Just Now

Just now, after dinner, my Dad popped his head in to hang out and give the girls a yo-yo. 

(I'm smiling)

While he was here Echo hit him up for some bedtime stories. He of course said yes and regaled the girls with yo-yo tricks while they brushed their teeth. He left with Echo on his shoulders and passed by the kitchen window while I was doing dishes. They stopped, both grinning hugely, and Echo blew kisses. My own reflection layered over theirs. My smiling face on top of Echo's face. My Dad's face layered beneath ours both. All of our faces. These loving, full of love, familiar and dear faces. Stacked up.

(extreme smiling)

Last night our girl's had Grammie night. They ate dinner with my mom and Rupert, did crafts, and went silly. Echo bathed. They got into pjs and my mom read them Lassie. Then Rupert chauffered them home - all three savoring the ten-minute drive to soak each other up.

When they returned my Dad again happened to be over and Echo climbed right up into his lap for a full face rub. Xi snuggled close too.

Then Echo slipped into bed and Papa read her Harry Potter while massaging her back and I lay with Xi and we tandem read like teenagers.

For the sleep-shift Nathan and I switched and snuggled each girl til she dozed off.

I realized today that sequence provided our girls with THREE SOLID HOURS of tender touch and care by five different sets of hands.

There is so much love here.