09

March

2008

Blanket Tents and Headlights – The Joys of Childhood

Posted in : Family Life, Mandy

This Christmas Brian and I gave the girls their own head lights from REI. We saw these cute pink and purple headlights and thought the girls would love having them when we go camping!! They are always thrilled by Brian’s headlight and want to use it so we knew they would enjoy their own. After the lights had been opened I planned to put them away with our camping stuff, but did not and I am glad! We have a new nightly ritual going on in our little girl’s room and it just makes me smile!

I won’t go into how this all developed instead I will just tell you the cute little scene I get to see each night as I close their door wishing them a good night.

The room is dark for the most part except for three little lights hidden behind blanket tents that have been gently placed to make reading caves. Addie and Emma share a bunk bed (Emma is currently on the top bunk), and Isabelle’s bed is close by. There is a blanket hanging from the ceiling hanging across the corner of the bed (that Dad arranged) which provides Emma her little den. Just outside her blanket you will find a stack of books that she chooses from each night. There is a second blanket hanging in the middle of the bottom bunk and a third on the outside to create Addie’s den. She keeps her reading material hidden under her pillow. Isabelle is without a blanket tent but is thrilled to have her light and a stack of books.

So as I bid the girls good night and sing them our goodnight song I close the door seeing three girls in love with the joy of reading by little lights tucked warm in bed. And sometimes I get the added bonus of watching Emma practicing the animal shadows she can make on her blanket.

The joys of childhood are amazing!

---