Plan of Attack with the Big Boys...When in Doubt, Separate!

After some early mornings this week with Tavin continuing to be buzzed by this new room arrangement, we've decided that the best tack to take before the allowed wake-up time of 7am is to just separate the two.  Tavin does seem to be the culprit, but he's not necessarily trying to wake up Koen, but unfortunately, K inevitably wakes up while Tavin is quietly greeting his blanket and animals to the new day at an earlier than usual hour.  The little guy is just used to the freedom and space of his old room where he woke up and then chatted endlessly until we got him.  It's a lot to force that to change.  It's weird how he's waking up an hour earlier than he did in his room, but I'm hoping and praying that that will wear off with the novelty of being in a big boy bed and in a room with his brother.  So, now, if they wake up before 7am.  We give them a little time to see if they can handle it and not get too wakeful and silly, but if they can't we just calmly remove one of them from the room.  One stays in sleepful, quiet, dark mode in that room and the other goes into what used to be Tav's room and lays on the full bed that's in there (still in the dark and in sleepful mode).  It has been a much better way to get the day going having them still resting and quiet and us not trying to force them out of what appears to be some of the strongest temptation for two young brothers who adore being silly together.  Ahhh...  At least a plan for now.

Our day naturally sort of continued on in a separation mode and it was the most delightful "family" day we've had with our sons in awhile.  I took Koen to school and then had a meeting and errands.  Doug stayed home and enjoyed the little guys (mostly Tavin time due to Penn's AM nap).  Then I got home and got to have some Penn time while Doug and Koen played in the backyard.  At lunchtime Penn hung out with them back there and loved watching Tav and getting some fresh air (plus he has a real soft spot for Douglas, loves to be held by his Daddy!).  Tavin enjoyed a picnic in his wagon.  Random, I know, but you would have thought it was Disneyland he enjoyed it so much.

Shortly thereafter, Doug had to leave to meet Koen at a birthday party for one of his Kindergarten friends.  Penn and Tav were enjoying the backyard so much that we stayed out a little longer.  Tavin was being adorable "raking."  So I had to try and get a few shots. 

You can see his mouth moving in this one.  He was explaining to me all about it, "down hoo, up hoo in da leeves, Mommy."  Ok, got it.

Penn had not had a bath in three mornings (the time of day I've been giving him baths lately just because it tends to work out best) due to our schedule of taking Koen to school, etc.  And I have to admit it was the third morning in a row he was in the same fuzzy sleeper.  So, yesterday it was a must to get him through the bath and into some fresh, clean (and just as fuzzy) clothes.  So, we headed upstairs from outside to the bath for a pre-nap activity.

While Penn enjoyed his bath, Tav gave his diggers a good cleaning.

Then it was naptime and I had extra quiet time to myself with Koen still out with Doug.  It still went remarkably fast, but it was a refreshing change from our normal afternoon routine where he and I are chilling out and doing things for an hour to an hour and a half of the little guys' naps.  After the birthday party finished Doug and Koen both got haircuts.  Here's the much, much needed event!

Koen and Doug also ran some errands and then they went to the "I Made It Market" at Bakery Square.  Koen got to do some crafts (won't say what it is because it will be under the tree for a certain grandparent).

They stayed busy until past dinnertime!  Doug knows how to enjoy an afternoon with his son.  They had a great time one-on-one.  I think they both needed it so much.  And back here, after naptimes were over I fed Penn and then Tavin fed his elephant while Penn had his rice cereal.  How cute is this?

Tav and I found out towards the end of the elephant and Penn feeding that our friends were outside playing, so we bundled up and headed out too.  It was great to get some fresh air and see neighbors on such a mild Fall night.  Not sure how many more we will get!  We got home at 6pm and Tav had dinner and Penn napped.  Doug and Koen got home around 6:15pm and then the big boys had baths, bedtimes, I fed Penn, put him back to bed and then ahhhh....  On top of all that Doug and I got to go out with some friends for dinner while the boys all slept peacefully in their beds (don't worry, we had a sitter here).  What a great day!