While Daddy was away...

We enjoyed a quiet Monday at home together, and then did one errand or another pretty much every day after that, to keep the girlies occupied while Daddy was away on business. This time, he called a prayed with the girls before bed a few of the nights, and they thought that was very special. :o) 

I had saved one last birthday gift of Hope's for "a rainy day" and decided now was a good time to pull it out. They've had lots of fun with the pretend fruits and vegetables we picked up at Ikea.

I was washing breakfast dishes and when I looked down I found the girls in this set up. Hopey said "We're at church Mommy." (As always, we had children's music playing to start the morning...)

"See, I stand and I raise one hand because I'm holding my baby." (Guess she sees me do that all the time while holding Joy-Belle.) :o)

"And now we sit down and clap our hands."

"Uh-oh, my baby's crying, I need to stand up and settle her."

I think this would be the dolly that would be crying... :o)

Oh - there, Joy's rescuing her now.

Then, as I was doing the supper dishes, Hope thought we should have a tea party. She wanted cinnamon sugar treats, but I told her another snack would have to do at that time of night. :o)

This set up actually worked pretty good, the blanket cushioning any dishes that fell.

"Tea, anyone?"

Deep thought there, Hope.

"Now Joy, yhisss is how you pour it. Mommy, do you want cream and sugar too?" And I do, when we're pretending. :o) When I drink tea for real I drink it clear. :o)

"Joy, do you want some too?"

Next day, I was putting things away in the kitchen from our Costco shop, and heard Joy at happy play in the other room.

 Peeking in, this is what I found her so delighted over - a shopping bag for each arm, and room to run with them too. :o) Doesn't look like she'll go very far on this run though, with her leg through a handle. I can't remember if she fell, but I'm sure that slowed her down. :o)

At supper one night, Hope said two very specific sentences: "Mommy, I want to talk to Granny on the phone." And, not a breath later, "And Mommy, I want to talk to Amy on the phone and I want to be the first one to talk this time." (she usually gets her turn after I've finished visiting with whoever is on the phone.) How could I refuse, even if her requests did sound slightly demanding. They weren't, it was just the wording she used. :o)

Supper time... they're always hungry while I'm making it, so this night I handed Hopey some shredded cheese, and when I came back into the kitchen this was how I found them. :o)

"Uh-oh - some spilled, Mommy." :o)