I am amazed at the spirit in a child. Simple things can take on such great meaning and bring so much joy. Four dollars worth of toys turn into a priceless afternoon with Lily and Isabelle.
Saturday,
Elfida and I went to the dollar store. We were looking for some plant bulbs they had. As
Elfida looked at the different packages of bulbs, I walked to the toy isle. I picked a jump rope for Isabelle and some pom-poms for Lily. I saw some headbands with red hair attached to them. They had Hannah Montana's picture on the package. I chose one for Lily and one for Isabelle, slight difference in color so they could tell them apart.
Isabelle put hers on and played on the floor with some of the board games we have for them. She is quieter that Lily. She loves anything that has Hannah Montana on it.
Lily spent the afternoon doing cheers for grandma. She just loved the pom-poms and the hair. She knew the
routines from watching Isabelle at cheerleader practice in Robinson. It is a wonder to see a child play and find so much happiness in such simple things.
What I would trade to be able to see what goes on inside that mind, to be able to
recreate the sense of adventure, the
curiosity of a
child's mind. To see the world with those eyes of youth again.
Balloons, we always keep a bag full of balloons. Another toy that never grows old. The
fascination of a child with a balloon, I just can't remember what it is. I am too old, so I learned how to make balloon animals and balloon flowers.
I had to work Sunday, so I wasn't able to say up all afternoon with them, but I sure enjoyed every minute with them. I went to bed and they stayed with grandma. She played board games with them. When
Maiko and Carlos were small we always had Monopoly. We had some great times playing it.
Maiko was very good at it and usually won. Carlos had a disadvantage because he was a lot younger, but it helped him learn to make decisions. We have a bunch of board games for the girls to play but some times you just have to let them use their imagination and play with the blocks of wood left over from that shelf project or on that dirt pile outside. I love watching them just being kids.
Well, the sisters came back to spend an afternoon with the grandparents. While we worked on the yard, they rearranged their toys. Lily wore angel wings while playing outside. With a little team work many things can be accomplished.
Got to show grandpa her fighting face. She was very proud of her rub-on tattoo on her right arm. Is that a mean look or what?
So big sister was showing us how she can climb poles. Well, little sister had to try it too. Couldn't do it yet but she will soon. I love watching from a distance because they will just be themselves then. Once I get near with the camera they start hamming it up. But even those photos are great.
Elfida's sister gave Isabelle the trampoline a few years back when her kids out grew it. That is their favorite toy when playing outside. They like their picture being taken when they are jumping on it. I get lots of, "Watch me grampa!" and "Take a picture of what I can do."
Big sister can get some pretty good air now. She's still working on her somersaults.
This is one of my favorites. I love it when the sun cooperates. Forcing the flash on the camera helps to light up the foreground.
Look at little sister watching big sister. Taking everything in, she will be doing the same in a few minutes.
Nice horns! I wish I had a stronger flash, but oh well, its still a nice photo.
And then comes a moment of solitude. Big sister took some time to sit by herself. I love this moments. What thoughts come to a little girl's mind when they sit out by herself and contemplate the evening sky and the cows grazing?
Then it was back to getting grandpa's attention. She is getting very agile on the swing set. It gets hard when both are asking for attention. Its easier when I can focus only on one at a time.
By now big sister was really into posing for the photos. "Take a picture of me doing this!" So grandpa did.
She really liked this one.
Well, since they were in a photographic mood, I decided to try some motion blur photographs. I slowed down the speed on the camera to 20 and followed their movements which blurs the background. Very nice.
Little sister was the first one willing to run across the yard while I took her picture. It takes four or five runs to get a good match between their running and my following with the camera.
Now her is a fast runner! I love this one. It is such a joy to have them over, even with all their arguing. They are carbon copies of Miako and Carlos. We had a great time with them. We went inside when the sun went down and had dinner. Then grandpa told some ghost stories and showed them what hand sign to make to keep the Cucuy away. We went upstairs and watched Bratz. I googled it first because I figured it was a movie for older kids. The reviews said it was a good movie for all kids. Well, it was kind of corny but the girls were really into it. 
