Toddlers?

At what point did my babies become such wonderful little people? They are growing so fast. Yesterday morning when Hunter woke up he rocked with Grammy while he was slowly waking up. Running through my mind...is this the last time he'll want to climb up in my lap and rock for a while. When did I stop rocking and singing him and Carissa to sleep? When did they slip from being my babies to being these amazing little people that having me laughing till I cry? The only thing that keeps me from being sad is that I realized as I sat on the back porch last night watching them play is that we are moving on to another phase of new adventures together.

This mind process of mine continued yesterday when Hunter said, "I think we need to call Carissa to come stay tonight." I asked him if he wanted to call. (I had already text and cleared with Travis for her to stay.) He said yes, he wanted to call. WHAT? Hunter never wants to talk on the phone! I made the call and handed him the phone. He asked to speak to Carissa and told her we would pick her up at 2:30. We were running late and he even talked to Jonda and let her know we were on FM518.

We picked Carissa up and checked out her cool new room. Carissa had already been to her favorite Target, but was ready to stop again for a blue icee. Shasta got some more treats, Carissa and Hunter each got a new movie, another surprise for me instead of "blue icee" they both chose cherry cola icee, and they picked out a couple of snacks.

I asked if they wanted to run into Angleton to the store to get some carrots, because I was out. No they wanted to go to Grammy's and play. They did not even want to go in the house. Out came the airplanes, dozier, helicopters, dump trucks, fire engineer, and their little people. I fixed them drinks and sat out on the patio for over two hours watching their interaction, sharing (yes Moms, sharing), and imaginations at work. They made dirt cakes with chalk for candles, they had plane and helicopter crashes with emergency rescues, built small sandcastles from cups all along the patio, and drew chalk pictures.

In the midst of all this playing Becca called for her daily check in on Hunter. Hunter was not talking, he was working. Carissa went over to him and said, "Hunter when you stay at Grammy's, you have to talk to your Mom everyday and tell her what you are doing." Hunter finally came and told Becca he loved her. The picture of Carissa telling Hunter how it should be will keep me smiling through the winter.

I finally managed to get their baths, get them some supper, and move on to painting their banks we had bought. The banks were to be painted with marker puff colors. Carissa had a cow and Hunter a chicken. We sat at the table and painted and talked for about an hour. Hunter finished, but my painter Carissa wanted to move on and paint everything. It took a little persuasion to get her to hold off on the plaster characters to paint with acrylics until tomorrow.

Carissa and her Pawpaw started a couple of new silliness when we were in Illinois and just because her Pawpaw was not here last night did not mean it would not be continued. We had to play "Boogie Man" where Carissa and Hunter took turns knocking and shrieking as we were trying to settle down for the night, saying it was the "Boogie Man" a knocking. I had to check Carissa's oil at least three times before she settled down. Pawpaw raises their arms and tickles them telling them he has to check their oil. I stood in for you last night Pawpaw, but you will have step up to the plate this weekend. Be prepared to check a lot of oil and ready to knock for the "Boogie Man" to the tune of shrieks and laughter out of your grand kids.

They are both sound asleep here next to me, along with Shasta sprawled out, but they will be up shortly to enjoy another wonderful day with their Grammy. As I sit here waiting for them to wake up, I take a minute to thank my God in the wonderful blessings that he has given me in the family that he has made me a part of.

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