A bittersweet trip all around. Flying down to the state of my birth where I spent a number of my formative early-childhood years brought back many memories - some of which I hadn't thought of in decades. Getting to see family members I haven't seen since my wedding in 2001 tallies in on the positive side. The passing and laying-to-rest of a wonderful man, my grandfather, tallies in on the negative, although getting to go down and be a part of it? Positive. In a lot of ways, it was like coming home after an extended absence.
Yet my own home was sorely missed (and missing). Ian had a hard time saying goodbye to me at the airport (on the drive home, he kept asking to "go back to the plane house and get Mommy"), and lord knows I had a hard time saying goodbye to him, Missy, and Jason. One of the happiest sights was watching Jason in my little red car driving around the circle to pick me up, the huge smile on Ian's face as they pulled up and he saw me, and the constant hugs and snuggles from Missy at breakfast once she realized that I was actually there to stay.
I love coming home.
This is going to be a weekend of projects. Finishing one baby blanket, continuing work on another, and a couple of art projects for the kids' rooms (Megan's in particular). Possibly more painting of walls.
And a quick non-existent segue into the world of toys. For anyone who has toys with big footprints, at what point did you decide to get rid of them? For example: we have had a Fisher Price activity table and a Laugh n Learn home since Ian was little. Both of them take up a goodly amount of space and both of them were loved and played with extensively (as in, for 30-40 minutes at a stretch) by the little man. Missy, on the other hand? Has maybe five minutes of interest for them. My question to you is: if she hasn't played with them much as yet, is it likely she's suddenly going to get interested? Or should I just pass them on, as she's likely to find other interests at 18 months?
We have both toys also - Cody got the table when he was 1, and Luke got the house for his 1st birthday. Both boys play with both toys, for a short period of time.
ReplyDeleteI would think though that if she's not interested with them now, that she won't be interested in the coming months either. I know for Luke he has glazed over a lot of the baby toys, and instead goes for Cody's big boy toys. Or my bigger cooking utensils :)
I've been to a few funerals recently so I know exactly what you mean by bittersweet. We always leave funerals with a renewed interest in contacting extended family.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever checked out www.younghouselove.com? They have some of the best household project ideas.
We have several toys with large footprints - mainly the kitchen and the massive dollhouse. Both of those are still played with extensively at my house so they are here to stay for the time being. Well, at least the kitchen. The dollhouse is going to my moms house and being traded for the smaller version. Hannah doesn't play with it anymore and even though Ben LOVES it, I think he is a bit too young for so many small pieces. If M. isn't loving it now she probably isn't going to pay it a second thought.
Gone. Period. If they're not being used, it's not worth it to keep them, especially when you can free up more space for things like creative play and, you know, actual feet.
ReplyDelete:) Or, you could divide your laundry room in half, turn it into a playroom and store all those large toys out of the way.....but only a certifiably mental person would do that...
Oh wait, my bad.