The Force Awakens

Ever since the end of spring break, we have just sort of been plodding along through April.  Today the force awakened in our house, or rather maybe our children did.

I spent the day with my boys.  Neither Linus or Robin felt like going on an adventure (weird).  Instead we baked cookies, chocolate with peanut butter chips.  Robin was ready and impatient.

He is really coming along in his sous chef capabilities, which also makes it harder to do things without his "assistance."  He REALLY like the dough and chased me around the kitchen island with a chair, trying to sneak dough.  I tried in vain to put cookie dough on the sheets while simultaneously moving the dough away from Robin.

After Robin went down for a nap,  Linus and I watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Linus let me snuggle him on the couch for two hours.

I had not seen the movie yet.  I did not expect very much given how terrible the most recent Indiana Jones was.  I have to say, Star Wars was really good.  I loved that the lead was female.  Having now seen the movie, I can't believe Rey, a central character, was left out of the new Monopoly game!  But I digress.

Movie watching inspired Linus to become Kylo Ren.  He assembled the proper attire and constructed a Sith training course.

He really wanted to train Robin.

 But Robin had other ideas involving dandelions.

Training fell to me.  I did my best to learn to use the force.  I can honestly say I enjoyed fighting with the light saber noodles.  I showed Linus no mercy as I chased him around the backyard.

While I was busy baking cookies and trying to put young Kylo Ren in his place, Dave and Eileen had daddy/daughter day.  Dave and I tend to use a divide and conquer approach to the weekends.  This usually means Dave gets paired with Linus.  Eileen and Dave really don't get much alone time together.  Eileen planned her day all week and was bursting with excitement.  Robin was not pleased to be left behind.  We promised him he could have a daddy day soon.

First stop was pedicures.  Dave has never had a pedicure, despite many many many invitations from me.  I told Dave to get the "deluxe."  I don't know if he really appreciated it, but his feet look nice and he has Seahawk colored nails.

After being pampered, it was time for Happy Meals and silliness.

They ended their special day with a trip to the movies to watch, Zootopia.  Eileen saw the movie a few weeks ago and wanted to see it again with her daddy.  Every time Eileen tried to tell Dave about the movie beforehand, she would burst into giggles.

I know Eileen loved getting all of Dave's attention for a few hours.  I'm pretty sure Dave enjoyed an Eileen pace of life.  I had fun with my boys.  Linus and I have been reading the fifth Harry Potter book together and we made a lot of headway today. 

Boys need opportunities to see their Mamas as people, people who are just as capable of tossing a football in the backyard and having a light saber battle as a boy.  They also need time with their Mamas to have quiet snuggle time, share a love of books, and have occasional discussions about the state of the world after hearing the news on NPR.

Girls need their daddies to show them attention, to value them, and listen to them.  Little sisters need the chance to be the one to make decisions and not always get dragged along with what their brothers need/want.  Eileen had the best day (until she crashed from exhaustion).