Littles

It’s no secret that we like littles around here. Littles as in babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and any other littles that share smiles, laughter, and joy with us for awhile. Not that we don’t have plenty of smiles, laughter and joy normally, because we do; but little ones just bring more of it all, I guess. For some reason, playing dollhouse and chase with littles just has a different energy to it than playing dollhouse with Jewel. Well now come to think of it, Jewel hasn’t played dollhouse by herself for awhile. She used to, a lot, and Sarah & Josh did too…. but they’re growing past it. But yet they’re always ready to play with visitors who come, and for that I’m glad. And, while I don’t do much dollhousing or chasing, oh how I love to hear the resulting giggles. A little’s giggle is priceless.

As an aside to moms of little girls – invest in a nice set of dollhouse and accessories.  Twenty years later, ours still gets used regularly, anytime we have visitors. And a toy kitchen too. The older the better (because little visitors have never seen such old stuff before, you know?)(uhhh… vintage, that’s it…vintage). And keep adding accessories, just a few every year. Birthdays and Christmases. The more the better. We’ve never regretted the investment. 

Anyway, so the past few days we were blessed with lots of littles time, and I even managed to get a few pictures.

Thursday evening started out with a few greats. Wade loves the piano. A good thing to see in a baby!

Always love a full table.

Ceci joined us too Thursday night – she really took to Jewel.

Snuck in a few minutes of music practice,

which these two loved; and they did a great job singing Jesus Loves Me with the band accompanying them. So cute.

Although Lola was delighted, Ceci & Beau weren’t quite sure what to think of Jacob,

and Jewel loved snuggling Wade when he ran out of energy.

Whoever thought dollhouse could be so exciting? I think there might have been a tornado there that night. Thankfully no casualties were reported although the house suffered pretty severe damage.

And of course every little boy loves to read a train book or three.

Suffice it to say Ceci was never bored.

Then on Friday morning we had a couple of precious Baer cubs for awhile. They were quite impressed with our winter train set. As an aside to moms of little boys – invest in a simple electric train set. To go with a nice set of farm buildings and accessories.  Fifteen years later, ours still gets used regularly (once it snows, that is), and especially anytime we have visitors. Keep adding accessories, just a few every year. Birthdays and Christmases. The more the better. We’ve never regretted the investment.

And books. Start collecting early and add to your collection carefully. Can you tell we like books? Some people buy tools, guns, purses, shoes, whatever. My weakness is books. I like to collect them. I like to read them. And when you have littles around, you don’t feel silly reading kids’ books like you do if you’re reading to yourself.

And these nice book collections and toy sets you gradually build up over the years – treat them kindly and store them carefully so they stay nice. So your grandkids and other visiting littles can use them even when your kids outgrow them. It’s a good investment.

And.

If you get too many toys in your sets – pack some away in a big box, date the box, and hide it in the storage room. Your kids will never miss the toys, and then on the 8th of March when you’re going stir-crazy because it’s rainy AGAIN it’s cold STILL and the kids are tired of computer games and they’re tired of Mutual of Omahas and they’re tired of every. single. toy. in. the. house. and they’re tired of reading and they’re even tired of Donald Duck and they might just be tired of YOU (yes they might be and that’s ok; because they still love you!) and they’re just plain tired of rain and cold and winter  - - - - pull out that box of toys and WOW your kids will think it’s Christmas all over again. And you, mom, get that boost of energy and excitement and endurance that you need to make it through til the sun shines again and you can send ‘em all out for some fresh air. Which of course you will do as soon as it’s decent outside!!!

That’s it.

Blogging time’s up.

Have a blessed Sunday!