Mommy Dates

 Our girls love dates. And the dates do not have to be elaborate. They just have to be time with mommy or daddy. 

For example, if we are out somewhere and Emma has to go to the bathroom and I walk with her there while Dallas stays with the other girls, Emma will excitedly hold my hand and smile up at me and say, "Mommy! We are on a Mommy Emma date!" It is very sweet. And also makes me realize that I prob need to give our children some more one-on-one time when they get so excited by that teensy amount of time together with just us. 

And Alice is always asking me where I am going to make sure I am not leaving. For example, when she sees me wearing my running clothes, she will ask, "Mommy, are you going on a run? I don't want you to go running!" And I then remind her that running is important for mommy and that I will always come back...and sometimes I add that I am not her prisoner, but that is probably not necessary for me to say - it's just when I'm feeling a little sassy. Lately, with the good weather, Alice and Lucy end up getting to come with me in the stroller and they have loved that. 

And whenever Lucy sees me or Dallas grab the car keys or put on our shoes, she immediately runs to the door to be sure she goes with us.  And whenever Dallas or I ask if anyone wants to go to the store with us, Lucy's hand shoots up in the air and she shouts, "I do! I do!" Lucy ALWAYS wants to go whenever we are going somewhere. 

So yes, dates (anything with just mommy or daddy) are VERY special. Today I kind of got a date in with each girl. Around 10:30 I realized Lucy was ready for a nap. Dallas tried to get her to sleep and she was a good sport about it, but after 10 or 15 minutes, she convinced Dallas she wasn't tired. Dallas walked out with her and I said, "Nope. She is tired." So I went in with her. I laid down next to her and sang her some of my favorite songs - all from Sound of Music (Favorite Things, Edelweiss, and even Do, Re Mi). Lucy really enjoyed it and I enjoyed just the two of us. 

With Lucy and the babies asleep, it was time for me to go run. Per usual, as soon as Alice saw me getting ready to leave, she asked to come. I initially told her it was just going to be a mommy run day. But then, as I saw her out walking with my parents and Emma, I thought, "Why not take her? If she wants to come, I am happy to bring her." So I asked her if she would prefer walking with my parents or coming running and she chose running. And away we went. Alice was the DJ and while we listened to music and ran through the neighborhoods and trails, we kept our eyes open for pumpkins, scurrying squirrels, and all things halloween or fall. Another mommy date with another sweet girl.

Emma rarely RARELY ever cries. But tonight she cried when Lucy accidentally broke something Emma had built. It is so rare for Emma to cry and when she does, it is genuine and heart-breaking. I comforted her and then when I had to go upstairs, Dallas comforted her and helped her rebuild it. Then later tonight as Dallas was reading to Lucy and while Alice was finishing up getting ready for bed, Emma found a book to read. It was one of my favorites - A Baby Sister for Frances (I love the Frances books). I told her to hurry into her room so Dallas could read it to her. Emma hesitated and said, "I'd like to read it with just you - it could be an Emma-mommy date." I thought about it and realized, "Why not? I'm not really doing anything right now. We can definitely do this." And it is such a small request! And I have been thinking I need to do more with Emma. And I remembered her tears earlier that evening and it made me think that she probably needs some time to know that she is special and loved. So yes! Of course! She cuddled up next to me on the chair and I read one page and then Alice came in and said, "I thought we were going to read that together!" Oops. I forgot that Alice had told me whatever book Emma read, she wanted to be a part of it too. So I