Spectacular

We went down to Cohasset today.  I needed a haircut and the boys needed some time with Ni Ni & Poppa.  When I told Gabe that we were going to Cohasset and that I was getting a haircut, he asked if I was getting a shampoo, too.  What?  How does he know that you get a shampoo with a haircut.  I know this sounds crazy, but I was pretty sure that he was trying to figure out how long my haircut might take; and if there was shampooing involved, then he'd have more time alone with Ni Ni & Poppa.  You're probably thinking that this sounds like a thinking process that a three year-old is not capable of; but when I was leaving for my haircut, Gabe told me to take a long time.  And prior to my leaving, Gabe told me that I had only a couple of more minutes in the house before I needed to leave.  And when we were pulling into the driveway, he immediately said, "okay Mom, have a good haircut.  See you later."  He was ready for a drive-by drop off.  Just open the door and toss him into Ni Ni & Poppa's house.  He's always been this way.  I tell myself that it speaks to how much he LOVES being with family and friends.

On to spectacular.  So, I've been obsessed with re-purposing my childhood dollhouse into a Little People house for Gabe & Zach.  It's such an incredible dollhouse (it's made of unfinished wood with no girlie touches) and I always thought about passing it down to a daughter.  Since my sister lives far away and therefore hasn't been able to give it to her daughter, I asked my parents recently if I could pass it onto the boys to use as a house.  Not a dollhouse but a play house.  I bought some vintage Little People furniture and people on ebay and have been excited about bringing it home.

While I was at my parents' house today, my dad and I went up to the attic to check out the dollhouse.  It was SO much bigger than I remembered (isn't it usually the other way around?) and it was "tired" for lack of a better word.  It's been sitting in my parents' attic for 25 years.... Anyway, as soon as Gabe saw the house, he gasped and asked what it was.  I told him that it's a playhouse for him and Zach, and he said, "it's spectacular!"  With my parents as witness, I kid you not.  The boy said it was spectacular, which made my heart sing, since I've been so invested in bringing the dollhouse home for him to play with. 

Unfortunately, the monstrous house did not fit into my car so we couldn't bring it home tonight.  It broke Gabe's heart.  He cried and cried.  While my dad and I were trying to fit it into my mom's car, Gabe, who was in the house with my mom, said, "I'm never going to get to play with the house."  He was so upset.  Even telling him that Ni Ni & Poppa would be driving the playhouse to him the very next day didn't stop the tears.  He cried all the way out the door of my parents house, getting into the car, and as we drove off (leaving the spectacular playhouse behind).  It wasn't until one of his favorite Raffi songs came on a little later that he simply stopped crying and burst into song.  We love Raffi!!

I hope the boys enjoy playing with this house......... I'll add some pictures of it when it arrives tomorrow.  I might need a wide angle lens, though.  J's going to have my head on one of my many platters that he detests.  Sorry, my love; but Gabe adores this house.