This makes me smile!
The circle marks the location where the pool was set up. It was taken down earlier this spring as it had holes and the kids outgrew the size. I was hoping to purchase another pool this year but we might have to live this summer without one. Anyway, this little construction site, makes me smile. Every time I look out the window or door. I smile. Elliott just moved his construction equipment in and started hauling sand/gravel and he built that little mountain. Olivia will join him sometimes and they are as care-free and content as can be. Maybe I should go out and work construction some afternoon? They play and talk as they haul dirt. I love to listen to what they talk about. The conversation jumps all over the place, one topic to another. No rhyme or reason. It’s just what they happen to think of. Carefree. It reminds me when they are in the bathroom getting ready to brush their teeth. They talk about their day and just like outside, their conversation jumps from one thing to another. Always makes me smile.
Back to the construction site…I wonder how long it’ll exist? Will they out-grow it this summer? Will John say it has to go? I want to add sand to it and let them play for as long as they wish. When Elliott was years younger, we had dirt delivered. It was dumped near the edge of our yard, almost in the field. He was the happiest little boy ever. He’d play there for hours and come in looking like he bathed in the dirt. That is what bathtubs were made for. Soak them clean and send them back out to get dirty. I always knew where he was too.
I’ll admit, I do have plans for when they outgrow that sand circle. I would like to lay pavers down and dig a fire pit. If that doesn’t happen for a year or two, I am content watching the construction site. Content because it is a phase of childhood that will be gone before I would like it to be. Just like the crawling turns into walking, then they learn to run, jump and ride bikes. I’m happy to see them development but sad to say good-bye to the stages that preceded their growth. As the years fly by, I am amazed at what each of them knows, can do and how they are becoming thoughtful, caring and intelligent individuals. When reviewing or helping with their homework, I often think to myself, “I wasn’t doing this when I was their age!”
I used to read to both of them almost every night. I would read the same book over and over. Good Night Moon was, and still is, a favorite. As I read, they would point out the location of the ever-moving mouse. I can remember when they’d forget where he was on a particular page. When they spotted him, they’d hit the book and sometimes I’d drop it. Now they read by themselves or sometimes they want to read to me. It’s exciting to hear them tell me about the book they are reading. Often, when they read, they’ll ask me, “What page do you think I am on now?” Olivia is a bookworm. John recently said “Olivia has turned into a hermit.” She does too when she has a good book. She comes home, does her homework, then reads and reads and reads. I ask her to put the book down and join us sometimes. I’m happy she is a reader. I’d rather have her read than watch television because there a no shows worth watching. All the programs have underlying messages and personally, I don’t identify with any positive messages. What happened to shows like The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Dukes of Hazzard, The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Wild Kingdom, etc.? I’ll admit, there are some good shows on like Blue Planet and some wild life shows. They capture Elliott’s attention but OIivia doesn’t usually watch them.
I know Olivia and Elliott are growing, too fast, but I also want to hang on to their childhood traits for a little bit longer. I don’t want the day to come when I stop hearing this:
Will you snuggle with me?
Can you color with us?
Want to watch a DVD with us? (Even if I have seen it a hundred times, once more won’t hurt me.)
Can you help me?
Can you lay with me?
The requests are asked and I know I better participate because the day when they no longer want or need me like they do now, is right around the corner. That bend that takes them from childhood to tween and teen years is just ahead.
I’m busy with my own construction as well, detour signs. I’ll put up any detour signs I can think of to hold on to these precious moments as long as possible!
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