Sunday in the Park

Derek took the kids to our favorite park before the oppressive heat set in for the day. Greta is a leader. She introduces herself to all of the other children and she initiates play with them. Derek said he was so proud. She came home and told me all about her new friends. She is going to be more than ready to start preschool in a few weeks. I have fewer fears each time we go out and I see her testing her limits trying new things and her courtesy to other children around her. I hoped so much that she wouldn't grow out of her sweet ways, and it seems as though they are the root of her.

Jack is almost potty trained! He runs diaper free while we are at home and tells me when he needs to visit the potty! On our errands and play dates he is also coming home with a dry diaper! I can hardly believe it, myself. I thought we would have another year of diapers...But, Jack has different plans. The funny part is that it has been almost effortless. I just didn't really believe it could happen because he is still barely talking. We haven't given him stickers or candy treats or anything. He is proud and all I have to do is clap my hands and he smiles and nods and points at his business. He also has to throw a square of TP in because that is what sister does.

We have also been trying a lot of new things to eat! Greta loves home grown tomatoes and will eat them like apples with drippy wet elbows. She also likes asparagus and onions. Jack is not so sure about some of these vegetables, but in true form, he is a meat and potatoes guy. We grilled KC strips last night and he cleaned up his plate and then stood up in his high chair and beat his chest. That's my boy. We added tacos to our list and gyros from our favorite Greek restaurant. I love to hear, "I like it, mamma!" If they keep this up, I WILL let them have chocolate ice cream for breakfast and not be scared I am ruining them! (But, that is between you and me!)

Their naps are long in their cool, dim bedrooms while the sun is glaring outside. It reminds me of summer when I was a kid, and, especially now that the cicadas are singing at dusk. Greta and Derek went outside right before bedtime as I was rocking Jack to sleep a few nights ago and caught fireflies. Greta kept one in a little clear box with some grass on her nightstand and said that, "Her flashlight glowed all night!" We let it go in the morning so it could live. Greta likes to hear the cicadas and so do I. I never knew when I was little that I would have memories of such simple things - like the cicadas and fireflies, and that they would come back and make me feel like a kid again...Just like that.