Maxerica

Family Time

Today is a relax day, so I put some light blue jeans on and a light orange, flowery t-shirt. It's getting hot out, so I really shouldn't put anything heavier on.
I want to spend the day with the kids since Maxon and I are leaving tomorrow.
I was going to do my hair, but decide to just leave it down in its natural wave.
After lunch we're going outside with the kids. They're on a play date with Kile and Josie right now.
Maxon had gone to his office after breakfast, so I'm in our room alone.
I look around the room and spot my violin in the corner leaning on my table by the window.
I go over and grab it.
I look through my music folder and pull out a few songs.
After playing a few scales, I practice a piece.
I decide to play Transcendence. It's no doubt one of my favorites.
I rest the instrument on my arm and under my chin. I begin drawing the bow across them, the sound smoothly flowing from the strings in an elegant manner.
The violin is truly beautiful. In the hands of a master it can be a very magical instrument. The sound has always been lush and soothing to me.
I play through the song a few times.
I only stop when I notice Maxon had come in.
I look over at him. He's leaning by the closed door.
"Oh. Hey," I say.
"Hey," he replies.
"I didn't see you come in."
"You weren't supposed to."
"I wasn't?"
"No. If I let you know I came in you would be stopped."
"Which isn't such a bad thing."
"You so rarely play these days."
"There just isn't any time."
"I know. It's a shame."
"Why do you say that?"
"You're so talented."
I smile at him.
He smiles back.
"Not really, but thanks," I appreciate.
"Trust me. You're very talented," he assures.
"So are you."
"Yeah? At what?"
"Taking pictures. Being a father and a husband."
"Well I knew all of that," he teases with a grin.
I roll my eyes playfully and go over to him.
He watches me as I straighten the collar of his shirt.
"You're very handsome as well. I'm going to guess that's a natural talent," I flirt.
"It is. And it's one talent we have in common."
"I'm handsome?"
"So handsome."
I smile and peck his lips.
"More," he requests, puckering his lips.
I gladly give him another kiss. This time he kisses me back.
I smile at him as he moves back.
"Hungry?" he asks.
"Starving," I confirm.
"Let's get the kids and head to lunch then."
"Sounds good to me."
He opens the door for me, then holds my hand as we make our way to the kids room.

