Building Lasting Relationships

Kendall and I have discussed "our family" many times and tried to crack the mysteries of exactly how to have a tight-knit family forever. We have decided that one of the biggest factors (aside from staying close to the Lord) lies in the time that you spend with your kids. We feel that not only quality time is important, but also the quantity. And I've never thought this more than now. After having Kendall home for 2 weeks Avri has become an entirely different little girl. In the past couple of months she has been going through a mean phase with him. She is grumpy whenever he has been around, she makes mean faces at him and is just nasty. Well, in the last two weeks they have become very good friends again. I leave the kids home now to do my visiting teaching or any number of other errands and when I get home Avri and Kendall are laughing and playing. Kendall really isn't doing anything differently, it is just the way that Avri views him, I guess. And the amount of time that they are able to spend together. But I'm really considering myself lucky that the timing was so perfect for his layoff. Mercedes has always loved her Daddy, but now she only wants him when he is in the room. They have both really gotten attached to him and it makes my heart go all soft to see it. I feel like I have been able to talk to Kendall so much more and really catch up with him on our lives. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Maybe he knew that this would be a great opportunity for us.
Here is my funny little family. The morning routine is a bit more laid back lately. Avri gets into the crib with Mercedes every morning and plays with her. This particular morning she also "helped" Talmage get in. I'm glad I wasn't around to see how that played out. Don't you love the bed-head look?