Winter playtime

We've had some seriously record-breaking cold days already this winter. Today we experienced something called a "polar vortex" that made our little region even colder than the South Pole! I'm already eager for warmer weather and afternoons spent outside, but I know we have at least two (possibly three) more months of frigidness ahead of us.

Fortunately, Hope and Grant get along and play together so much better than they did last winter. I find myself spending less time being the umpire, and more time enjoying our time inside. We've been lucky to have lots of play dates and sleepovers, but here are some of the ways we play when it's just us.

We make forts, hide-outs, and tents (depending on the scenario). When there's snow, we suit up and go play in it for awhile - our neighbors have a good sledding hill! But it definitely takes as long to get everyone dressed as it does to play. And there's general hanging around the house: cooking, cleaning, reading, art projects, and occasionally TOYS (that's rare for these two). When Daddy is home there are endless tickle fights, wrestling matches, and Nerf gun fights. And lately Hope and Grant are back to preferring a resurrected game of old, that they are a puppy and kitten in a pet shop. I promise, I've spent months of my life pretending to run this pet shop! Hope likes to make assorted little beds for her stuffed animals and spend time "organizing" her room. It's ALWAYS messier afterward - she's a total pack rat and loves to display all her "treasures." Grant likes to play Legos, or more accurately, build laser guns out of Legos. When Hope is at school, we spend lots of time doing Lego and Nerf guns, and sometimes his Hot Wheels tracks. They don't always think to cuddle up and read, but I can almost always get them to if I just get out some books and make us a nest somewhere.

I love that they are friends, and that they enjoy playing together. I guess as they get older I can expect them to spend more time doing their own thing, and that we'll spend less time playing all together. But I hope those days are very far in the future. While I know I'll be ready for some 'me' time by then, I don't want to give up being wanted just yet!