The Keys To the Forbidden Kingdom

Alternate title: His Mind Is Officially Blown

After a rocky start to the summer, with Natalie and Owen drawing battle lines in the sand, I'm happy to report that there has been a general softening of attitudes, and hearts, lately. Not long ago there was even an hour of time when Natalie invited Owen into her world. The world of girly, glittery, pink and fuzzy things. Without any parental prompting. Out of the blue, she asked him, "Owen. Would you like to play with my Barbie on her bike??" And Owen looked at her very, very seriously and said, "YESHH!" (His yes these days often sounds more like Yesh). I think he was afraid to even jump up and down because he might stir the air around her and cause her mind to change. But he was VERY excited. He LOVES the Barbie bike. This is the little pink bike that can attach to Natalie's real bike, but it is also removable, and Barbie sits on it with her long, stiff legs stuck through two little hoops that anchor her down. Owen loves bikes and motorcycles, and is always trying in vain to get people...Lego people...or Star Wars figures...to sit on some motorcycle or another and they never fit on them, much to his frustration. He has tried to confiscate the Barbie bike before on his own, but Natalie would always scream like crazy and grab it from him. To be handed the Barbie AND the bike for no reason...heavenly.

Then she proceeded to ask him if he wanted to play with her My Little Ponies. Yesshh!! Be still, 2 yr old heart. And then she asked him if he wanted to sleep in her bed, and she pulled back the covers and then tucked him in, and there he was with a smile from ear to ear (Yesshh, yesshh, yessshh), all covered in pink.

It was a most glorious hour. I only wish I had thought to get the camera.