We’ve been flirting with summer for the last few weeks – some days it’s gorgeous, and some days it’s a typical Pacific Northwest soggy spring.  For the soggy days, the boys play in our garage, having displaced our cars entirely at this point, which is good because we can just throw soap on the cars and let the sogginess wash them for us.  On the good days, they spend hours playing the back yard, or running with Malin to a park to play with the wards of other Au Pairs.

A couple of weeks ago I was working from home, and came out of the den to find an impromptu picnic on our deck.  It made perfect sense to just move their high chairs out onto the deck, but still, it just looked a little funny, so I had to grab the camera.  She even had their hats securely on their heads, mindful of skin’s absolute lack of color.  Hmm, wonder where they got that from?

It’s getting really, really hard to work from home.  The boys are much more aware of when I’m home, especially Nicholas.  They come and knock on the den door, or just keep yelling “dada, dada, DADA” until eventually I give in and come pay a visit.  Then Nicholas will grab me by the hand, take me to where he wants to play, and then pat the ground where he wants me to sit.  If I get up, he’ll follow me, drag me back, and patiently repeat his instructions on where I need to sit.  My best chance is to sneak out of the den while they’re eating, napping, or outside.  On the other hand, there aren’t all that many times during the typical work day were I have a genuine reason to smile or laugh, and sitting here in the den, working through my e-mail, and suddenly hearing Dexter’s peculiar barking laughter – seriously, who wouldn’t smile?