"Can we please go outside now?" Ahren begs.
"Not until you finish your sandwich," I reply.
"But I want to go outside."
"You have to finish your sandwich first."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"That's a bad reason."
"Because you need to eat more."
"Fine."
He shoves the rest of his sandwich in his mouth.
"Ahren," Maxon scolds.
He tries to talk with his mouth full but can't.
"Don't choke," I say.
He chews then swallows.
"Done!" he calls out.
"Can we go out now?" Eadlyn asks.
"Go ahead," I sigh.
"Yeah!" Ahren yells excited.
"Hush Ahren," I demand.
Kaden follows Eadlyn and Ahren as they run outside, trying to keep up.
"Oh boy," I say, rubbing my left temple.
"What a hand full," Maxon comments.
"Just like his daddy."
"Ha ha."
I smile at him. He smiles back.
"Come on, we better keep an eye on then," I say while getting up.
He gets up and we meet the kids outside.
Kaden's sitting in the grass and hugging his blanket while watching Eadlyn and Ahren play tag. He's always been more of a watcher than a player.
Maxon and I sit by him in the grass.
Ahren chases Eadlyn over to us. She runs to Maxon and hugs him.
Ahren stops and looks at her. She sits on Maxon's lap, so Ahren tags Kaden and starts to run.
"No," Kaden calls after him.
Ahren stops.
"Yes."
"No!"
"You're it."
"No. I don't want to be it."
"But I tagged you."
Kaden pouts.
"He doesn't have to play if he doesn't want to Ahren," Maxon tells him.
"Ok," Ahren says disappointed.
He comes over and sits with us.
Kaden climbs into my lap.
I hug him.
"Can we play a game?" Ahren asks.
"Sure. What do you want to play?" I question.
"Tag!"
"No," Kaden whines.
"How about we play something else first," I suggest.
"Like what?" Ahren wonders.
"How about....do you want to race?"
"Yeah!"
"Then you three can race around the garden to see who can find a purple flower first."
"Got it!"
Ahren gets up to go.
"Hold up. I'm not done," I stop him.
He looks at me.
"You each have to pick a single flower and bring it back to me. Whoever gets back first wins."
I stand Kaden up as Eadlyn gets up.
"Can I go now?" Ahren impatiently requests.
"Alright, go."
Ahren bolts in the direction of the fountain.
Eadlyn jogs towards the vegetable nursery.
Kaden holds his blanket towards me.
"Can you pwease watch my blankie for me mama?" Kaden asks.
"Of course sweetie."
He hands it to me then blindly runs into the garden, no idea where he's going. He's not very fast, so I hope he doesn't get upset if he loses.
"Should I follow him? Make sure he doesn't get lost?" Maxon wonders aloud.
"Let him go. He needs to learn to watch his surroundings. It all loops back around anyway," I advise.
"Yeah, you're right."
We talk and wait until a few minutes later Eadlyn comes back with a purple bell flower. While we were waiting I had a maid bring out a blanket, tea, and lots of strawberry tarts.
"I got one!" Ahren announces as he runs his purple candytuft over.
"Good job guys. Go ahead and sit them then the blanket," I instruct.
"Can I squish mine?"
"No."
He makes a face and drops the flower on the blanket. Eadlyn sits hers next to his.
"Since you won you can have a tart Eadlyn," I offer.
She smiles proudly and grabs one.
"I want one," Ahren says.
"Then I guess you better win the next time," Maxon tells him.
"Where's Kaden?" Eadlyn asks.
"He's still getting his flower," Maxon explains.
"Oh ok."
"Can we do that again?" Ahren requests.
"Once your brother gets back," I tell him.
"Ugh. He needs to hurry up."
"Hush. Be patient, he'll be back in a minute."
"Can I go get him?"
"No. Let him find his own flower Ahren."
Ahren sighs dramatically and lays in the grass.
We wait for a few more minutes.
I start to think we should go get him, but he runs over to me holding a purple heliotrope.
"I found one mama!" he tells me while holding it out.
"Good job sweetie."
I kiss his cheek.
He smiles big.
"Sit it on the blanket honey," I say.
He puts it on the blanket.
"Want to go again?" I ask him.
"Yeah!"
"Alright. Each of you need to find three different green leaves ok?"
"Ok mama."
Ahren gets up and the three of them run off.
We continue this for an hour. A pile of a variety of leaves and flowers has accumulated on the blanket at this point.
"Great job guys," I praise them.
"Now what?" Ahren asks.
"Now you three can go play tag."
"Yes!"
Ahren tags Eadlyn then runs. She chases after him. Kaden runs in a random direction, giggling.
I smile and put the flowers and leaves to use as we watch the kids play.
"We should be going in soon. I want to get some work done before dinner," Maxon says to me.
"Alright. I'll get the kids in a minute."
I finish using the leaves and flowers to make crowns for the kids. The boys get leaf crowns and Eadlyn gets a flower crown.
Before I could round up the kids, they come to us.
Eadlyn spots the crowns first.
"Flower crown!" she recognizes.
I smile and put it on her head.
She twirls around.
"Can I have one?" Kaden asks.
"Yes you can."
I put the smaller of the two leaf crowns on his head.
He takes his blanket off my lap and sits in the grass.
I hold Ahren's crown out to him.
He takes it and puts it on.
"Can we play another game?" he asks as he adjusts his crown.
"We're going inside," I tell him.
"Aw."
"Dinners going to be ready soon. But don't worry, we can play inside."
"Can we play a board game?"
"Sure."
He smiles.
"Mama," Kaden calls.
"Yes?"
"Can we watch a movie?"
"After dinner. Let's go inside now."
Maxon and I get up. I pick up Kaden and we all go inside.
We spend the rest of our day with the kids, enjoying our family time.