Magical

The magical moment that people have been telling me about / consoling me with for the last two years has finally begun: my kids are all playing together!  Yes, it took almost a full two years. For about the first year of their lives, Cash wanted nothing to do with the twins. He eventually got used to the fact that they came everywhere we did, and would possibly hand them a toy now and then, but that was about the extent of it. The twins are also less mature than Cash was in all the same stages and it seems that only recently they've really figured out how to play. Cash had a remarkably long attention span and could play with one toy for hours when he was seriously like 8 months. The twins have just barely figured that they can sit and play with something for more than 15 seconds. (I'm sure my motherhood is deficient here somewhere.) Up until now they've mostly just been a destructive

nuisance and annoyed Cash to no end by ruining all his projects and stealing his toys. But anyway, they've somehow reached the level where Cash has deemed them cool enough to involve them in playing and he has just now discovered the joys of telling your little brothers what to do.  "Come over here, Phoenix. Sit down Phoenix..." So brother, mostly, I should say, as Phoenix is the willing subject and Ashton is in his own little world. And Phoenix following him around with "Cashy, Cashy!" Why he insists on calling him Cashy, I don't know, but it's adorable. And is really more like "Da-see" since he can't say his Cs or the sh sound very well.

It's always been fun to watch the twins interact with each other, but even more so now as their thoughts and schemes gain some sophistication. I guess even when it means they think up dumping a box of cereal all over the floor and I walk out to find them spinning around on their bellies licking it up. But I just love the fact that wherever one twin goes, the other is sure to follow.  Of course all this increased interaction with everyone also means more fights to break up, but there are a few magical moments now and then when I actually find my kids all busy entertaining themselves together and I realize - wow, I can actually do something! Which usually means clean, but hey, it does seem my house is more clean lately, and doing it without someone screaming underfoot is certainly more pleasant.

The first clue I got that Cash actually liked them was when he moved up from nursery to primary in our church. I've personally always thought that must stink - going from playing with toys and getting snacks for a couple hours to have to sit and try to be quiet and listen for the better part of two hours. I mean, they sing and color and stuff, but it's got to be a big change. So every week he'd start asking if his brothers could come with him.  Awwww. That was so sweet to realize they really are their own little support system. Now my only worry is that shy and anti-social Cash will never bother to make friends since he has his little buddies to fall back on!

(Notice the new addition to our house? Still a novelty thank goodness and bedtime is a little less crazy. Although I'll actually admit, every now and then I miss Phoenix's under-the-door commentary as he watched us pass by until he would finally fall asleep curled in a little ball on the other side of the door.)

So anyway, all those who consoled me by saying, "Yeah but when they're older and they all play together you'll love it," well, I'm glad I made it far enough (without spontaneously combusting from all the effort it took to get here) to finally start to see it! It is truly delightful.