The chores can wait

This evening after work, I pulled a bed sheet out of the closet, intending to use it on the bed. Then, Adeleigh grabbed the sheet out of my hands, reminding me that instead of doing chores, I needed to immediately partake in playtime. She grabbed one side of the sheet, threw it up in the air and in her baby talk lingo that only her Daddy and I seem to understand, told us both to do the same. We held either end of the sheet and started throwing the bed sheet up in the air. Then as it ballooned toward the ground, Phaeton and I would run underneath. We did it a few more times until she caught on and started doing the same. Then, we'd huddle under the sheet as a family, making sure that no light got in, and then we'd giggle. Even the dog found joy in this for a little while. The best part was while us girls hid from the boys underneath. As she and I ran to meet in the middle, Adeleigh looked up at me, with the biggest smile in her eyes and said in her sweet little voice, "It's fun!" Then, while we sat under the sheet which was blanketed on top of us, she crawled over onto my lap and gave me not one, but two kisses, right on the lips. Then, she bounded up and screamed in laughter as her Daddy tickled her from the outside.

~~~

As we get ready for sleep, the sheet still lays on the ground beside the undressed bed. And even though it's late, and I'm exhausted, I'm glad that I didn't make the bed when I intended to. Because that spontaneous playtime, and those kisses, and seeing the joy on Adeleigh's face, was the best part of my day. And I love that everyday, that little girl that's sleeping in the next room, reminds me of what's most important. She reminds me that the cleaning, the bed-making, the chores, the getting online - they can all wait. But my time with her, which is already passing by so fast, shouldn't have to wait for the bed to be made. Not when she's changing so quickly and adorably.

So, when life gives you an over-sized, neatly folded, slightly faded, clean bed sheet - and before you make your bed with it - look underneath with your little one. It could be really fun :)