Packing up

It's become increasingly difficult to keep the house picked up these days.

Adele is SO into pretend play that she comes up with these very elaborate scenarios, creates a world with tons of props, and stays in character for a very long time.

She commonly pretends to be Anna or Elsa from Frozen and creates a scenario for them, or she and Henry will be pirates on a treasure hunt, or sometimes her pretend play will be more realistic - she will pretend to be moving into a new house and introduce herself to us (with David being her gardener and me being her cook), or she will go on a trip to visit Nanny and Popa in Washington or Grandma and Grandma in Iowa, or she'll get ready to go to Nicaragua or Costa Rica.

Recently I've noticed a common theme that's present among pretty much all situations - she spends a lot of time packing.

I'm pretty sure that's what she thinks we do all the time. Pack.

If she's moving into a new house? She'll pack. If she's going on a treasure hunt as a pirate? She'll pack first. Gotta make sure she's well prepared, you know.

Adele will spend a very long time getting all sorts of things out to pack. She'll pack a backpack (or two), roll more toys and clothes up in a blanket, find a box or basket to put even more things in...it never ends.

She also has a great memory. Which means that as she's getting all her belongings out again and again and again and re-packing again and again and again, she prefers to leave everything just as it was when she goes down for a nap or bed.

And everything she packs is so random. So even we do get to a point that we can pick up (just so she can start over the next day), she has packed items from every possible basket or toy chest in the house. It would take me a very long time to get the toys and clothes and blankets and stuffed animals back in their proper spots.

I'm trying not to let it bother me too much. I love organization. But I really love the fact that my girl is so creative with a huge imagination.

And in other news in the world of imagination...Henry thinks there are dinosaurs in our house.

They consistently hang out by our front door, and throughout the day he will randomly run over, point to them, and excitedly say "dinosaurs!" Before he goes down for a nap or bed, he will also make his rounds telling everyone goodnight and giving kisses, so he will wave to the dinosaurs and yell out "goodnight dinosaurs!" on his way into his room.

My kids rock.