winding down

Our new favorite cartoon is shaun the sheep, courtesy of netflicks. It's a British clay-mation with no dialogue and is horribly addictive. So to wind down after dinner, little girl begs to watch it. But the best part is when she mimic shaun's wink (which he does frequently). With her mouth half open and jaw pushed off to one side she clenches one eye shut and stares expectantly at me with the other. How can I not smile in return?

Her little sister runs around with second wind energy, bouncing and dancing to the music, dragging books off the shelf and holding the Wii remote and focused intently, trying to use it. My favorite is the dancing. I'm sure all toddlers bounce to music but I find it pretty amazing that she is actually in rhythm. And lately she invented a new move of rolling her shoulders.

So we watch an episode and despite the pledge of an early bedtime, we can't resist when our baby girl drags over the Rockband guitars, "Peas? Peas?" she asks. We consent and soon they are more wound up than ever, dancing, twirling, prancing and taking turns beating on the drum set. (they are a built in handicap since you can't ever see your screen as they insist on dancing right in front of the tv)

p.s. our "band" name is rockin fox because one day I said "daddy a fox!" To my delight, Butterfly kept repeating it. Then the next time we played Rockband, she announced "daddy a rockin fox!" Love that kid!

Half an hour after bedtime, (but having had a whole lot of fun), we play one last song and announce its bedtime. Little Ladybug gives a very short protest, which ends as soon as she sees her bed and pile of blankets. Then its a battle to keep her on the changing table long enough to get her dressed before she launches herself into the crib. Butterfly is more reluctant and queen of stalling but even she eventually cuddles in for the night and the house becomes peaceful and quiet...