TGIF Nights and Saturday Morning Driving Lessons

Since Dylan was tiny tiny, we have had the tradition that we have a sleep over at GiGi and Gramps on Friday nights. It started when he was about 4 months old and now he is 4 years and and 5 months so we have had so many fun times. Brody came along 2 years and 5 months ago and has fit right into our program.

We have our little 'traditions'....I usually pick the boys up around 3, we come to my house and play inside helping GiGi with stuff (this week decorating for Halloween) until Gramps gets homes and then we go out front and play with the neighbor kids (just like their mommy and Uncle Adam did 20+ years ago). They ride bikes, squirt guns, play Frisbee and run around yard to yard with the other kids. When the sun sets it's inside the house, bath time, dinner and pj's on. Then we watch 'Wipe Out', Tom & Jerry or our old standby "Alvin and the Chipmunks', complete with Gramps yummy popcorn.

Then it is off to bed for Brody with me carrying him upstairs and singing our special song 'Little Road and a Stone to Roll' while Gramps reads 2 Golden Books to Dylan. As soon as Brody is tucked in and story time is over, I have time to lay down with Dylan to 'talk about things' which ranges from talking about fast airplanes to construction vehicles to talking about building bunk beds, to wanting a remote in his toy room to saying he is going to spend '10 nights' with me. I love special time with both of them.

I usually sleep downstairs on the couch to be near Dylan and have the baby monitor on to hear Brody upstairs. Around 6 a.m. or so, Dylan comes out to the couch to 'cozy up' and we talk and then turn on TV. About that time Brody starts stirring and I go and get him and then wrap them up in cozy quilts and we watch some cartoons, have milk and after breakfast they go up and 'wake up gramps'. Then we get dressed and play outside until time to be picked up or dropped off at mommy and daddy's. One very special thing that happens on Sat a.m. is if they help pick up and put away all the toy then they 'qualify' for their weekly driving lessons. They know and understand that and once I say it they are all about toy pickup.

I love watching them take turns driving GiGi's car with Gramps. Dylan is so sweet as he always lets Brody go first and straps in the front seat. Steve only takes them down the cul de sac and then turns around by the canyon, but they think they are driving at the Indy 500. Brody almost always looks at Dylan while he is driving and just beams. Dylan is so serious and never takes his eyes off the road and Brody is so proud sitting in the front seat. It is so so fun to watch. After driving lesson we pack up all their stuff and head out. Steve and I are exhausted, but beam with smiles. On days like today after we drop them off we head to the beach to walk and enjoy the fresh air. It is so true, it is the little things in life that are the best.