Toddler Activities

Sometimes I’m totally missing the whole point of this toddler activity of the week thing: to slow down and spend quality time with the girls so we make memories.

Last week, (with a fair bit of accountability from a friend) I did just that.  I just spent close to 30 minutes (or more than some days) solely focused on the girls (and Sedryn too!).

We cuddled watching a movie.  We snuggled together in my bed and read books that I’m totally sick of reading for almost an hour.  We found a toad while watering the garden and buried a bowl of water for it to drink from.  I was chased by lawn mowers and screaming girls.  We hid under a sheet tent from the clothesline and played “Going on a bear hunt” and “Peek a boo.”  I built towers taller than me and let them fall on the girls.

We just played.

And it was beautiful.

Everytime daddy walks in the door he’s greeted by two wiggly blond girls.  If they’re not already sitting at the table, they will tackle his legs.  Lately, the tackling has been a little viscious…. followed by Aeraling demanding: “Daddy, climb Cha-rees!!!”

They beg me to climb trees all day, but I refuse to boost them up in the tree while I’m home alone.  I have three little lives to balance and having to haul two wiggly screaming kiddos out of the tree to go in and nurse Sedryn doesn’t seem very safe to me.

But Daddy… daddy can climb trees with these girls all afternoon.  And really, it’s one of the cutest things ever: listen to Aeralind’s running commentary.

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that amuse the toddlers the most.

The tram was the highlight of our little trip to Gatlinburg.  Aeralind loved it the most.  We seriously could have ridden this all day long and they’d have been perfectly happy!

(Sorry about Sedryn… he needed a nap and I stopped bouncing him in the carrier to take the video… but Aerie’s squeals are so cute!)

Sometimes there’s no better activity than a beloved location.  Every Thanksgiving and Resurrection Sunday we head out to the Farm.

More food than we could ever eat.
Clover almost as tall as they are.
Hiking.
Big kids.
Eggs to fill.
Laughter.
Hayrides.
Horse Rides.
Fences to climb.
Pianos to play.
Some of our favorite people.
Birds singing.
Singing hymns together.
Hearing the gospel.
More laughter.

The farm is our whole family’s idea of a perfect activity.