family

In all the hustle and bustle getting ready to start school, I didn't post anything about our amazing visit with Anthony (aka Uncle Tony) and Anders. What an incredible gift it was to have them here for a few days. To see my brother's son with my girls was tremendous. Dalia has held both her cousins (Anders and Connor) up on pedestals since she could walk. It's been such a long time since we were with Anders in person that at first she  kind of freaked out. She hid from him and couldn't even look at him. It was so overwhelming. (This part of her personality is so interesting to me. While I dive right into intensity, it just seems like it's so much she has to keep it at bay for a few minutes to process it first. She did this same kind of thing with her teacher on assessment day. In fact, I remember when she was about Eloise's age she started doing this with lots of people. I think she senses her connection, admiration, love, whatever it is, in such a big and profound way for such a little person. Her teacher noted this about her (I love him already!). )

Anyway, I digress. Eloise went about making Anthony and Anders feel right at home, showing them things and saying hello. Finally, Dalia came out from under the diningroom table to play in the yard with Anders and within minutes they were off playing by themselves. We'd find them in the playroom or even up in Dalia's room talking and playing games, or making stuff up. One afternoon they took Dalia's stuffed animals in our backyard and made a zoo/safari hunt for us. 

As with any kids who spend several days together and are as strong willed as our genes produce, there were moments of strife and struggle, but you could almost feel the love coming off of them. Okay, I'm getting mushy about all this, but it was truly wonderful to see them together and really, really seeming to like each other. 

We missed our Aunt Jen a lot, but were happy to share some peaceful sunny days in our new home with my dear brother and his son.