Just Another Day at Home

Betwixt the exotic vacation picture-posts (ha--nothing like my friend Alie's!), here's some photo documentary of the three housebound, half-naked hooligans in August--and some half-baked commentary to accompany it . . .

 Does it get any cuter than this?!

 Abby the contemplative, diapered hipster (glasses would really complete the look)

We've had a tough couple weeks since returning from Michigan. I steeled myself for and prayed about the transition back to home life, knowing the children (and I) would miss the relatives, expansive outdoors, entertainment, exercise, novel toys, Daddy, cool weather. And we have.

Lydia and Abby got sick soon after we came home, so along with hot weather, that's kept us pretty housebound. Our yard is currently infested with mosquitoes, and even early mornings are hot and humid, so we haven't done lots of outdoor play here at home. I'm looking forward to getting the kids out on some playdates and to the "pirate ship" indoor playground once the noses stop running!

While we're stuck at home in the heat, I try to keep everyone occupied with some "scheduled/organized" activities (i.e., book time, puzzle time, music time, story-reading, etc.), toy rotation, and indoor active play like dancing or running after balls or "skating" in circles on the rug. (Josiah actually came up with this one in imitation of Davey from Davey and Goliath--he has an entire routine of skating, falling through the ice, losing his skate, needing a sister to pull him out, etc. It's pretty dramatic and the girls love to be part of it--most of the time.)

The girls and Josiah love to do puzzles and have gotten pretty good at the ones we have! Maybe soon the girls will graduate to actual jigsaw puzzles, not just the picture or shape-matching peg puzzles? They desperately want to try their hands at Josiah's more advanced puzzles every chance they get (preferably when sitting in his seat).

 Abby still loves dolls

 Josiah gives a "smile" for the camera with his block puzzle from Grandma

 Abby working on the fish puzzle from Great-grandma Golda (they love this one!)

I've tried to get us into a decent routine for these days at home, but it's a work in progress. My particular challenge is reworking naptime and figuring out how to do what is needful without the reprieve of the girls' morning nap. Their fine-tuned ability to climb out of the cribs really killed it. Now they're just not tired enough twice a day to eventually stay in bed, not even if I stand guard outside the door for the entirety of naptime and foil every escape attempt (which is not my idea of a successful naptime anyway).

 Lydia wears the hat

 My big boy

It's hard to be cooped up, and it's hard to be a good mom to energetic, cooped-up kids! So we plug through August and welcome September because it gives me hope that we might see cooler weather one day . . .