For my thirtieth birthday, Marilene knit me three more tiny hearts. Now there’s one to represent each heart in our little family.  Each so special, beautiful, and sweet— and just the perfect colors for our living room. I especially love the felted turquoise heart. Maybe I’ll claim that one as my own?

Another addition to our living room is this amazing rose fairy tent from Grandpapa, Grandmama, Uncle Weston, Uncle Troy, and Aunt Ivy. It was brought in a suitcase for Leena’s birthday. Here’s Sonya giving it a big hug.

It’s extravagant. It’s over-the-top. It’s amazing. None of Sonya’s friends have seen it yet, because before anyone comes over, Sonya insists that we hide it in the bedroom. It’s a special place just for sisters.

I’ve been trying for weeks to get a great picture of the two girls in front of the tent— unsuccessfully. Leena will crawl away. Sonya will start spinning in circles or tell me she isn’t interested in a photo, so I honor her request. Besides, I prefer candid shots.

Those are hard to come by, too. It’s like wildlife photography. If you make a rustle, the little animals get skittish and you lose your opportunity.

Yesterday, I was knitting a sweater for my baby niece, which I most likely will not finish before I meet her. I’d made some afternoon hot chocolate, because it’s still snowing at the end of March, and cozied up in the toy room, where I thought I could watch the girls play and do my best to get it done.

Two rows in, my daughters both crawled out of the room. I knit another row when I heard giggles from the living room. Like a stealthy hunter, I tiptoed up with my camera.

Not the best pictures, but so lovely to see this raw footage of how the girls play with each other. They’re darling. The cardboard barricade around the tent is a wall to keep out crocodiles and statues.* It’s also the shanty beginnings of the space pod.

*Sonya is really scared that the statue of the winged lady in the park across the street is going to come to life and fly into our living room. She’s so certain of this, that she’s spooked Derek and me, too. We’re all a little on edge around statues. Or chess pieces. Or porcelain dolls. Or anything that might resemble a statue. Sonya sleeps with a sword next to her bed. Just in case.