Swinging in a hammock with Lola

I have these moments with my kids that feel so perfect and full of love that I tell myself there is no way I could ever forget it. But I have learned that my mind does not store these perfect moments as crystal clear as I would hope. 

This afternoon Lola found me, grabbed my hand, and lead me to the kitchen and asked for a snack. Realizing it was lunchtime,  I told her we would have a picnic in the backyard. As I made our lunch, she looked around for "banket." I sat down on the blanket outside and she said, "Jus a minute Mama. I need ta geta water frum the wittle fwige." I heard the little outdoor fridge open, and she rounded the corner with a huge smile, water in one hand and Diet Coke in the other. Surprisingly she handed ME the Diet Coke and said, "For you Mama!" She was excited to see our lunch was a hot dog, chips, and blueberries. She said, "Mmmmm, soo soo bery good!" 

After our lunch she wanted to play Hide and Seek. She always says, "I count to 4 and you hide, ok Mama?" We ended up in the hammock together for the next hour. We went from hiding from each other, to hiding from the dog, to rowing our boat, and watching the bird and bees fly overhead. She kept laying on me with her chubby little arms around my neck. 

Both the girls love when I make up stories about them wearing fancy clothes and high heels and usually having some super powers and glittering wings.  She asked for a story and when I told her what she was wearing in the story her eyes lit up and she did a quick audible inhale and long exhale and then kissed me! After my story she made up a story about her friend named "Mama friend" who could fly and got all the purple ice cream from the ice cream man and shared it with everyone. Then Mama was eating cotton candy and Lola started to act like I was the cotton candy and tried to "eat me all up!" I didn't mind that at all!

These little people are exhausting, they really are. This morning when I felt the tap, tap, tap on my shoulder, I wanted to turn over and keep sleeping. Moments like today with Lola make the endless diapers, dishes, chores, and carpooling fade to the distance. I want a thousand more of these moments and will trudge through the exhaustion and dishes to get them when they come!