Chutes and Ladders

Joshua played, loved, and won (fair and square) his first board game today.  

REAL LIFE

 All in a hard day's work, doing what toddlers are supposed to do.  Real life.

Typically, I believe in teaching kids to pick up their toys as they use them, but I have never had to do this with Joshua.  He's a pretty neat kid.  Then BAM!  He went crazy one day.  And of course it happened to be on a day when I could barely move to keep up with him.

*******

So real life gets "realer."  It always looks worse before it gets better.  The war zone inspired me to get rid of some toys and organize the ones we had (again).  It took two of us, me and my hunny, in the dark of the night.  I mean, have you ever tried getting rid of toys while the owner stands there watching and finding renewed joy in each cast-off toy?

JOY comes in the morning!  (I couldn't resist the urge to re-arrange furniture while we were at it; it makes cleaning and organizing so much more interesting).

I am pretty excited that Joshua has stopped living for his train table.  He's barely touched it in weeks.  That meant I could move it out of the living room.  Now we have SPACE and even better, a whole empty corner!!!

Yes, that's what my living room really looked like two days ago....and then, that's what it looks like now.  Tomorrow....who knows.  That's all part of real life.

June 9th

John's birthday.  I'm so grateful for his life, celebrated on this day and every other day in my heart, because I love him so much.  My best friend, my partner in crime, my confidante, my sidekick, and my lover.  The one who encourages my heart and who lets me see inside of his own.  The man who sticks with me through thick and thin, for better or for worse, and never falters in his strength.  My son's loving, caring, devoted Daddy. And pretty much everything in the world to me!  Happy birthday John!

We didn't plan much for the day.  There wasn't much we thought we could do during a sweltering heatwave and a temporary setback with my pain.  Then Rona called and we ended up going to her place and made use of her apartment's amazing outdoor pool.  Even I went in.  We picked up a pair of swim shorts on our way and they ended up too small.  I think I grabbed a Junior (girls) size by accident.  I sat on the edge of the pool in the glaring heat with my legs dangling over the side and Rona quickly talked me into coming in anyway, so when nobody was looking, in I went, jean shorts and all.  Ahhh! What refreshing fun!

Joshua showed no fear.  I was so proud of him.  He even jumped in from the side, with John there to catch him, of course.  Before long he was floating with the aid of his swimmies all on his own, kicking his way around, slowly inching across the water with his effort.  I think I'm going to look into swimming lessons for him this summer so he can keep up his confidence.  

Rona served a delicious lunch afterwards and the time passed so swiftly and pleasantly-- it ended up being the most relaxing day we've had in a long, long time.