, they were sitting in their room, playing house. Apparently, they were playing the royal version of house. Princesses, princes (mostly Disney versions) and some Hello Kitty characters. I could hear Lauren saying, "I'm the baby!" Then, she says to Lauren, in her most baby like voice (not a far cry from her regular voice, only more dramatic) "mommy!" "Mommy, I want my bottle!" I hear Lauren oblige by offering her who knows what. "Here you go sweetheart!" The sweetness is overwhelming. It's just nice to hear them playing without crying and shrieking over who has which characters. It won't be long though.

I'm amazed at the duration of the conversations, considering that they're both somewhat speech delayed. They seem to understand each other consistently, in a way that I have yet to master. Sometimes they sing their own made-up songs, together, with words that I don't understand and yet, they sing it as though they had first rehearsed their lines.

There is a symbiotic harmony between them. Quick to explode and quick to forgive. Negotiating over things constantly. They have worked out their pecking order. All things pink are automatically Lauren's and all things blue default to Brooke. I admire their ability to work together. At least until I walk in the room, to find one of them sitting on the other, who is hollering for her sister to "get off!"

They create their own world, sometimes, and I just feel privileged to be a part of it.