Just some random photos of things I want to share or remember: playing hockey in the driveway with the larger goal set that James received for his birthday (along with bike rides, this is my favorite thing to do with the children), Alma in disguise for Zoom calls with family, and an updated front porch set up. I feel grateful that, while I sprained my ankle very badly playing hockey back in January, it has recovered enough that I can play a gentle version of hockey and soccer with the kids again.
One random thought I want to remember: James has us put dreams in his ears every night. When he was younger, he would have the worst nightmares. Joshua and I would have to get up a few times each night to put him back to bed. The poor thing would be so stressed that Joshua came up with the idea of planting nice ideas in his head with a kiss on his ear.
Recently I've taken over this tradition and I love thinking of the nice dreams, which James often requests are about animals. I've always done longer stories for the children -- often during extended car rides when it is just the three of us (especially about my pretend children with facial hair) -- but these dreams for James's ears are easier because they are just the beginnings of stories without having to develop the entire tale. Recent examples include two tiny fencing mice; a pig trying to lick an ice cream cone; a squirrel on a tree branch singing an opera to a yard full of animals who listen attentively even though they cannot hear him very well; a puppy pulling a wagon full of kittens, who keep gently tumbling out and have to be put back into the wagon by the thoughtful puppy; and a cat going to play baseball and being excited to see her friends, a penguin, dog, and turtle, coming to the baseball diamond to join in the pick-up game. James has us pull out the old dreams and throw them out the window (all pretend, obviously) and then we pull the new dreams out of our pockets, place them in his ears while describing them, and then plant them with a kiss. I tuck in Alma after James and often tell her about the dreams that James received that night.
I remember babysitting children -- mostly Davis McLean and the Pion girls -- and telling them silly little vignettes about animals as they settled down for bed. I'm so glad I get to carry on this tradition with my own children.
