Chapter 18
Olivia
I spend the entire afternoon chasing Leo and Liam around, wiping chocolate off their faces, building train tracks, and running trains through their courses.
We went outside to go sledding but I got too cold too quickly so we had to come inside.
Spending time with the little ones is the best part about being home this holiday season.
Living in Milwaukee is amazing, but also very taxing on family time when your littles live on the opposite end of the country.
I’ve always known Penelope wanted a large house and a large family but never imagined her living so far from home.
She practically raised the boys and me, both of our parents working busy full-time jobs.
Maybe she just needed a break from the cold and the winter, from the craziness of always being responsible.
But seeing her interact with her two beautiful babies has been nothing short of amazing.
The patience that I never remember her having with me is extraordinary, especially when the boys are at each other's throats and constantly calling for “Mommy.” Do children ever call for their father? Her big blue eyes, and auburn-colored hair that’s pulled up in a tight bun with loose strands framing her face, are always calm, with the most welcoming and loving expression.
I can’t help but smile watching them interact and play on the floor.
Halfway through the afternoon, I can tell that Pen is tired the boys are refusing to ap and she needs a break.
She deserves a break. It’s odd that Jonathan isn’t here to help out or celebrate with us but when I asked Pen about it, she just brushed it off as work.
“Why don’t you two come lie on the couch with me and we’ll read a book?” I ask the boys as they come running out of their room for the fifteenth time avoiding nap time.
“You don’t have to do that,” I hear Penelope say as she rounds the corner.
I try my hardest to give her my best “you need this” look as Liam and Leo come running over with books. Pen knows how much I love books, so if I get to spend time with my littles doing my favorite activity, then it's the best day.
The laughter that comes out of the boys as they jump onto the couch and wiggle into comfy positions waiting for me to take my spot in the middle is the light of the holidays.
It's so full of happiness and joy, and I'm curious if our laughter as children had the same effect on the adults as these boys do on me. I smile at Penelope and plop into the couch right between the boys. You can tell they’re both overtired by the way they giggle at everything, especially the fact that spicy salsa is a hard no for our favorite dragons in Dragons Love Tacos. We make it through the giggles of dragons, but only about halfway through No, David! before there are two sleeping boys and an aunt who’s definitely trying not to doze off with them.
“Y’all are too quiet…” Penelope says as she rounds the corner and I quickly bring my hand to my mouth to shush her before she wakes the beasts. She smiles, grateful the boys are napping but also how cute we all look curled up on the couch together.
I roll my eyes at her and say “Help me up so we can have spiked hot chocolate.”
“Honey, you’re not getting up until those boys do.” She chuckles as she walks out of the family room. Knowing she’s right, I lean my head against the back of the couch and try to relax. I'm going to have to go see my chiropractor when I get back to Milwaukee after this.
I feel my phone vibrate against my leg and gently try to wiggle it out without waking Leo who is now lying with his head flat on my lap.
Once I get it out, without even looking at it, I place it face down on the side table next to the couch, and close my eyes pretending to be asleep as Liam begins to stir against my side.
I know if he sees Leo and I sleeping, he’ll just close his eyes again.
Turns out I’m sleepy too.