Verbal Snapshots

Lately I feel like I am taking in the little moments, trying desperately to store them in my memory to recall when all the kids are gone. I am realizing the statement "time flies" and really trying to change my perspective. Not grumbling as much trying to get kids in and out of car seats, but reminding myself that Brooke is already out of a car seat and how fast the time went. Or laughing instead of screaming when i am cleaning up spilled milk again or changing another diaper. Because the time really is whizzing by. Sometimes it almost feels like it is being stolen away from me.

So i am really trying to take a few moments and engrave things on my brain, hoping those things that I can't get a picture of will be chiseled into my bones, never to be forgotten.

Things like Brooke and Livy walking/skipping hand in hand to church. Livy in her pale purple dress and braid and ribbon. Brooke in all white and french braids with a bright blue ribbon she insisted on wearing. (And although i fought it a bit, it did look cute.)

-Brooke talking and singing to herself in the toy room as she plays her way into a dreamland of pet shops or Polly pockets or building towers. While Livy kind of "copies" her and dances around singing the little mermaid really loud. And Brooke not minding one bit.

-Livy jumping for joy, literally, when i tell her we can go to the "mamayuchi" park (she use to call it the Lucy park). She jumped up on one leg and threw her hands in the air, almost as if she was doing a lay up and kept shouting "yes" and "hooray, we get to go to the mamayuchi park".

-watching Livy, Brooke and Jackson play so happily together on the spinning cups. Brooke in her role as the gentle big sister (this time, sometimes she likes to be the bossy big sister or the bothered big sister, but lately it has been very gentle) trying to coax Livy to do what she wants her to do without making Livy yell at her and all the while including Jackson. It was such a great day at the park, i felt like i really played with them so much. And it was so much fun!

-Hearing Jackson and Livy play together in the toy room or wander around the house together pushing baby strollers. With an occasional scream because Jackson wants a specific toy Livy has-and then hearing Livy try to reason with him and finally give in and just give him the toy.

-Listening to Brooke read and sound out words.

-Watching Brooke and Livy's face light up when they realize they get to play hide and seek with the Archibalds.

-Seeing the pure joy, thankfulness, and relief on Brooke's face when i tell her i did her job for her.

-Remembering the feeling of how exhausted you are when you realize you still need to do the dishes and put the kids to bed.

-Brooke laughing and giving a kind of questioned look when Livy, out of the blue, says something really funny.

-the laughter and the screaming and Jackson trying to get on top of the pile as Ben tickles and wrestles the girls (while i am usually in the background saying, please stop screaming.)