Cardboard boxes

Some of the best things in life are free. Or, at least, free with the purchase of a $200 hot water heater.

After a week of leaks and various fixes, and 2 very long days of boiling water on the stove to do the dishes, we have the luxury of hot water in our home again. My wonderful husband installed the new tank on Saturday, and it's box moved into the playroom on Sunday. It really is a pretty fabulous box, roomy and sturdy and complete with a door that Nat cut a lovely round porthole into. Jack has discovered the box has the magical ability to be both a rocket ship (when it is standing on end) and a boat (when it is laid on it's side). The most magical part about the box, in my opinion, is that Jack has started to really play WITH his sister since it moved into the playroom. Strange coincidence perhaps but I'll choose the magic, thank you.

Jack has been inviting Ivy to go on boat rides with him. We'll pop her in there and there they sit together, each with a little collection of Hot Wheels, Jack narrating that it is taking a "reawwy" long time to drive on the trip, and opening and closing the roof which makes Ivy giggle to no end. And then he'll turn and ruffle her hair a little, or feed her a puff, or trade cars with her. Actual interaction, not just tolerating her presence. It helps that little miss is so very engaging these days, and that she adores her brother. She is like a lovesick teen who laughs a little to loud at every joke. She thinks he's hilarious, and he finds that pretty reinforcing. I just find it wonderful to watch.